So you want to make a video, but since you haven’t made a video yet, you’re not rolling in cash. Lucky for you, making a video with little money is very simple and even luckier for you (today must be your day) we’re going to tell you exactly how. We’ll take you through step-by-step of how you can create your very own cheap explanatory videos on a tight budget.
The first thing to do is write a script. We have gone over this in The Importance of Scriptwriting; the idea is to create a persuasive script that keeps the viewer engaged and successfully explains what your product does. You don’t need to be a writer; being able to communicate your passion about your product is enough.
Total Cost: $0
Second, think about what type of video will appeal to your consumer. If it is an animated video, a crisp-sounding voice-over is important. If you have a little money to spend, it may be beneficial to buy a microphone (costing about $100). If you want, you can even hire a professional for about $40-60; you can find them on freelancer.com. But even better, you can use free recording software-here’s a list: Free Audio Editors.
Total Cost: $40-$160
Third, start filming. Surprisingly (or maybe not), you don’t need a $20,000 camera to make your film look nice. It can be as simple as buying a flip camera, the very cheapest of which you can find for $50. You might even use your phone – it’s rumored that parts of the new The Avengers movie were shot on the director’s iPhone. That’s what we call multitasking.
Total Cost: $50
Another method of filming: If your product is software or web-based, you can use a screen capture tool to record the entire video. Using this method, you can simply use a voice-over while showing your product in use. You can easily find free screen capture software for both Macs and PCs. Isn’t the internet sweet?
Total Cost: $0
Fourth, if you want a Motion Graphics Video, options for using this technology are numerous. There are many online resources to create your own graphics, but you can also buy pre-made graphics or even outsource the project to a freelance graphic designer. Animoto is a free service used to do animation where you can upload your photos. For a pre-packaged set of graphics, expect to spend at least $50.
Total Cost: $50
See, that wasn’t so bad? In the end, you can spend as little as $100 to fund your own explainer video. Easy as pie. Now take a look at this video we produced (for a bit more, about $300 with minimal editing). But, sorry folks, $300 is more of a do-it-yourself price than a studio price, but hey a video on a budget can be done!
