How to Get the Tech Specs Right on Your Nonprofit Video 👨💻
Choosing the right format is vital for a positive viewer experience in non-profit videos. Formats include resolution, aspect ratio, and file type. This article guides you in selecting the ideal format, considering platform, purpose, audience, and production quality. We'll also mention non-profit explainer videos briefly.
Platform Considerations
To ensure your non-profit video reaches its intended audience, it's essential to understand the platform requirements and optimize your video format accordingly. In this section, we'll discuss key considerations for various popular platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Vimeo, TikTok and Reddit.
Technology allows major video platforms to automatically optimize for different connection speeds and device capabilities. Emphasizing the importance of uploading the highest-quality video lets these platforms create different versions at different sizes.
Uploading your best video ensures that people with fast internet and high-resolution displays can watch it. As internet connections and device capabilities improve, this strategy future-proofs your video.
YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram automatically convert submitted videos using advanced algorithms and encoding techniques. This technique involves optimizing several video versions for different internet speeds and device kinds by changing bitrates, resolutions, and formats. Viewers receive optimal versions based on their connection speed and device capabilities.
YouTube
As the world's largest video-sharing platform, YouTube offers a wide range of supported formats and specifications.
Video Resolution: YouTube supports resolutions from: 240p-4K. Aim for at least 720p or higher to ensure good video quality.
Aspect Ratio: The recommended aspect ratio is: 16:9, as it's compatible with most devices and screens. 4:3 which is also known as old school format, used to be YouTube’s default aspect ratio but they changed about 10 years ago.
File Type: YouTube supports several file types, including: MP4, MOV, AVI, and FLV. MP4 is recommended due to its balance between quality and file size. MOV is a great options for those users who use Macs.
Video Resolution: Facebook supports resolutions up to 4K. However, a minimum of 720p is recommended.
Aspect Ratio: The platform accepts multiple aspect ratios. However, 16:9 is most common for landscape videos, while 9:16 is preferred for vertical videos. Another common format that we see on Facebook and Linkedin is 1:1, they (like 9:16 videos) take up more space on the timeline and due to that reason they are more noticeable.
File Type: MP4 and MOV are the recommended file types for Facebook videos.
With its focus on visual content, Instagram is an ideal platform for sharing non-profit videos with a younger audience.
Video Resolution: Instagram supports a minimum resolution of 600p for square videos and 720p for other aspect ratios.
Aspect Ratio: For in-feed videos, use square (1:1) or vertical (4:5) aspect ratios. For Instagram Stories or Reels, a 9:16 aspect ratio is recommended.
File Type: Instagram supports MP4 and MOV file types, with MP4 being the more popular option.
This is a professional networking platform that can be valuable for sharing non-profit videos with a business-oriented audience.
Video Resolution: LinkedIn supports resolutions between 480p and 4K, with 720p being the recommended minimum.
Aspect Ratio: The platform supports 1:1 (square), 16:9 (landscape), and 9:16 (vertical) aspect ratios.
File Type: Use MP4 file types for LinkedIn videos, as it offers the best compatibility. It is best to reupload the video to each platform rather than linking to Vimeo or YouTube. The platforms can punish you for taking visitors away from their platform, especially LinkedIn.
By researching your chosen platform's requirements and ensuring your non-profit video format aligns with them, you can optimize your video for a seamless and engaging viewing experience.
TikTok
As one of the most popular short-form video platforms, TikTok offers a range of supported formats and specifications to ensure optimal video quality and compatibility across devices.
TikTok supports 360p–4K video resolutions. 720p or above is recommended for platform video quality.
TikTok recommends 9:16, vertical or portrait orientation. This format is optimized for cellphones, the main TikTok device.
TikTok supports MP4 and MOV files. MP4 is popular because it balances video quality and file size. Mac users can use MOV.
Key Points to Keep in Mind:
The Right Frame Rates for your Non Profit Video
The frame rate of a video is what determines how many frames are shown per second. Before, you could only get 30 frames per second (fps), but now you can get 60 or 120 fps.
But it's important to remember that websites like YouTube and Vimeo like videos that have been exported at 30 frames per second. Using lower frame rates, like 15 frames per second, can make animated characters look smoother and cover up any cracks in the movement.
