Kickstarter Video Production Made Easy

Key Concepts

Kickstarter video essentials, hook, elevator pitch, feature and benefit list, product summary, call to action, video budget sweet spot, hiring a video production agency, DIY video production, freelance videographers, video editing software.

Five Essentials of a Great Kickstarter Video Script

The video emphasizes that a great Kickstarter video hinges on a well-crafted script, outlining five essential elements:

1. The Hook: Captures attention immediately by addressing a problem the target audience faces. Example: Loca Chai Maker video starts by asking "Tired of the mess? Tired of the waiting? Tired of the cost? Or are you just tired of bad chai?" accompanied by relevant visuals.
2. The Elevator Pitch: Concisely presents the product as the solution to the problem. Loca Chai Maker's elevator pitch: "Meet the Loca Chai Maker. Making authentic chai at home has never been this easy or this good... We've made the world's best chai user experience."
3. Feature and Benefit List: Details the product's features and explains how each feature benefits the user. Loca Chai Maker example: "The principal obstruction to making chai at home is the mess. So, we created the chai fountain, which brews from the outside to the inside and stops the boil over."
4. Product Summary: Summarizes the features and benefits, often with a bold statement. Loca Chai Maker: "In order to create the loca chai maker, which helps you make the perfect cup of chai at home... This is going to change the chai game."
5. Call to Action: Clearly instructs viewers to back the project. Loca Chai Maker: "We've started tooling, and now we need your orders to go into production. So, please back us now." The video stresses the effectiveness of a direct "back us now" statement.

Kickstarter Video Costs

The video addresses the question of how much a Kickstarter video costs, citing insights from Jack, founder of Wicked Grit, a video production agency.

• Budget Sweet Spot: Wicked Grit's experience suggests a "sweet spot" of $10,000 to $15,000 for Kickstarter video production.
• Factors Increasing Costs:
  • Complex Locations: Filming in complex locations increases the budget.
  • Technology-Oriented Products: Products requiring detailed explanations using apps and graphics drive up costs.
  • Graphics: Extensive use of graphics to communicate key points that are difficult to show visually.
• Lowering Costs:
  • Client-Provided Footage: Clients can provide their own footage to reduce costs. Wicked Grit offers a $6,000 option where they edit client-provided footage.

Hiring vs. DIY Video Production

The video explores different approaches to video production, ranging from hiring a full-service agency to going completely DIY.

1. Full-Service Video Production Agency: Hiring an agency like Wicked Grit (estimated cost: $10,000 - $15,000) handles all aspects of video production, saving time and potentially reducing long-term costs.

2. DIY Plus Freelancers: This involves piecing together different aspects of video production by hiring freelancers for specific tasks (scriptwriting, videography, editing, voiceover). This can save costs but requires more time and management.

3. 100% DIY: This involves handling all aspects of video production independently.

   • Shooting:
     • Use a smartphone (shoot horizontally). The video creator mentions using an iPhone 14 Pro for his YouTube videos.
     • Use a tripod for stability.
     • Use a softbox light.
     • Use a lavalier microphone for good audio quality. The video emphasizes that good audio is more important than good video quality.
   • Editing:
     • Use free or low-cost editing software like iMovie, Cap Cut, or Da Vinci.

The video acknowledges that going 100% DIY can be risky for those with little experience but encourages it as a viable option if it's the only one available.

Conclusion

The video provides a comprehensive guide to creating effective Kickstarter videos, emphasizing the importance of a strong script based on the five essentials (hook, elevator pitch, feature/benefit list, product summary, call to action). It also offers insights into video production costs and different approaches to video creation, from hiring a full-service agency to going completely DIY. The key takeaway is that a well-planned and executed video is crucial for a successful Kickstarter campaign, regardless of the budget.