Here’s the problem with these Ice water challenges: Most people still don’t know what ALS is. Most people aren’t watching it because they want to learn about ALS, they’re watching it because they want to see someone get doused in ice cold water. So it’s important to teach your audience about ALS, no matter what they’re viewing for. The trouble is, most of the people making the videos aren’t really focusing on ALS much. In fact, many of them don’t mention it at all (except in the title or description of their video), or if they do mention it on camera, they say something like, “This is for ALS,” and then proceed to talk about who challenged them and who they, in turn, are challenging. •EXPLAIN ALS. There’s no point in raising awareness for an acronym, so dig deeper than that. Tell your audience what it is! Knowing that ALS is a thing, but knowing nothing about it except that it got a bunch of YouTubers to dump ice cold water on their heads is not awareness. Knowing how it affects those who suffer from it and what you can do to help is. •PROVIDE LINKS: These videos are going viral. Do more than just talk about ALS in your video. List links to a few of your favorite ALS-related organizations and charities in the description of your video. Encourage people to donate, even if it’s just $1. If your video went viral and every single person who watched it donated $1, it would make a huge difference. •DONATE: What’s better than raising awareness about ALS? Donating to organizations that support ALS sufferers and are working towards a cure. Again, even if it’s just a dollar. Do both. Or take the money that you would have used on ice and donate it, then film yourself explaining why.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:45:42 +0000