Best Practices in Leveraging ThankView for Donor Stewardship
Overview
ThankView is a video delivery platform that the development community at UVA has contracted to enable our staff to send video messages to donors. The platform can be used to send individual donors customized video messages or to send personal-feeling messages to a group of donors. Additionally, ThankView can be used to collect videos via a simple upload link. ThankView does not offer video editing tools or capability, its strengths are in sending and collecting ready-to-use content.
Ideas to Maximize ThankView for Stewardship
New User Orientation and Training
We rely on the staff at ThankView for new user training as they offer two webinars a week that any system user or potential user can sign up directly on their website or visit their YouTube channel to watch a pre-recorded training session: https://faq.thankview.com/en/articles/1746628-do-you-ever-do-webinars-or-video- walkthroughs. We also recommend that users reference the extensive FAQ section of the ThankView website to troubleshoot issues: https://faq.thankview.com/en/.
ThankView Strategy at UVA
We encourage ThankView users to carefully and strategically curate recipient lists so that receiving this type of video communication remains a special touchpoint for our donors. The best practice is that donors receive a ThankView message no more than once every eight weeks. When building a recipient list, we encourage referencing EverTrue to ensure that a donor(s) has not received other ThankView touchpoints within the past eight weeks. You may also check a donor’s individual record on EverTrue to view details on any ThankView campaigns delivered to that donor. . Please note that we encourage all users to carefully consider whether or not to include PP/PRD donors, members of the Campaign Executive Committee, and members of the Board of Visitors on a case-by-case basis.
Options to Customize ThankView Messages
ThankView was designed by Advancement Communications to reflect the Honor the Future brand identity, the background, headers, and envelope designs may not be customized for individual messages. Customizable fields include:
- Email subject line
- Email sender name and reply address
- Recipient name on the envelope
- Welcome message above envelope
- Personal message under video message
- School/unit logo before and/or after the video plays
- Musical interlude before video plays
Best practices for filming a video on your cell phone:
- Don’t shoot vertical video
- Don’t use the digital Zoom
- Find the best natural light or add light if you have it
- Avoid backlit situations – meaning the light is coming from behind the subject
- Choose a neutral uncluttered background
- Keep your shot relatively still
- Use a tripod if you have it
- Use a microphone if you have it
- Don’t walk and film
- If you do move, use your body as a tripod and hold the camera as still as possible
- Use a selfie stick, if you have it, for different angles
- Practice your script/remarks before filming
Best practices for filming a video on your computer:
- Don’t shoot vertical video
- Don’t use the digital Zoom
- Find the best natural light or add light if you have it
- Avoid backlit situations – meaning the light is coming from behind the subject
- Choose a neutral uncluttered background
- Use a microphone if you have it
- Sit in a chair that doesn’t move or swivel
- The computer should be situated at eye level or slightly higher than the subject so they are looking directly into or slightly up, instead of down, into the computer
- Practice the script/remarks before filming
Questions about using ThankView for donor stewardship? Contact Sarah Robinson, University Advancement Strategic Stewardship at ser4ff@virginia.edu.
General questions about ThankView? Contact Joe Ruoto, Advancement Operations at jar4ju@virginia.edu.