10 steps to making a great Kickstarter video

Seems like everyone wants to make a Kickstarter video, so we thought what a great time for a blog post on the subject. We pulled our collective heads together and came up with this simple list.

1. It’s not about you, it’s about the investors.
You might think you’ve just created the best mouse trap in the world, but no one will give you a dime unless you can demonstrate why they should support you. It must always be about the message and not the medium. Making a video does not ensure your success, it’s just a dynamic way to tell the story.

2. Get to the “why” in the first 10 seconds.
You’ve probably watched many KS videos. If you’re like us, you will click away if the clip doesn’t immediately compel you to donate.

3. Don’t just make a video for Kickstarter.
Your goal should be about getting investors everywhere, not just Kickstarter. Always assume your message might be viewed on something other than the Kickstarter website, so ensure you have strong branding and calls-to-action. In some cases, this might require additional script lines so you can make alternate versions for investor presentations or social media distribution.

4. Assume everyone in your audience is a potential investor
This is serious business and your need to be direct. If you had one minute with Warren Buffet, what would you say about your idea? Stick to the facts relevant to your idea, let them know why they should invest, what’s in it for them and always include a clear call-to-action.

5. Shoot for more
We encourage our clients to think of other content they might want to generate down the road and add that to the shooting day. It often doesn’t cost any more money to shoot additional footage on-site that could be used for training or future marketing purposes.

6. A great voice
We find people are very proud and protective of their ideas and it’s understandable. Countless hours and effort have been put in and you want it to be right. What might not be right is your voice in your own video. Often times, it’s best to have an expert voice or on-camera talent deliver the presentation. You can still be involved, but let someone else do the heavy lifting of selling your idea. There’s an added benefit, it’s often cheaper and faster in the long run when you hire a pro vs. the effort (retakes, editing, etc.) required by an engineer to make you sound warm, enthusiastic and convincing. No offense to the engineers out there or you!

7. Watch other Kickstarter videos.
You’ll get ideas about what might work for your project but there’s a more important reason, you will identify what you don’t like. If something bothers you, it will most likely bother a potential investor.

8. Know when to stop looking at other Kickstarter videos!
Have confidence in what you are doing and know you are giving it your best effort. Similar feelings apply when you create a website. You see all kinds of different layouts and colors but at some point, you need to stop and move forward. The saying “imperfect action is better than perfect inaction” comes to mind.

9. Video should be your LAST step.
Your website, phone numbers, emails, pdfs should all be ready to go before you launch. You need to be prepared for the phone calls and next steps to keep things moving. A great video will hopefully build awareness of your idea, so be prepared for what could be a wildly successful ride.

10. Go for it
Duchin Productions is here to help. We’ll make you a KickAss Kickstarter video that you’ll be proud of and excited to show the world. Contact us today at info@duchinproductions.com or 978.338.5699