Just Like in a Newscast, Live is Exciting and New
According to the UB Evidence Lab a majority of young people have watched live streaming video online. Even a few 55+ have ventured into the live world.![iStock_000005544549Small[1]](https://iowaadguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/istock_000005544549small1.jpg?w=1300)
- More than half of respondents 13 to 34 have watched live video streaming online.
- 42% of 18-34 year-olds and 32% of 13-17 year-olds have created live video online
- Just 12% of 55+ have watched live video (I’m ashamed of my generation)
The total for all demographics is 36% have watch live video online and 22% have created live video online.
In television news, the most captivating live experiences are breaking news and highly newsworthy events. Getting the information in real-time adds value to the storytelling. In the social media world, these would attract high rates of sharing, comments or Likes.
What could you do for live video:
- Ribbon cutting
- Chamber speeches
- Ground breakings
- Nonprofit fundraising kickoffs
- Rolling out new equipment or services
For nonprofits with boards of directors and donors who cannot make an event, this could be a great way to engage them even when they are far away at a second home or can’t leave work, but still have 15 to 30 minutes to contribute to watch an event. As far as production values, live footage can be of lesser quality, but what cannot be is the audio. You must have good sound or the live feel is defeated.
You’re live in 5, 4, 3, 2…
Mark Mathis
Mark wrote his first direct-mail fundraising letter in 1981 for the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. The effort raised a few million dollars in undiscovered wills and legacy gifts. From that day forward Mark discovered a love of the big idea that moves the needle. After 12 years at KWWL, Mark became a business owner as a co-founder of ME&V — rebranded as AMPERAGE in 2015. After 25 years of leading creative teams in video production, graphic design, PR, writing and web development, Mark transitioned out of ownership in 2021. Today he serves in an employee role as special projects consultant. He is creatively ambidextrous — son of an artist and engineer — and famous for distilling complex ideas down to a few words and a few visuals. Mark is a writer. When he found that many nonprofits struggled with complex branding puzzles, he wrote the book, “NonProfit-NonMarketing .” He also wrote a novel called “Reenactment.” Mark is an active blogger OneMinuteMarketer® with nearly 1,000 readers each week on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. One of his most popular YouTube videos is on “How to Look Good on Zoom.” One of Mark’s fondest business memories was being named to INC 500 two times and attending the INC 500 conference with other winners. Mark is considered by some a Civil War expert (and that explains his novel). Mark also served as an adjunct professor in the business and in the communications departments at Wartburg College. Mark is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is currently vice president of the University of Iowa Journalism and Mass Communications Advisory Board. Mark is married to state Sen. Liz Mathis, and the two love to travel, even when it means being trapped by a volcano in the Czech Republic for three weeks.
