1. Pre-Production & Planning
Success starts long before you press record. Clear planning saves hours of editing and prevents costly reshoots.
Define Your Core Message
Before scripting, answer these three questions:
- What problem does your product/service solve?
- Who exactly is this for? (Be specific)
- Why should they care right now?
Gather Your Assets
2. Scripting & Storytelling
Crowdfunding videos aren't product demos. They're emotional journeys that build trust and urgency. Use the proven 5-act structure:
Grab attention immediately. Show the problem, use a striking visual, or ask a provocative question. Never start with "Hi, I'm John and welcome to my campaign."
Example: "Every year, 40% of food in our city ends up in landfills. We built a solution that changes that."
Agitate the pain point. Make the viewer feel why current solutions fail. Use real footage, not stock. Show, don't just tell.
Introduce your product clearly. Show it working in real conditions. Highlight the unique mechanism or approach. Keep technical jargon minimal.
Backers fund people, not just ideas. Introduce yourself, show your workspace, mention relevant experience or patents. Authenticity beats polish.
Tell them exactly what to do. "Back us today," "Share with friends," "Choose a reward tier." End on an aspirational note about the impact their support creates.
3. Filming Best Practices
You don't need a cinema camera. Modern smartphones capture excellent 4K video. Audio and lighting matter 10x more than resolution.
Lighting (The Silent Game-Changer)
- Golden Hour: Film near large windows or outdoors 1-2 hours after sunrise/before sunset.
- 3-Point Setup: Key light (main), Fill light (soften shadows), Back light (separate subject from background).
- Avoid: Direct overhead fluorescent lights, mixed color temperatures, harsh shadows.
Camera Movement & Framing
Keep it stable. Use a tripod or gimbal. For talking head shots, frame at chest-up with eye level at the top third of the screen. For B-roll, capture 5-7 second clips with slow, intentional pans or static shots.
4. Editing & Pacing
Editing is where storytelling happens. Follow these principles to keep retention high:
- Cut on action: Transition between shots during movement to hide cuts.
- Remove dead air: Trim pauses, "umms," and filler words. Tight pacing increases conversions by ~28%.
- Match energy: Use upbeat, royalty-free music that matches your product's personality. Never overpower dialogue.
- Add context: Use lower-thirds for names/titles, subtle motion graphics for stats, and clear text overlays for key features.
5. Technical Specifications
Submit your video following these exact parameters for optimal playback across all RaiseIt devices:
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (HD) or 3840x2160 (4K) recommended
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (Landscape only)
- Format: MP4 (H.264 codec)
- Frame Rate: 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps
- Bitrate: 10-20 Mbps
- Max Length: 3 minutes (first 90s is critical)
- File Size: Under 500MB
Subtitles: Burned-in captions or SRT files increase accessibility and boost silent-viewing retention by 42%.
6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- ❌ Starting with slideshows or animated logos
- ❌ Over-promising delivery dates or features not yet prototyped
- ❌ Ignoring the camera (look at the lens, not the screen)
- ❌ Using copyrighted music or images
- ❌ Making it too salesy; focus on value and community
- ❌ Skipping the mobile preview (68% of viewers watch on phones)
7. Pre-Upload Checklist
Verify every item before publishing. Completed items are saved automatically.