charities – jgroundwater

In my previous blog I discussed the the affect of digital medias power on natural sudden disaster events and how these can be effective to gain aid from the public. Carrying on from those unprovoked events that charities have to plead for the nations help onto marketing of charities who put on events to fund raise for ongoing disasters like illnesses and poverty.

These disasters are ones that constantly need to be fund raised for as these illnesses and poverty are growing and are ongoing issues in the world we live in today. To keep the public, and I hate to say it, interested in helping them out, these charities have to create events that attract the public’s attention in order to do so. These events are often first marketed online either in the charities social media of celebrity endorsement, through their social media. This way it reaches out to a large section of the nation and makes the charity have a ‘human face’ to it.

One if the most successful ways of marketing these charity events is through video and online streaming. Many charity’s have taken to Youtube to show the public what fun and exciting events they can host to raise money for serious charities dealing with serious issues.

Cancer Research UK: Race For Life

This video is a fun, upbeat and exciting way to get females around the nation to get involved and prepared for their annual Race For Life. This charity focus on a common, but very serious and life threatening disease but takes a fun and upbeat approach to their campaigns and events to draw the public into helping. With the slogan ‘kicking cancers butt’ it gives a sense of achievement to those donating, volunteering and those taking part in the events themselves. This video also includes the “#” which also spreads the charities awareness throughout social media when the public are using it.

ALS: Ice Bucket Challenge

*wipes tears*

This video is a perfect example of a serious cause having a humorous take onto its event but then reminding the public of WHY its being done and HOW your money helps. But, this is an interesting one. The ice bucket challenge wasn’t one organised by a charity but one which was done by an individual and has gone viral through nearly all the social media platforms which encourages millions of us worldwide to take part in. This hilarious challenge made entertaining viewing for us over a month long period. It was also massive success as it raised over $100m for the charity. This challenge was also taken on by 100’s of celebrities which increased the awareness as well as the involvement.

From these charitable events for such serious causes it is obvious that by taken a fun and outgoing approach to such serious issues is one which works with the public. These methods, all applied to social media are ways which are changing the marketing of events for the better.

REFERENCES

CARBAJAL, A., 2014. ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE – UNCENSORED & SEXY?. [online video]. 18 August. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h07OT8p8Oik [Accessed 28 April 2015].

CANCER RESEARCH UK RACE FOR LIFE., 2015. #ThisGirlCan. [online video]. 25 February. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydSBteBSyFM [Accessed 28 April 2015].

Not all events are planned and not all are celebratory, some are in fact disastrous and heartbreaking, killing thousands, ruining lives. You are probably thinking, what on EARTH is she talking about?! Well, what I’m talking about is events that cannot be planned nor prevented. These being natural disasters, outbreaks of disease and crippling poverty which strike the world and create unkindly events in there own sense. Now, I’m not saying these events need to be marketed, no. I’m going to evaluate the power of digital media which gets the world, us, to donate, volunteer and make a difference to battle the effects of these awful disasters.

With all major disasters there is many large charities which are there to help the victims involved, as well as charities that are there for ongoing disasters, such as illnesses and poverty. But their funds and resources are limited and are always needing the public’s help to carry on there fantastic work.

Above are just some charities which work closely with digital media with their campaign work. These charitable actions are all targeting different ‘events’ you might say and in different ways.

Sudden Disasters

Sudden disasters are those of ones which happens usually due to no cause and large devastation occurs. For example, the Nepal Earthquake which has taken place the other day. For these disasters, charities have to make there efforts to reach the public immediately and forcefully. These disasters usually need a lot of aid and the only way to get it is through the public’s generosity. Targeting facebook, twitter and their own websites charities have got the correct way to garb the public’s eye. With smartphones being glued to our hands and the scratching need to check our social media every five minutes it would be hard to miss a such big news, and with the national news often promoting these charities on social media it is a genius way to gain the nations help.

With the charities doing as much as they can to generate their appeal it sometimes isn’t enough and when a disaster as large as the earthquake in Nepal, facebook took it into their own hands to raise awareness of the sheer amount of charitable funds that was needed. They added an option onto every users homepage to ask them to donate in this disaster, which gave them a quick, simple way to make a difference.

These steps done by the charities and social network sites to encourage aid from the public are all new methods used compared to the more traditional television adverts, posters and charity donation envelops through the post, but are ones which are probably most effective and appealing with our ‘social’ generation.

Charity’s mentioned:

Oxfam: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/

Save the Children: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/

Water Aid: http://www.wateraid.org/uk

BBC Children in Need: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/herohub

Red Nose Day: http://www.rednoseday.com/

Cancer Research UK: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/