Poll for Explainer Videos

[Lionel Online]

Dear Hackerspace

Hope you dont mind I conduct a little poll/research here - esp for those with Startups

Would you consider using an 'Explainer Video' like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbvbTosYxzE

for your Startup and if so - how much would you pay for it?

Thks all!

Regards

[Benjamin Scherrey]

Let me preface this with my standard disclaimer - "I'm not anyone's demographic." If I buy a brand of toothpaste or shampoo you can be certain that it will be discontinued soon afterwards. Don't base your market decisions on my personal preferences.

That out of the way...

I hate video commercials like these. I never want to watch them and I'm annoyed when people push them at me. I have a client that paid some pretty good money (not to mention the time required to come up with the content) and I think it was a total waste for them. And if someone sets them on autoplay I will ban that company and their products for life. The End.

  -- Ben

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Chat: http://hackerspace.sg/chat
 
 
 

[Benjamin Scherrey]

How is that not a commercial? :-P It's the medium not the message that bugs me.

On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 7:59 AM, Lionel Online <lionel...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thks for r feedback Ben

But what if it's not a commercial

But rather-a video that explains what yr startup does-esp those that need just that bit of elaboration for e masses to get what they're doing/trying to do?

Rdgs, Lionel

[chris chong]

Can I butt in with my two cents?

Honestly, yes, this video is a commercial. It talks about your product and what it's good at, but explains nothing about how it actually works (if it did, then I'd start calling it an infomercial). So I'd say this is more like a teaser commercial than anything. 

These types of video things are sort of the buzz right now, and lots of tech companies are trying to do these to 'dumb down' their product. Even my company has made one that gives a snapshot of our entire system, and tbh, considering we've only had about 2000+ views in the last 9 mths or so, I'm not sure how many people actually watch these things. 

Unfortunately, I've no idea how much we paid for these videos, but they were done in Sweden. I'm not so sure the price was worth the time of the creators though, because I know these video things take lots of time to make...

Cheers

Chris

[Ciaran Lyons]

considering we've only had about 2000+ views in the last 9 mths or so, I'm not sure how many people actually watch these things

In your case... about 2000 people :) 

[Jan Detlefsen]

i like those videos when they are well done. for example this one.
they don't have an app launched yet, so to create interest before
launch a video is almost the only way i can think of.

http://dcovery.com/

btw, it's a bangkok based startup and i'm very sure they will get a
lot of attention for this. i'm trying the beta and it's a pretty damn
well made travel app.

[chris chong]

The dcovery app is what I would call a 'demo video' or a 'walk-through video' - totally different from the first video that Lionel showed. This, I would spend my money on. Google also tends to churn out similar videos which help to generate interest. The Dcovery video is just a tad too long though imo, but then again I've a terribly short attention span on the web.

@ciaran Yup, about 2,000 people. Which is pathetic considering that we have a few hundred load tests a day!

/Chris

[Jan Detlefsen]

Wasn't aware of the difference, but now that you said it, I agree the commercial type of video is useless.

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Jan Detlefsen

[Lionel Online]

Thks for r feedback Ben

But what if it's not a commercial

But rather-a video that explains what yr startup does-esp those that need just that bit of elaboration for e masses to get what they're doing/trying to do?

Rdgs, Lionel

On 8 Aug, 2012, at 1:19 AM, Benjamin Scherrey <prote...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Lionel Online]

Thks all -for yr feedback! 

Truly my intention w tat YouTube video was just to demonstrate e style/animation

Ah! So a - 'demo video' or a 'walk-through video' wld be something u or startups wld want?

What might be a corresponding value to get it done?

Rdgs, Lionel

[Gideon Simons]

Hi Lionel,

Definitely a lot of start ups would want something like this, its a very powerful way to explain your product to the average site short attention span viewer (as long as its short and to the point).

What I suggest is for you to team up with another 2-3 companies that do graphic design and corporate image and be their go-to video guy. 

This would be easier than marketing yourself directly to start ups and easier for the start ups to get a good over-all design/image package.

Good luck!

Gideon

Gideon

[Lucian Teo]

A commercial essential tries to get you to part with money for some sort of real or perceived benefit. If its just a this is what we do video, might end up in the realm of corporate video *shudders*

Videos that gives more info, a walk through etc with a call to action in the end are still commercials but they offer more certainty that this might be what I need. Need to balance the value you bring to the viewer's life, te money you're asking him to part with, and the time and attention it takes for him to learn that this is better than sliced bread. The last part is the first hurdle, and these days the toughest. 

[chris chong]

So to answer Lionel's question, I believe the market rate would be anywhere between 2.5k to 15k per minute. But the actual price would depend very much on many factors i.e. experience, ability to have good storyboarding etc.. If you're new to this, I suggest you do a couple of videos at a lower price for several friends/companies first, get to know what they want, get to know typically how much time it'll cost to do a video, and have a few demo videos at the end to show off to. 

Cheers

Chris

[Lionel Online]

Thks Gideon n all

I already hv my network of visualisers/animators/voice-talents & music/sound effects

Was just wondering if there was a market for all of them put together - hence my email

Looking forwards to hearing anymore of yr thoughts

Thks!

Rdgs, Lionel

[Meng Weng Wong]

there's a whole industry of people who do exactly this – surely you've researched the competition?

www.plainlysimplestudios.com did derek sivers's videos.

apparently in the trade this segment is known as "junk animation".

[Lionel Online]

Thks for e observation Meng

I've emailed some of them too-
only to find that their quotes r rly pricey

Wondering if u know how much Derek paid for his video?

Rdgs, Lionel