These days, Kickstarter requires that you make a video before launching a campaign. It’s not to annoy you or delay funding. The opposite, really: engaging multimedia is what separates the successful crowdfunding campaigns from the duds.
You won’t need fancy equipment or editing software to make a video, but you do need it to be high quality, well edited, and compelling yet lighthearted. The images and shots should tell the story of your product as creatively and succinctly as possible. Before renting out equipment to shoot the video, outline a script and get some serious feedback.
Some of the videography experts who work for companies big and small say it’s important to prepare at least a few talking points before shooting footage. WeWork Fulton Market member Andrew Follett, founder of Demo Duck and Video Brewery, says practice makes perfect.
“Decide if you’re going to script it or go off the cuff,” Follett says. “If you want it to be more laid-back, do a sit-down interview and script talking points. Know the script well enough so that it doesn’t sound like you’re reciting it. That helps when you edit because you already know the flow, and you know what takes are going to go in what order.”
Have a couple of people watch the shoot on the spot and point out if they notice anything unnatural or off about the takes: Do you seem low energy? Too boisterous? Too business-like?
The content should include the problem, proposed solution, and everything in between. Tell the story behind your project and the great “aha” moment. Walk the viewers through your idea, but keep it short and sweet. The video should be no more than three to four minutes. Emphasize the importance of your viewers’ involvement, and list the available rewards accompanied by captivating photos of the prizes.
Cap it off with a specific call to action, such as “click on the green button to back our project.” Be upfront with your viewers about your fundraising goal and what you plan to do with that money. Lastly, let them know why they should contribute as soon as possible.
“It’s important in videos to give a reason why you need to raise the money now,” says WeWork Soho West member Julie Sygiel, CEO of the high-performance lingerie line Dear Kate. “It’s important to have high-quality photos that are beautiful, if you’re a fashion company or have a product that’s difficult to capture well. Even if the products haven’t been produced in mass quality, visuals make it easier for people to envision your idea.”
Once you create your video and launch your website, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised to find there’s a dedicated community of backers and investors who are genuinely interested in supporting your project. They’ll ask you if you want to be connected to dedicated backers in the community, or if you want an interview with a reporter to get your project more traction. Once your video is up and running, you’re going to get ample web visits.
“Once you launch a campaign video, you’ll get inundated with backers who pitch to you saying they could get you press,” says Bryan Davis, founder of Teddy Stratford, a men’s casual and business wear company. “Then you do a little research on them, get referrals, and find good ones to participate in. Both BackersHub and BackersClub were great.”
With that, you’re ready to set your fund-raising timeframe. Preparation is 90 percent of your work and 10 percent is managing it, Wood says. Kickstarter campaigns last between 30 and 60 days, but statistics show one month is the most optimal timeframe to run them.
Taking into account that most crowdfunding campaigns raise 80 to 90 percent of their capital within the first five and last five days, you don’t want to extend the campaign unnecessarily. Just as you want to keep your video short and sweet, a Kickstarter campaign shouldn’t run longer than a month and a half. After all, you’re basically devoting as much time as the length of your campaign to furiously answering questions, pushing through orders, and updating backers. That’s a full-time job.