Animators can also use a frame rate of 24 frames per second to make the video look like an older format like VHS. Use the "Posterize time" effect in software like After Effects to recreate frames and give the viewer the impression you want them to have of the frame rate.
Preview Pictures for the Non Profit Video
Thumbnails, which are small preview pictures, can show what your movie is about. There are different ways to handle thumbnails on different platforms.
On YouTube and Vimeo, however, the user can change the thumbnail by hand. On Twitter and Instagram the platforms automatically select the first frame of the video. You can ensure you have a nice thumbnail on these platforms by editing into the video an eye-catching, custom first frame.
The Audio Format of your Non Profit
To get the best sound quality possible, it's important to talk about how important it is to choose the right audio formats. When you work with voice-over artists, you should make them give you high-quality audio files instead of compressed formats like MP3, an example of a high quality audio format is WAV files.
Also, when using stock music, you should download the best version you can find. If you want the sound in your non-profit video to be professionally mixed, you might want to hire a freelance sound designer.
Metadate for the Non Profit
Metadata is the information about your video, like the title, description, and tags. It not only gives readers useful information and links, but it is also an important part of the algorithms that search engines use.
Non-profit organizations can optimize the metadata for their videos by using relevant keywords. Also accurate descriptions, and tags that accurately describe what the videos are about.
Non-profit organizations can make interesting videos that get their message across. Keep people interested, and raise awareness for their causes if they understand and use the technical tips in this article.
Understanding Your Audience
To create a non-profit video that resonates with your target audience, it's important to consider their habits, preferences, and devices for viewing videos. In this section, we will explore various aspects of audience understanding and how they can influence your choice of video format.
Devices and Screen Sizes
Mobile Devices: If your target audience primarily uses smartphones, consider vertical video formats (9:16 aspect ratio) or square formats (1:1 aspect ratio) for optimal mobile viewing.
Desktop or Laptop Computers: For audiences who watch videos on desktop or laptop screens, choose a landscape format, such as a 16:9 aspect ratio, to maximize screen space.
Multiple Devices: If your audience uses a mix of devices, aim for a format that works well across various screens, such as the versatile 16:9 aspect ratio.
Some other Aspect Ratios:
4:3
Before 16:10 and 16:9 came out, most TVs and computer monitors had a 4:3 aspect ratio. The change happened because of the introduction of high-definition TV. With the aspect ratios 16:10 and 16:9, you can use more pixels to get a higher resolution than you can with 4:3.
Before Apple released the iPad Pro in 2018, iPads had this aspect ratio. After that, they switched to a 16:9 aspect ratio. Since the 4:3 aspect ratio is being phased out, it is used less and less.
3:2
The standard for traditional 35 mm still photography when it was first made was a ratio of 3:2. Some computers, tablets, and handheld game consoles are still out there that use this technology.
Even though the 3:2 aspect ratio is still an option on many small and medium-sized cameras, broadcasters don't use it very often anymore.
21:9
The display with a ratio of 21:9 is of very high quality and has a specific purpose. People often use the terms "cinematic widescreen" or "ultra-widescreen" to describe this format.
It is used to make movies that have an anamorphic format. Videos that were recorded in an anamorphic format can be used to make it look like you can see everything at once.
Accessibility
Captions and Subtitles: Include captions or subtitles in your video. This is to cater to viewers with hearing impairments or language barriers. You can have the subtitles inbuilt or as optional SRT files. The SRT files can be connected to visual impairment devices to magnify or even read out the text. Subtitles are also useful for people watching the video without sound, e.g. those in public spaces.
Conclusion
Selecting the right format for your non-profit video requires considering factors like platform, purpose, audience, and production quality. Understand your video's needs and audience preferences for the best viewing experience. For non-profit explainer videos, choose formats that communicate complex ideas engagingly. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can create a successful non-profit video that connects with your audience.
We at Leon! recently had the chance to work with iDiaspora, which is a place to share your voice, learn new things, and connect with people around the world who care about how important diaspora is. We helped them reach their goal of 1,500 members on their website, and now they are getting closer to having 2,000 users.
If you also need explainer videos for non-profits, we help charities, think tanks, and NGOs easily communicate with videos! We focus on keeping things simple. From the first spark of an idea to the last frame of the video, we'll be with you every step of the way.
Get in touch with us now to find out how we can help you.
