Daily Buzz: Turn Fundraising Into a Live Event With Instagram’s New Feature

Looking for a new way to raise funds for your cause? Nonprofits can take advantage of a new feature for Instagram Live that allows Live viewers to directly support approved organizations, The Verge reports  (opens in a new tab).

“Livestream hosts can decide what organization they want to support, and during their show, they’ll be able to see how much money has been raised as it’s happening, along with how many people are supporting the cause,” says The Verge’s Ashley Carman.

Now, hosts can decide to make their live session a fundraiser from the beginning of the stream. “The company already offers a donation sticker for Stories, but this new functionality brings the idea to the newly popular livestreams,” Carman says.

Other social media platforms have made similar moves. TikTok already announced the launch  (opens in a new tab) of an interactive feature called Donation Stickers, which creators can use on their videos and livestreams to raise funds for charities directly in the TikTok app.

Instagram has rolled out other new features since it reported a major spike in Live usage  (opens in a new tab)—features that make it easier to view and save Live content. For example, Instagram recently made it possible for viewers to watch and comment on Live videos from their desktop. The company is also reportedly testing a button that allows people to upload their finished livestreams directly to IGTV.

MM&C Goes Virtual

My association is great at making lemonade out of lemons. That’s why I’ve been a member for almost 20 years! So looking forward to my first virtual conference @MMCconf  (opens in a new tab) Thanks @ASAEcenter  (opens in a new tab) #asae  (opens in a new tab) #MMCCon  (opens in a new tab) #assnchat  (opens in a new tab)

— Teshia Birts, CAE, CDE® (@TeshiaBirts) April 29, 2020  (opens in a new tab)

The Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference  (opens in a new tab), ASAE’s first virtual conference since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, took place Wednesday, complete with a keynote speaker (author and marketer Afdhel Aziz), a day’s worth of breakout events, and even a virtual happy hour. Traditionally an in-person gathering, MM&C became a one-day free-to-register virtual conference designed to help move your marketing, membership, and communication strategies forward.

ASAE, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is not holding any in-person events through at least May 20  (opens in a new tab).

Other Links of Note

If you’re planning on hosting a virtual event, you first need a clear strategy  (opens in a new tab), suggests Velvet Chainsaw’s Lisa Block.

Worried about being tone-deaf in uncertain times? Try this thought exercise  (opens in a new tab), says Smooth the Path’s Amanda Kaiser.

Google has made Meet, its videoconferencing app, free for everyone. TechCrunch has the story  (opens in a new tab).

(Instagram)