About Online volunteering by Randy Tyler
Winnipeg, Canada -- If it’s been a while since you’ve sat in front of your computer, used a new application, and said, “Now, that’s pretty cool,” then check out Eyejot.
Eyejot is an easy-to-use online video messaging service that takes e-mail to the next level of communication.
CREATING VIDEO MAIL IS EASY WITH EYEJOT
It’s this simple. Open your web browser. Go to http://www.eyejot.com/
VIDEO E-MAIL: BRINGING ONLINE COMMUNICATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH YOUR ONLINE VOLUNTEERS
When your volunteers are located far from you and each other, developing a sense of camaraderie and purpose can be challenging. Studies prove that the most important factor in human communication is body language and visual cues. Approximately 60 percent of the information we get from face-to-face communication is visual. About 30 percent is tone and inflection of voice. The remainder, less than 10 percent, is the meaning of the actual words being said. A lack of visual cues makes communicating true intent and meaning more difficult. That’s the problem with e-mail and instant messaging. Both can be misconstrued regarding tone, emotional, and energy. That’s why so many people use emoticons to try to make clear the intent of their comments in an e-mail, usually not very successfully.
Video messages through Eyejot allow you to communicate the emotional intent of your message because the recipient can see your face and movements, which convey so much of the real meaning of your message. You are there—virtually, of course—presenting yourself and what you want to say, taking advantage of the most natural and effective way humans communicate. And you appear on screen when and where the recipient chooses, as opposed to video chat or online messaging, which require the participants to be online at the same time.
WAYS YOU CAN USE VIDEO MAIL WITHIN YOUR ONLINE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
So, how can a non-profit's online volunteer program benefit from video messages using Eyejot? Here are a few ideas:
* A potential online volunteer could send a video resume or video “cover letter” to introduce himself or herself, which would help the organization screen volunteers
* The non-profit could use an Eyejot introductory video message to invite someone to volunteer or welcome a new volunteer
* Through the non-profit’s blog or web site, using the Eyejot widget, which will be described below, potential volunteers can ask questions before committing their time and efforts.
* The non-profit’s Executive Director, Board President, or Volunteer Co-ordinator could create and send Eyejot messages to thank volunteers for their involvement, efforts, and achievements in the organization’
* And, of course, online volunteers and non-profit personnel could use Eyejot messages to collaborate more effectively on a project.
SETTING UP AN EYEJOT ACCOUNT IS FREE AND EASY
As you’ve seen, sending an Eyejot is about as easy as sending a plain old text e-mail. Now, let’s take a look at the specifics of using Eyejot’s free level of service. You can’t beat free, especially when you’re a non-profit, right?
You can create unlimited one-minute video messages for free and all of your messages are stored on Eyejot’s server (for a limited time period), which allows you to refer back to a message for whatever reason.
One of the best things about Eyejot is the fact that there’s no software to download and install. Eyejot works on any operating system. All you need is a web browser of your choice and Flash Player 9 installed on your computer. To determine which version of the Flash Player you have installed, visit Abobe’s Web site at the URL below:
http://kb.adobe.com/
To install Flash 9 (or upgrade to Flash 9), please see the following URL:
http://www.adobe.com/
Signing up for the free service is very simple. Provide a username and password. Confirm that Eyejot can use your microphone and camera. Upload a picture of yourself, if you like. And you’re ready to send your first Eyejot. And if you don’t have a Web camera, but have a microphone or headset, you can send an audio only Eyejot message.
EASILY PLACE YOUR EYEJOT VIDEO MAIL WIDGET ON YOUR WEB SITE OR BLOG
SO YOUR VOLUNTEERS CAN CONVENIENTLY CONTACT YOU
As described above, you can send Eyejots pretty much the way you send an e-mail. Or you can use the Eyejot widget on your web site, blog, or social networking site, e.g. MySpace and Facebook, to provide a video greeting or message and receive video replies from Eyejot users. You can also permit anonymous replies to your greeting or message, just like leaving a comment on a blog post except in video form. Whenever a visitor or volunteer leaves you an Eyejot, you will be automatically notified via e-mail, with a link to easily play the video message. To enable the widget, you simply log into your account, click the Services button, and then copy and paste about 12 lines of HTML code into the page on your web site, blog, or social networking site where you want your video greeting to appear. To see the widget installed on a Web site, visit Macdonald Youth Services’ Online Volunteer program now at:
http://www.mys.ca/
SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR EYEJOT'S RSS FEED AND YOUR VIDEOS WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR DESKTOP
Also under Services, you can subscribe to your Eyejot messages using iTunes or your RSS reader program (that accepts enclosures) with the URL Eyejot provides. Your messages will automatically be converted to a podcast receivable format (MPEG4), which can be viewed directly within a free podcatcher, such as iTunes. Very cool.
All in all, Eyejot is a powerful communication tool for non-profits because it allows both organization personnel and volunteers to see each other, get to know each other better because they can put a face to a name, and communicate more effectively. All for free. Considering the cost of the service, Eyejot video messaging is just about the next best thing to being there. Now, that’s pretty cool.
About the Author:
Peter Drew is a Macdonald Youth Services’ Connecticut-
To subscribe or unsubscribe from MYS's About Online Volunteering News E-Mail List, please visit the URL below:
http://www.mys.ca/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MACDONALD YOUTH SERVICES’ ONLINE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:
Randy Tyler
Co-ordinator, Volunteer Program/Webmaster
Macdonald Youth Services
175 Mayfair Avenue
Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3L 0A1
T: 1 (204) 949-4292
E: http://www.mys.ca/
W: http://www.mys.ca/
Skype: randytyler_canada
PGP Key: http://www.mys.ca/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
