Step 4: Media
Step 4 of 5 -- Photos & Videos
The media step lets you upload photos and videos that bring your campaign to life. While this step is optional, campaigns with compelling visuals tend to receive significantly more donations than those without.
Why Media Matters
Visual content creates an emotional connection with donors that text alone cannot achieve. Campaigns with images and videos have been shown to receive 2-3x more donations than campaigns without media. A single powerful photo can communicate your cause more effectively than paragraphs of text.
Uploading Media
Use the media uploader to add photos and videos to your campaign:
- Drag and drop files onto the upload area, or click to browse your device.
- You can upload up to 4 media items (photos and videos combined).
- The first item you upload becomes the cover image for your campaign card -- the thumbnail donors see on the dashboard and in campaign listings.
- Multiple items are displayed in a gallery slider on the campaign detail page.
- You can remove or reorder media items after uploading.
Supported Formats
| Media Type | Accepted Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Images | JPG, PNG, WebP | Clear, high-resolution photos work best |
| Videos | MP4, MOV | Keep videos under 90 seconds for best engagement |
Tips for Great Campaign Media
The wizard includes a built-in tips panel to guide your media choices. Here is what makes campaign media effective:
- Use high-quality, clear images -- Blurry or dark photos undermine credibility. Use well-lit, focused images that show your cause clearly.
- Show the people who will benefit -- Photos of real people create empathy and connection. If your campaign supports students, show students. If it supports a community garden, show community members in the garden.
- Show your team or organization in action -- Photos of volunteers, staff, or community members working together demonstrate that your organization is active and trustworthy.
- Keep videos short -- Videos under 90 seconds perform best. Focus on one clear message: who you are, what the problem is, and how donors can help.
- Use before-and-after images -- If applicable, showing the current state and what success looks like helps donors visualize the impact of their contribution.
You do not need professional photography. Authentic, real-world photos from your phone often perform better than polished stock images. Donors want to see the actual people and places their donation will help.
Skipping This Step
Media is not required to create or launch a campaign. If you do not have photos or videos ready, you can skip this step and add media later by editing your campaign from the dashboard.
If you proceed without uploading any media, you will see a reminder:
"Media is optional, but campaigns with images or videos tend to receive 2-3x more donations. You can always add media later."
Even if you skip media now, consider adding at least one photo before sharing your campaign link with potential donors. A campaign with a cover image looks more complete and trustworthy in social media previews and shared links.
Validation
This step has no required fields. You can proceed to the next step whether or not you have uploaded any media.
What's Next?
After adding your media (or choosing to skip this step), click Continue to proceed to Step 5: Preview & Launch where you will review your complete campaign and decide whether to save it as a draft or take it live.