To help give some background and a personal touch to the topic of your Exchange, we encourage uploading a video (and no, we don’t just say it; we live it with our own Exchanges!).
It doesn’t have to be Oscar-worthy; really, all you need to do is aim to be sincere. Look at it as a brief introduction that adds a dash of context to the Exchange, with the added bonus of letting participants put a face to the questions being asked. It also allows participants to understand the emotion behind your request (are you passionate, concerned or excited about this topic?). Experience shows that when participants feel a sense of connection or familiarity with the one asking the question, they’re much more likely to engage.
“Where do I start?” you might be asking yourself. Well we suggest you read this article for a handy list of tips and tricks to get you started.
Example Script
To learn more about the elements of an effective introduction, check out our article about Writing Your Introduction.
Here’s an example of a great video message: https://youtu.be/OyNQtDl0sRM
Script Template:
- Hi! My name is __________, ___________(ie: role and organisation).
- I’d like to invite you to participate in this Exchange, to help us ___________________(outline the progress you would like to make, ie. shape our strategic plan, learn what we are doing well and in what areas we can improve, etc.)
- In the next few screens, you’ll have the chance to share your ideas about _____________________ (add your topic here) and then consider and rate thoughts being shared by other ___________(ie. community members/leaders/staff/team members etc.) from _______ (ie. across the organization, around the district/the community, etc.)
- Your feedback will be used to (describe the progress you want to make).
- Thank you for participating and helping us _________________________!
Tips and Tricks
Location (where to record)
- For a video with a professional tone, your office desk is a great place. If you are in another location, it often works well to use a simple white wall as a background.
Lighting
- Avoid bright lights and windows in the background! The camera will auto-adjust the exposure for the bright lights in the background, and you’ll be reduced to a shadow of your former self.
- Try to have plenty of light on your face. Easy ways to do this include:
- Record facing a large bright window so the natural light illuminates your face. Natural light tends to work evenly, and is generally more flattering (and who isn’t concerned about that?).
- Position a desk lamp to shine toward (but not at!) your face. Adjust the distance between the light and your face to fine-tune the brightness until you’re happy with the result.
- Record facing a large bright window so the natural light illuminates your face. Natural light tends to work evenly, and is generally more flattering (and who isn’t concerned about that?).
Sound
- Try to record in a relatively quiet location. Some ambient/background sound is okay, but it shouldn’t be overly disruptive or distracting.
Camera Placement
- Place your camera at eye level, if possible.
How to Attach a Video to an Exchange
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- Click the Edit button in the “...” menu for the Exchange (if you are not already on the Edit screen)
- Once you are on the Edit page, click the Add Attachment button below your Introduction text.
- Here, you'll be presented with two options:
- Upload file lets you upload a video file of your choosing (max file size is 400mbs).
Note: Check out this article for details on making sure your video is supported. - YouTube URL can be used to embed an existing YouTube video using the YouTube link.
- Upload file lets you upload a video file of your choosing (max file size is 400mbs).
- Click the Edit button in the “...” menu for the Exchange (if you are not already on the Edit screen)
Note: Supported file types include doc.x, pdf, jpg, png, gif, and mp4.
Finally, choose whether your video will appear above or below your introduction text and you're done!
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