We recently connected with Miles Minnaar and have shared our conversation below.
Miles, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?
After beginning my own video marketing business, I quickly realized I was in way over my head.
I was classically trained in the film industry.
I had the vaguest idea how to actually make an impactful video for anyone.
But still, I blazed my own path.
I got my first nonprofit client who agreed to let me make a video for their upcoming gala.
The video looked good.
It sounded good.
The lighting was perfect & the cinematography was clean.
I remember dreaming – literally dreaming – about how this video would blow the roof off of the event space.
I couldn’t bear to wait any longer for it to play at the gala!
And when the day came, I sat amongst the gala-goers: all the people who would donate to the nonprofit’s mission after watching this gala video.
The MC for the night introduced the video and the crowd hushed for a moment as it began to play…
And then a table started to whisper. And another.
20 seconds pass and the whispers grow into quiet chatter.
The video continues.
30 seconds have now passed and the chatter grows into conversation.
The attendees couldn’t care less about the video I worked so hard on.
I sank in my chair. My face was red and hot. I gripped the velvet upholstered chairs tight as I waited for the rest of the two minutes for the video to finish.
At the end of the night, I asked the organizer how the night went overall.
“We lost money tonight.”
She held back tears and frustration as she explained how no more than ten people donated that night.
I was crushed.
From that moment on, I knew I could not be responsible for anyone feeling these feelings ever again.
I could’ve quit then and there.
But that night pushed me even further to create impactful videos for nonprofits..
Three years later, we’re creating nonprofit gala videos that are setting the stage for $2,000,000+ nights.
Miles, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
After freelancing in the commercial TV industry for nearly a decade, Miles decided to blaze his own path by starting Nonprofit Video: a video marketing agency that exclusively helps nonprofit organizations.
Nonprofit Video creates video campaigns that boost donations, build email lists, and tell nonprofit stories.
Because nonprofits’ stories deserved to be told. Their missions depends on it.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Service is the ultimate goal driving my creative journey.
When I made the decision to exclusively helping nonprofits almost every colleague, mentor & friend said it was a bad idea.
That there was no money in it.
But money is not the goal.
Getting organization’s missions recognized and sustainably is my goal.
Money is a by-product of that goal.
There are too many great programs that are not getting the recognition they deserve because their story isn’t being told.
It’s my mission to fix that.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective method for growing my clientele is giving without expectation.
I’ve been finding that the more I give and help without a secret reason, the more opportunities open themselves up.
It might not be from that single person I helped, but often it’s someone they refer me to.
I truly believe business should be treated like a relationship investment.
If you plant seeds every day, nurture them, down the road you’ll have a sprawling forest.
And every so often, a piece of fruit will fall from a tree into my hands.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mynonprofitvideo.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nonprofitvideo
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/nonprofitvideo
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/nonprofitvideo
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/mynonprofitvideo
