Recycling Cell Phones for Charity

If you are in the market for a new cell phone or you are answering that irresistible good deal "upgrade" promised by your provider, what are you going to do with your old cell phone? It's composed of precious metals and plastic that doesn't need to end up in landfill. Only about 10% of phones are recycled in the US today - much too low. Here are  some ideas of what you can do with it.

1. Send it to Cell Phone for Soldiers, an organization that collects them. Each cell phone buys one hour of talk time for a soldier calling home.

2. Help domestic violence victims by giving it to either National Coalition Against Domestic Violence or Shelter Alliance. You can mail them your phones.

3. Help kids with serious illnesses  go to camp through NASCAR's Recycle for Victory.

4. Donate to a charity - Flipswap refurbishes your old phone and donates the value of the resale to the charity of your choice. Flipswap as I write this article is being re-organized so check back to find it later.

5. Best suggestion: check with AmericanCellPhoneDrive.org. This organization will provide you with places for donation that are local to your residence.

6. Canadian alternative: RecycleMyCell.ca  This organization not only provides a list of local organizations but also gives you helpful tips such as how to remove your data completely, FAQ section and local drop-off places. Of course there is a French-speaking Twitter account associated with it: @RecycleMonCell

7. David Suzuki has also gotten into the act as he is big on recycling everything. Go to: DavidSuzuki.org to find out more or their fund raising through recycling.

Now you have more than enough alternatives to keep from throwing your phone in the garbage. Actually, my son gave his old phone to his young 3 year-old daughter - disconnected from service, of course. She was thrilled and spent many hours having imaginary conversations with "her" real phone.

In addition, the retail businesses are realizing that they are missing some income and have now started retail take-back programs. Remember, however, that what they give back you as a savings for returning your phone is a small amount compared to what charity groups can obtain from your same phone. It's like the trade-in for your old car. The dealer gives you much less than you could get selling it on through private ads.

Have any experience with recycling cell phones for charity? What did you do with your old phone? Let us know.

How to Create a Media Marketing Video

Hundreds of videos being created here

Media production is changing daily and mostly towards making it easier for the average person to produce entertaining videos and pictures. Now you can get your iPhone or another cell phone to produce quite good videos. However, with a few more pieces of equipment you can produce what looks like a professional production. Want to edit your video? There's a number of good programs and software that are free such as Mashable, Animoto and Jing.

If you are an Apple user and happen to have an iPad, here's a good tutorial about shooting videos: http://youtu.be/m8_i6KY4ZdI

Here's a few tips to get you started on that important video that can make the difference between making lots of sales for media marketing and making very few.

1. Get a plug-in microphone for your cell phone. You can find them at most shops selling mobile devices. It will make your sound clearer, not hollow or distant. You might be able to find a quiet place outside for the better light, but inside it's best to rent, borrow or buy a studio light.  You need to speak loudly and look at the camera of course.

2. Write a script. If you try to just ad-lib you might be able to do it, but most probably there will be too many "ums" or pauses, not to mention mistakes. It's a clear sign of success when you can "say your lines" but not sound canned - like you are just reading them. I few more times practicing will get you there.

3. Just mention 2 or 3 rewards or bonuses. Let the viewers know there will be more later but no need to drag it out too much. People can only take in so much at once. Which bring us to the next tip.

4. According to Kendall Almerico, your video should be short (no more than 3 minutes) and end with a bang. No one wants to listen to someone drone on and on. Make something surprising or exciting at the end if possible.

The video should be short, exciting and get the viewer fired up and wanting to read more about what you are offering. Ideally, the video should be three minutes long or less (although really great videos will hold the audience’s attention even if longer).  For those who have a tendency to ramble on, keep in mind, with a crowdfunding campaign, you have an entire page online to write out more details and to show photos to supplement the video. People have busy lives and short attention spans. Don't lose your viewers before getting to the most important part -- asking for donations and help spreading the word about your campaign.
To read more of this click here.

5. Lastly, don't forget to ask people to opt in to your list or join your organization usually with some "bribe" or free offer as a benefit to them. You need to tell people what you want them to do so that more of them will figure it out.

Need more ideas of what to say? Look at other videos to get some ideas. The internet is full of them today and of course YouTube is a collection of them. Once you have finished, post it everywhere - your blog, social media and of course on YouTube.  It's easy if you have the embed code, given to you by YouTube but other media channels as well. Have any more ideas for media marketing? Leave them below for other viewers. or send them to us in an e-mail.

Next post: Making Your Videos Go Viral

Cell Phone Crashing

It was only a matter of time before the hidden cameras found people talking on their cell phones. Need a good laugh? Then watch this short video at the airport - any airport will do.   Now you know what cell phone crashing is. You can find lots more on YouTube. This couple has been up to these pranks for some time now, but not long enough for their "victims" to know about it. I personally find it rather irritating that people are always talking on cell phones and even more irritating when they ring when I'm asleep on a plane. Would you like to see one more? OK. Here you go.     Well, at least these people in Disneyland had more of a sense of humor than the poor people stuck at the airport. And one guy did know about cell phone crashing. Now you know as well, so enjoy it if you happen to meet up with them. No names mentioned here.