Year-End Social Video: 4 Ideas to Get Started

The holiday season is a fantastic opportunity to add some festive energy to your nonprofit’s social media. Videos can highlight your holiday events, share donor appreciation, or reveal behind-the-scenes cheer.

Building off of our guide to getting started with social media video, we put this post together to create a few simple examples of video posts you can put together during the holidays.

Holiday Cheer from the Team

This is one of the simplest videos to make. Capture your ugly sweater contest, or set up a festive backdrop then let your team provide simple holiday messages.

Keep it simple!

Examples & Inspiration

Tips for Production

1. Take the video with your phone vertically oriented.
2. Aim to take 5-7 videos.
3. Don’t be worried about starting your video early and stopping the video late when taking videos. Videos will be edited later to only show the best parts.
4. Consider a variety of backdrops – office, construction site, ReStore, etc.
5. Consider a variety of people – volunteers, staff, homebuyers, etc.

Branding Inspiration

This video could be performed with staff, volunteers, or others in your community. Try to get creative.

Examples and Inspiration

Tips for Production

1. Take the video with your phone vertically oriented.
2. Aim to take 8-10 videos.
3. Don’t be worried about starting your video early and stopping the video late when taking videos. Videos will be edited later to only show the best parts.
4. Try to get a variety of words if you can.
5. Try to get a variety of individuals contributing – staff, volunteers, homeowners.
6. Try to get a variety of locations – construction site, office, ReStore, etc.

The Leadership Message

This video may take a bit more preparation, depending on how many people you want to involve and how comfortable they are in front of the camera.

Consider putting together some talking points at a minimum, or write out an entire script.

These messages should focus on the larger problem that your community is facing, how your affiliate is making an impact and what your vision is for the future.

Alternatively, these videos can be a simple message of appreciation for community support.

Examples and Inspiration

Before Filming

1. Discuss with the participants what the video goals are.
2. Get their verbal permission to post this video on social media – not everyone is interested in that.
3. Consider writing out some talking points, or a full script.
4. Don’t be afraid to do multiple takes. It can be hard to get it right the first time.
5. Instruct the participants to speak clearly and loudly into the camera/phone.
6. Find a quiet place or time to film.

Major Accomplishment

Home dedications or other milestones can be an effective way to showcase your impact and inspire your community to give. Particularly, as you get close to the end of the year, these videos can help make the case for supporting your work.

Examples and Inspiration

Tips for Production

1. Take the video with your phone vertically oriented.
2. Aim to take 10-15 videos that are 5-10 second long.
3. Don’t be worried about starting your video early and stopping the video late when taking videos. Videos will be edited later to only show the best parts.