The Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding Explainer Videos
Welcome!
Here you’ll find everything you need to know when looking to make a video for your crowdfunding project. Looking for something specific? Jump to a section using the links below:
- Explainer Video Overview – is one right for you?
- Why They’re Effective: The Science – Dr Allan Paivio’s Dual-Coding Theory
- Case Studies
- Inspiration (get your creative juices flowing!)
- Use Cases
- Finding a Team
- Production Process
- DIY options
- The Sharp Eye Animation difference
20% higher crowdfunding campaign success rate when video is included1
As more people around the world come online each day, video continues to explode in popularity. Video entertains, teaches, documents and informs us unlike any other medium. It’s a powerful storytelling tool that’s still in its early stages.
For crowdfunding campaigns on platforms like Kickstarter, Patreon, Indiegogo, etc, having a great crowdfunding explainer video can set your campaign apart from the rest. When done right they can skyrocket campaigns into success and keep them there for years to come.
81% more likely to buy a product when video is included2
With the rise of connected devices and an increasingly on-the-go audience, explainer videos have become a staple in online storytelling. The mix of fun visuals, crisp audio and a great story to keep audiences engaged and more likely to support.
Crowdfunding explainer video overview
Is a crowdfunding explainer video right for your campaign?
In 2015, Elan Lee, Shane Small, and Matthew Inman created a Kickstarter campaign that was to sell a card game called Exploding Kittens. In the process of building out the product and marketing they created a hilarious crowdfunding explainer video.
The video introduces the creators, touches on their backgrounds and then goes into details of the game. It brings characters from the game to life, animating them while explaining how the game works.
The video was a success and became the most backed project in Kickstarter history.
Explainer videos help crowdfunding campaigns get their stories out and build a stronger supporter base. They explain who’s behind the campaign, why the project makes impact and why it deserves support. They can keep your audience’s attention more effectively than using just text, and can help would-be supporters discover you.
Video is expected to take up 81% of all global IP traffic by 2021.3
Video as a whole is expected to take up 81% of all global IP traffic by 2021. This means it’s important to stake your claim on search engines early on and get videos indexed. More crowdfunding campaigns are sprouting up everyday, and more turn to explainer videos to increase their discoverability.
A crowdfunding explainer video is an investment in your crowdfunding campaign’s success. As people continue to prefer video over text, the investment can help potential supporters find and understand your campaign. They can be your best salesperson, giving the perfect pitch everytime and can help give you a better chance at campaign success.
Regardless of whether your crowdfunding campaign is in the technology, entertainment or any other space, explainer videos help. They increase conversion rates, boost key SEO metrics and drive campaign success.
1B Hours of video watched on YouTube daily4
70% of YouTube watchtime comes from mobile devices5
The Science
In 1971 Dr Allan Paivio found that the combination of visual aids and audio resulted in a powerful effect on viewers memories. When you only stimulate the auditory sense, people remember just 10%, but when you stimulate both auditory and visual senses, you end up with a retention rate of 68%.6 Providing supporters a video that includes visuals with audio will help your campaign stay in audiences’ memories longer.
Three reasons why a crowdfunding explainer video can make an impact:
1. They capture attention
Videos make great stories better by showing not telling. They keep audiences engaged and make it easy for audiences to quickly understand your crowdfunding campaign.
2. Audio + Video make campaigns memorable
Everyday people are bombarded with more and more messages that compete for our attention. Research shows that people remember more messages that have been presented with both audio and video are included.
3. Search engines love video
Videos can be indexed by Google and YouTube, the world’s second largest search engine. As more people filter search results by video, campaigns without video are missing out on reaching more people. Video translations get indexed and can help campaigns get found in different languages.
10% is remembered when visuals are presented6
70% is remembered when both visual and audio senses are stimulated7
Explainer videos case studies
Case Study #1: RepairShopr
RepairShopr is an industry-leading software platform offering repair shop management tools like invoicing, ticketing, and more.
RepairShopr wanted a video that would improve conversion rates on their website and average revenue per paying user. They placed the video on their homepage and tested it against a control page and without the video. Not only did the page with video perform better, increasing conversions by 20%, but it also increased the average revenue per paying user.
Here’s what Robert Reichner, CEO at RepairShopr, had this to say about their video: “15,000 views and 3,000+ new paying customers later, we’re so glad we were able to work with them! It’s opened many conversations and has allowed us to move into and dominate new markets.” Read the full case study here.
Case Study #2: DocXellent
DocXellent is a leading provider of document control software systems with over 30 years of Document Management, Version Control, & Cloud DMS experience.
DocXellent saw significant improvements on key SEO metrics by making an explainer video. They wanted a video that could bring more awareness to potential customers by improving their organic search engine rankings and on-site engagement. The video was added front and center on their website’s homepage, and uploaded to YouTube.
After two months, the homepage was tested it against a control page without the video and they saw not only pageviews per visit increase 300% and average time on site increase 240%, but organic search visits increase as well by 35%.
Learn more here.
Want some inspiration?
