A fifty-four second video I made for some good mates has helped launch a charity that is employing 6 people and is having a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of men as well as the thousands of people who are connected with them.
A few years ago, one of my clients needed to film an alumna from their school at our studio. The person to be filmed was a very high ranking leader in mental health care in Australia. The guest turned up about fifteen minutes before my client was due to arrive.
While she waited, I asked her if she would mind if I showed her a 54 second video about preventative men’s mental health.
This was a simple video – one guy talking about why it was important for men to connect with other men and give time to nurture themselves.
While people are watching my videos I like to be able to watch their response. My viewer watched and nodded her head throughout. In less than a minute she turned to me and asked “how do I get in touch with these people?”.
What followed was a marvellous meeting of minds where this national mental health organisation saw the value of The Men’s Table and have been wonderful supporters of the charity and it has flourished.
What struck me in hindsight was how powerful a simple video was in allowing this woman to understand the potential of The Men’s Table.
Having a simple, clear, short message did the trick in this situation. The Men’s Table is about authentic connections and it was appropriate that this simple video told an authentic story. Of course having this video resource at my disposal at the right time was also important.
Videos are incredibly effective and even more so when you can get the right person to watch them. People spend a lot of time and money on social media spreading their message far and wide. Sometimes it can work, but it is a bit of a shotgun approach. If you have clarity about who is the ideal person to watch your video you can save money and engage directly.
It is worth pausing occasionally and asking yourself “if there was one person who I would love to watch my video, who would that be?” That clarity can help you spot opportunities as they pop up in front of you.
For the last three years Sonic Sight has been proudly donating our services to support the work of The Men’s Table. During this time they have established 50 tables and continue to grow and provide a safe space for men to share and connect.
If you would like to find out more about The Men’s Table visit www.themenstable.org
