Nonprofit Performance 360 Magazine Vol 5 No 1

Design Corner

LYNN B. SANDERS

Accelerate Your Impact with LIVE Streaming Videos

There is nothing like it. I click on the Start Broadcast button and the top right corner of my screen lights up, displaying Live. I take a deep breath and smile. A blue light emanates from the camera that’s clipped on the top of my laptop computer. I pause, allowing the camera to start recording. Then I begin my opening, knowing that my face and words are being recorded. Looking into the camera and pretending I see my interested audience, I begin: Welcome to The Difference Makers, brought to you by Difference Makers Media. It’s our mission to inspire you by learning from leaders who are making a positive impact in our world, and today’s guest is no exception. Live Streaming Videos Invite Audience Interaction My guest waits patiently in the wings,having been prepared for this moment. An audience of any size, anywhere, can tune in at no charge. People can see us, hear us, and even type in comments or ask questions. My good friend and colleague, Roland Takaoka, founder of MINMAX Media, is on hand to monitor the comment stream. Through an internal chat feature, he’ll let me know when it’s a good time to pause and share audience feedback. For the next thirty minutes, I interview my guest about his or her story. We have an exciting 30-minute conversation, and the time flies by.Prior to our show,we had a preparation session, so our guest knows what to expect.The interview touches on key benefits to viewers, with no sales pitch. We’re focused on how we can serve others. Along the way, we’re building relationships with our audience, who may watch live or on the recorded version.

At the conclusion, the guest offers a free give-away and directs people to their website.The freebie can be an ebook, a series of tips, a video, anything of educational value. To receive this gift, you must leave your name and email on the opt-in form of our guest’s website. Once that happens, you’ll be digitally connected with our guest. Not only does this make sense (give and you shall receive), but it’s a win-win. You receive something of value, and the guest has ethically persuaded you to be on his/ her mailing list. It’s a perfectly acceptable way to build followers, build relationships, and ultimately build revenue. Here’s an example of an engaging interview with Charmaine Hammond, a best-selling author, speaker, and expert in collaboration and sponsorship: http://bit.ly/ DM-Charmaine . You can get her free gift at the end of the program. What You Must Know Before Going On-Air After several stressful experiences with technology, I’ve created guidelines for our future guests. Knowing what to do and how to overcome any glitches minimizes anxiety. Of course, it’s natural to feel nervous on camera, but the more prepared you are, the better your interview will flow. Here are a few suggestions before you venture on camera. • Make sure you have a prep session to check your lighting, sound, and background. If any of these elements aren’t working well, the excellence of your content won’t matter. Viewers want to be able to see and hear you clearly. Your background needs to look neat and clean too.

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