Amanda Palmer
Platform: Patreon
Explainer type: Live action video
Crowdfunding results: 11,000 supporters
Amanda Palmer’s live action crowdfunding video is one of our favorites since it does a great job of keeping us engaged without using any voice over. Her Patreon campaign has more than 11,000 supporters.
Exploding Kittens
Platform: Kickstarter
Explainer type: 2D animation
Crowdfunding results: $8,800,000 in funding
Exploding Kittens created a crowdfunding explainer video to pitch their record-breaking Kickstarter card game.
Crowdfunding use cases for explainer video
While the type of video for your specific crowdfunding campaign varies based on the project and audience, explainer videos typically are ideal if you’re looking to explain a complex concept or complicated process.
Regardless of what platform your project is on, chances are that video can likely help your chances for campaign success. Sharp Eye Animation has worked from startups to Fortune 100’s. Below is a starting point on how explainer videos can help your specific crowdfunding industries.
View sample use cases here.
Finding a team to make your crowdfunding video
What to look for in a crowdfunding explainer video company
With 100’s of explainer video companies, how do you choose one? If you know what you’re looking for, you can easily and confidently separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff. The following are a few criteria to keep in mind in order to help you find the best production company for you:
1. Choose a partner that matches your budget
Explainer videos vary widely when it comes to price. It can range from free DIY tools dollars, up to $50,000 for a one minute of 3D video. That being said, if you skimp on budget, you may get a team who’s not as dedicated to your video’s success as much as you.
2. Choose a partner with solid industry experience
A company with experience has had time to develop their own flavor of explainer video, have learned the ins and outs of effective storytelling, and have likely streamlined the production process to make working with them a pleasant and organized experience.
Hiring a crowdfunding explainer video company that treats you like a partner makes all the difference in how your video will turn out.
3. Choose a partner that gets great feedback
If an explainer video company is getting a lot of positive reactions to their work, they’re probably going to let you know. Many feature testimonials from some of their happiest clients.
Listen to what these clients have to say. Was it easy to work with the team? Does the company have a good track record for finishing videos on time and on budget? Are the company’s videos getting results (improving conversion and sales)?
Look for explainer video companies who are consistently making clients happy.
The typical animation production process
Our industry standard production process isn’t anything unique to us – it just works. Below is the typical process most video production companies follow to make an effective crowdfunding explainer video that people love.
Discovery/Scriptwriting
First, we study your brand and goals to help us set the stage for an awesome script.
Storyboarding
Once the script is finalized, designing the storyboards and illustrating the frames of the crowdfunding video begins
Voiceover recording
We record the audio from a voiceover professional of your choice.
Animation production
We then begin creating the video, animating and polishing the design
Video updates
Regular and timely updates are shared until we get to a great finished product.
Video delivery
Woohoo! You have your brand new crowdfunding explainer video! Upload it, share it and begin getting results! Our clients receive their video in a variety of formats, including .mov, .mp4 and .flv.
Final products are exported in 1080p HD, and we can even provide multiple versions and help with video hosting and basic video marketing training.
Looking for do-it-yourself (DIY) options?
Vyond (formerly GoAnimate)
Vyond offers templates for different industries, occupations, and concepts. You can build character-driven stories or compelling data visualizations that engage audiences and deliver results. The platform allows for the import of external audio and images. Most basic option starts at $39 USD/month.
Biteable
Bitable’s online animation maker provides editable templates that make it easy to quickly make basic explainer videos. Free.
Powtoon
Powtoon is another popular online video maker that offers editable templates that you can make your own using drag-and-drop tools. The platform offers multiple styles, characters and backgrounds. Free.
Mixamo
Mixamo is in Adobe’s family of product and is a spin-off of Stanford University. It’s the first online character animation service that sells web-based services for 3D character animation. Free (with an Adobe ID).
Autodesk’s Maya
If you’re technically saavy, Maya can help you make high quality 3D animation. Maya is used by professionals making animation for film, game, and television projects. $1500 USD/year.
Discover more DIY explainer video tools here.
Crowdfunding Explainer Videos by Sharp Eye Animation
Sharp Eye Animation is a full service video animation production company, specializing in custom explainer, product, brand videos and more.
Since 2012, our focus is on making it easy for businesses to make high-quality animated videos. We eliminate not only the hassle of dealing with multiple vendors but also revision rounds. Our unlimited revisions policy (at every stage of the production process) delivers a 100% customer satisfaction record, since we won’t stop revising until each client loves their video.
Find out why startups to Fortune 500’s trust Sharp Eye Animation as their preferred explainer video creators here.
Need a video for your crowdfunding project? Contact us for a free consultation today.
Start With Your Video Today
Let Sharp Eye Animation create affordable, high-quality video content for your brand!
References:
- https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/how-to-make-an-awesome-video
- https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/state-of-video-marketing-new-data
- https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1853168
- https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/28/people-now-watch-1-billion-hours-of-youtube-per-day/
- https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/press/
- https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mental-imagery/theories-memory.html
