A good video can really boost your crowdfunding campaign. Read here to learn about what the best Kickstarter videos have in common.
As of June 2020, there were 183,614 successfully funded Kickstarter projects with 453 projects raising over $1 million. Kickstarter videos have revolutionized project funding, making it possible for upcoming entrepreneurs to bring their projects to life.
But, not all projects are usually successfully funded, causing you to wonder what successful projects have in common. It’s rather impressive how successful projects can ‘wow’ strangers enough to provide funds for something that doesn’t even exist yet!
According to Kickstarter, projects that feature a video have a 66 percent higher chance of getting funds.
Believe you me; there are great Kickstarter videos that you just can’t help but watch.
So, what do the best Kickstarter videos have in common? Let’s find out together.
1. Realistic Ideas
You don’t need to be a crowdfunding pro to know that a video is an important element in your campaign. In fact, it’s vital since it allows you to show your idea instead of narrating it.
Before you create that one video that is going to determine the fate of your project, you want to take a step back and review your idea. The success or failure of your campaign hinges on the level of confidence backers will have about your project’s outcome.
The Kickstarter stats tell it all. Out of the 484,920 projects launched on the platform as of June 2020, only 453 managed to secure over $1 million in funding. About 125,000 of the more than 400,000 projects launched on the platform have raised less than $10,000.
So, if you’re looking to get more than $100K, you better have a great and realistic idea.
2. Personality
When creating the video, it’s advisable to record it yourself. Some people will want to hire a professional to do it for them.
Most backers want to hear the whole story directly from the person making it. Ideally, for them to believe in your project, they need to believe in you.
Share something about yourself, but keep it short and straightforward to avoid going off on a tangent. Let them know something about yourself that relates to the product’s creation.
Having a great personality means that you believe in your products, and you have every reason to source funds for it. Use humor in a creative way if necessary.
The best Kickstarter videos usually showcase great personality from the onset. The video should tell the story of a rather personal experience.
People fund people. Ever heard that saying? It helps to believe in it.
3. Great Video Structure
Here, you can work with a professional if you are unsure about creating a coherent structure for your crowdsourcing video.
Keep in mind that the video is usually short, roughly under five minutes. You want to ensure that your structure highlights all the critical elements of your idea.
A good video structure for your Kickstarter campaign should feature:
- An introduction to you and your idea
- The problem you’re trying to solve
- The solution that your idea will offer and how you will do it
- Introduce your team (if any)
- The technology that idea uses and the final design
- A powerful call to action that encourages backers to act
If you have the resources, you can outsource scriptwriting, casting, graphics, animation, sound, and production to a third-party company.
Otherwise, investing in a decent DSLR camera, a broadcast – quality external microphone, and editing software may be all you need. A sharp picture and clear, noise – free sound are the basics.
The rest is down to creativity and content.
4. Credibility
For one to become a backer, he or she has to trust the Kickstarter to deliver on the promise they make. So, how credible are your idea and video?
For example, campaigns, such as Skarp Laser Razor and Coolest Cooler, hurt their credibility after making unrealistic claims and delivering poor products. When such situations happen, backers become skeptical of you and your work.
Before you begin publicizing your campaign, come up with a master plan for handling credibility questions.
You can give your idea credibility by getting endorsements from an expert in your field or a celebrity.
If you can’t get endorsements, there are other ways to build credibility for your idea. For example, if you have a successful project that’s already in the market, you can cite that in the video.
5. The Best Kickstarter Videos Show the Product, Duh…
To ensure a successful Kickstarter project, don’t waste time explaining to the backers how your idea works. Instead, use a demonstration to show how it works. That’s the right way to it. After all, actions speak louder than words.
For example, Star Citizen, a space simulation game raised over 75 million dollars on Kickstarter, making it one of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns ever. The creator presented backers with visuals of the game itself.
Backers had a chance to get familiar with the game through an immersive visual experience.
The best Kickstarter videos strive to provide the viewers with a clear picture of the final product. Aim to show the key features while keeping in mind that the video needs to be short and exciting.
Additional Essential Tips to Be the Best
These are just some of the characteristics that the best Kickstarter videos include when they are looking to impress backers and receive funding.
There are many ingenious ways to make your idea attractive to backers. It all depends on how you plan your video and the idea itself.
If you want to inspire the backers, don’t be desperate and never, EVER beg! Desperation is a sure-fire way of losing a backers interest and trust.
Also, don’t forget to use great music in the background to inspire the backers and make your video lively and engaging.
You can have a great idea, but fail to convey your story very well using video. That will certainly cost you, or you may not hit your pledged amount.
Be confident about your idea and tell your story in such a way that it hits home. Be sure to take ample time to prepare before launching your project on Kickstarter.
Best Kickstarter Videos – The Bottom Line
Today, how entrepreneurs are securing funds for their ideas is changing, and platforms, such as Kickstarter, are setting the bar for everyone.
Crowdsourcing has become a powerful vehicle for people to secure funds for their projects.
To convince potential backers to approve your idea, you need to show exactly how it works and what problem it solves. This is where the power of videos come in handy.
Use a video to communicate your idea and sell your vision to the right backers. Create the ideal connection between your idea and the real-world to ensure the video leaves the right impression and emotional appeal.
When you launch your campaign with the elements shown proven to work in the best Kickstarter videos, you improve the chances of your funding success.
Many of the most effective crowdfunding videos have been made by small startups and students on a shoestring budget.
Do you have any thoughts of crowdsourcing video creation? Let us know.