This post was written by Evonne Heyning , part of TechSoup's community team.

Ahead of our July 20 episode of Nonprofits Live we are looking at the current field of social video - what is working now for nonprofits creating videos with impact? Video production is a community endeavor and we have assembled a talented list of production leaders to answer nonprofit questions for the next NPLive. Sign up today to participate in the event to have these and many more of your questions answered.

In the meantime, here are answers to a few of the frequently asked questions we receive about social video:

What Is Social Video? Is It Different from Digital Storytelling?

Social video includes the sharing of videos across networks and channels along with the rise of video meetings, workshops, and collaboration sessions integrated with social media tools. On July 20 at 10 a.m. Pacific time, we will be taking your questions live with producers who have pioneered social video sharing, production toolkits, and resources for nonprofits looking to make quality videos, raise funds, or build campaigns.

In future NPLive sessions we will dig deeper with social video collaboration tools like Google Hangouts, Watchitoo, and Sliderocket.

Why Is Community Essential to Social Video Success?

Your followers and trusted supporters are most likely to share your videos: friends give friends recommendations on what to watch. Make it easy to share your stories by using common platforms and encourage meaningful fun by thinking about choice, interactivity, causes to support, humor, and spotlighting perspectives in stories that would never otherwise be seen.

How Do I Collaborate with Others Using Video?

There are a handful of tools that encourage collaboration with video and other media content:

• Watchitoo - allows for video meetings with 25 guest speakers, whiteboards, and social media
• Adobe Connect - integrates many types of media into a shared workspace with robust tools
• Stroome - provides video editing in collaboration and ad hoc project collaboration
• Google+ and Skype/Facebook integration now include group chat functions and "hangouts" that include video webcam conversations, hopefully well linked with other Google tools down the road (both endeavors are in early beta)

What Is the Difference Between Connecting and Collaborating Through Social Video?

Connection points like Google Hangouts allow your circle to share what they are doing in their own spheres, collecting self-interest. Collaboration involves working together on a common goal and there are numerous cloud-based tools that facilitate group process around mapping, making videos together, presentations, video meetings, and 3D design that can be recorded for public media sharing or YouTube tutorials. We will focus on cloud collaboration tools in the August episode of NPLive.

Do You Have Questions on How to Do More with Video for Your Organization?

Join us at 10 a.m. Pacific on July 20 for this one hour talk show series with leaders in the nonprofit social video field sharing their storytelling tips, production budgets, viral secrets, and a combined 100 years of video experience with four amazing guests, hosted by TechSoup's Interactive Producer Evonne Heyning.

Special Guests:

Sheila J. Hardy, Los Angeles, CA @eveslime and the @limelightprjct
Sheila Hardy is an award-winning producer, writer and owner of Eve's Lime Productions, specializing in commercial and documentary production. Her nonprofit arm, the Limelight Project creates high impact, cause-related media that calls us to action on issues that affect our daily lives.

Her belief that, "You can accomplish any goal with the right combination of collaborators" has allowed her to access close to $1 million in resources and services for nonprofits to-date. She has been honored as Global Entrepreneur of the Year by Business Women's Network. Her commercial productions have earned her multiple ADDY, Telly and Aurora awards and she is dedicated to setting a new standard in innovation and quality in public service media.

Brandon Sutton, Atlanta, GA @brandon101
Brandon is a social/digital media consultant and aspiring documentarian with an emphasis on social justice and environmental issues. He founded the Spirit of the Gulf Coast all-volunteer documentary initiative in Summer 2010 as a way of using film, photography, and real-time reporting through social media as a way of communicating the ongoing impact of the BP oil spill and perils of oil dependence to citizens throughout the country.

The film, photos, and blog entries from the initiative can be seen at http://spiritofthegulfcoast.com and he is now working on a follow-up expedition to the region in the Fall of 2011 documenting the impact on kids and families along the coast. You can learn more about his work and personal journey at http://brandonsutton.com.

David J. Neff, Austin, TX @NPfilm @daveiam @lightscamerahelp
Author of The Future of Nonprofits: Innovate and Thrive in the Digital Age; David J. Neff has been doing things that have never been done in nonprofits for the last 10 years. He is currently the creator of the nonprofit Lights. Camera. Help., a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging other cause-driven organizations to use film and video to tell their stories. He is the current President of the Austin Social Media Club, as well as a Senior Digital Strategist at Ridgewood: Ingenious Communications and a co-founder of Internet startup HelpAttack!

Basho Mosko, San Francisco, CA @bashomosko
Basho Mosko is part of Cisco's Corporate Affairs Marketing team, managing the direct outreach to strategic nonprofit partners and video storytelling. Previously he managed all of Flip Video's philanthropic activities including: a product matching program, storytelling trainings, social network management, and cause marketing initiatives.

A long-time filmmaker and musician, Basho leverages his experience to help nonprofits and educational organizations effectively use video to make the world a better place.

Help Us Share!

If you're into social sharing, help us spread the word about the social video episode of #NPLive on July 20. Post this note or your own:

Join @TechSoup for social video #NPLive - Nonprofit live tech questions answered July 20 10 am PDT  http://socvidnplive.eventbrite.com/

Great speakers for @TechSoup #NPLive 7/20 social video! @eveslime @daveiam @brandon101 @bashomosko hosted by @amoration #socvid #nptech!