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20 Reasons Your Association Should Stop Ignoring Web Video

By Stuart Meyer posted 08-25-2014 04:18 PM

  

By Stuart Meyer

In many ways, the history of associations up to present day has been built upon information.  Think about it, trends, best practices, education, professional development, standards, research data and more.  For many decades our members and the rest of the world has looked to our association for information.

Today, information is everywhere and associations often find themselves getting lost in the ocean of noise.  The future of associations will be assured not merely by our highly credible body of knowledge, but most importantly by our ability to be a visible constant in effectively communicating and connecting our knowledge to our crucial audiences.

Of all the traditional media communications channels, video presents the potential to be the most engaging of them all.  Yet most associations are ignoring it’s powerful importance and long-term potential.  Ready to catch up?  Here are 20 crucial opportunities you are missing out on if your association is not currently planning it’s web video and web TV future:

1)  A Deeper Level of Engagement:  Compelling video-based content can evoke emotional-based economic decisions in ways few other mediums can accomplish as it helps members identify with the faces and stories behind the association’s mission, reflecting upon their own professional belief-system.

2)  Advocacy from the Front Line:  Creates a more powerful medium for stakeholders to not just hear about issues, but to immerse them in the experience, the lives and stories behind the issues.

3)  Rise Above the “Noise”:  As with advocacy, original programming creates a window into the public-interfacing side of the association’s mission which can capture attention like no other medium

4)  Increase Brand Visibility and Equity:  A story-driven association internet TV network can become a powerful branding platform for associations given the ability to inspire hearts and minds with compelling video content and create a quasi-“celebrity” good of the order feel.

5)  The Next Best Thing to Human Interaction:  The only communication medium more powerful than compelling multi-sensory video is recurring one-to-one human interaction.

6)  Traditional Media Regularly Searches Web Video:  Original programming creates a cross-over vehicle for direct use or heightened attention from traditional media networks.

7)  The Most Powerful Integrated Media Channel:  Compelling video-based content can be the primary communication medium and used as a secondary reinforcement/supplement  to other types of traditional media.  For example, video-based point-of-view (POV) stories could be used to illustrate a publication or journal article bringing the association mission “to life”.

8)  Build Targeted Channels Around Audience Segments:  Based upon member segmentation, an association internet TV broadcast network creates the opportunity to group narrower content into a series of channels with content focusing on each audience segment, such a student-focused channel.

9)  Capture the Heart… and Mind:   Member research almost always reveals a commitment to the higher association purpose in the decision to join and retain.  Beyond practical value, utilizing compelling video-based content can strengthen members’ emotional connection to the association in a way few other mediums can accomplish.

10)  Cross-Marketing:  Channel-based series and  programming creates an enticing “entry-point” for cross-promoting all other benefits, activities and opportunities within the association.

11)  User-Controlled Interactive Video:  Video-based technologies enable content producers to embed links and additional content within the viewing experience allowing the audience to “take additional action” or engage in transactions or conversations while still watching the primary video content, including the launch of web browsers.

12)  One Minute of Video is Worth 1.8 Million Words:  The mass medium of video enables associations to make compelling connections with hearts, minds and belief-systems like no other.

13) A Conversation Starter:  Compelling video-based content storytelling is a great conversation starter for ongoing dialogue via social media channels OR media-integrated interaction.

14)  Mobile Reach Beyond Association Walls:  Channel-based video content can reach the full spectrum of members and stakeholders via minimal investment of time/attention.  Further, internet-based programs become portable for easy aggregation across a wide spectrum of platforms and sites.

15)  A Long Media Shelf-life:  Unlike the limited shelf-life of publications, journals, earned media and other media tools, channel series and programming can be utilized repeatedly over time.

16) Watch Anytime, Anywhere:  From living room internet-equipped TVs to tablets, smart phones and PCs, it’s never been easier to build media channels and distribute video-based content.

17)  Non-Dues Revenue: The association broadcast TV network, channels and programming generates new opportunities for advertising and sponsorship.  While programming requires a one-time expense to produce, it has the potential to generate revenue for years to come.

18)  ROI (Return-on-Investment) & COI (Cost-of-Inaction):  With an internet-based broadcast channel’s ability to cross-promote the entire spectrum of activities within the association, ROI models should be set up to measure corresponding activity across the spectrum, well beyond the ability of traditional PR, paid advertising and collateral… all in addition to direct response measures and video platform analytics.

19)  New Strategic Sponsorship Opportunities:  Partner with sponsors to offset or cover the entire cost of development/production and creates an unprecedented level of brand-integrated positioning for strategic sponsors.

20)  Reasonable Production Costs:  With the rise in passionate creative talent and the decrease in technology cost, production and development is affordable by comparison to print publication, PR and advocacy programs.  Internet TV broadcast network creates the opportunity to group narrower content into a series of channels with content focusing on each audience segment, such a student-focused channel.

 
With 14 years of association experience matched by a lifetime of creative experience in music and film, Stuart Meyer is President and Founder of Social Frequency Media Communications.  Social Frequency provides turnkey broadcast digital media development, platform and production solutions for associations, non-profit and business organizations.  Stuart can be reached at stuart(at)socialfrequency.net or by visiting www.socialfrequency.net 

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