GO LIVE! How to Embrace Live-Streaming Video Platforms for Volunteer Programs

GO LIVE! How to Embrace Live-Streaming Video Platforms for Volunteer Programs

Free, live-streaming video platforms like Facebook Live, Twitter’s Periscope, and YouTube Live allow users of smartphones or tablets to live stream something they are viewing in person so that people off-site can view and share in it, too, in real-time – events, speeches, announcements, celebrations, and more.

The keyword here is live. Viewers watch the video at the same time it’s being filmed. While videos are recorded on Facebook and available after the live event (just like on YouTube), the draw for Facebook viewers is that they can view the event as it is happening, in real time. As with other Facebook posts, they can even join in by commenting.

Could Facebook Live and other live-streaming video platforms be used to celebrate volunteers? Welcome new volunteers? Educate and train volunteers? Recruit new volunteers? “Sure!” argues Jayne Cravens, an internationally-recognized volunteer management researcher, consultant, and trainer. In this e-Volunteerism feature, Cravens outlines some captivating ideas for how to embrace live-streaming video platforms to benefit volunteer engagement, noting that you can even “plan out” your video ahead of time. “It doesn’t have to be entirely spontaneous,” writes Cravens. “It just needs to feel that way.” 

To read the full article

Tue, 04/18/2017
Be still, my beating heart...I'm hoping I didn't miss this article, because its timing is perfect. We are trying to compose, compile, determine better ways to orient and train volunteers. When in April is this article being posted?

Thu, 04/27/2017
Hope you like the article! It's focused more on using Facebook Live and similar live streaming platforms to celebrate volunteers, show their effectiveness, etc. The Virtual Volunteering Wiki has a list of links to volunteer orientations and trainings from various organizations, though none are "live" http://virtualvolunteering.wikispaces.com/videos And Susan and I have lots of advice on how to orient and train volunteers via The LAST Virtual Volunteering Guidebook. Enjoy!

Thu, 04/27/2017
Of course this link from Facebook showed up in my FB newsfeed *today*, as this article was published. Nonprofits on Facebook Live https://nonprofits.fb.com/topic/live/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_term=b-a&utm_content=live&utm_campaign=04172017-boost-de-l It's worth reading - but note that it never mentions volunteers, at least that I can find. Which is why we've done our article - to talk specifically about this tool for recognizing volunteers, promoting their work, supporting them, etc.

Wed, 05/03/2017
There is a list of video trainings for volunteers on YouTube and other places on the Virtual Volunteering Wiki http://virtualvolunteering.wikispaces.com/videos

Wed, 06/14/2017
Just found out that NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network just moved to Facebook Live for its quarterly Town Hall. In its lastest online event, they interviewed our Digital Inclusion Fellow Sara Rasmussen, who is also a volunteer community organizer for NTEN. The live event is archived below. "Please forgive the focusing issues - we are still working out kinks in our tech." https://www.facebook.com/nten.org/videos/10155047859315310/

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