1. How to use video to fast track
your startup
And Look Super Hot
Monday, May 20, 13
2. ABOUT US
Formerly StartoTV
MadSmarts is a Denver/Boulder based media company that
celebrates the startups, trouble-makers, innovators, misfits,
entrepreneurs, rebels & business-builders crazy enough to
think they can change the world.
Monday, May 20, 13
3. INTRODUCTION
Sandy Grason is the author of
Journalution and creator/ host of
The Road to Fabulous radio show.
Producer & Co-Host of Starto TV.
Sandy has been featured in
Entrepreneur Magazine, The
Chicago Tribune, The Palm Beach
Post, Woman’s Day and Ocean Drive
Magazine. Lover of chocolate,
movies, skiing & shoes (not nec in
that order).
Chris Franks is an ironman running,
fly fishing, indie music rocking video
geek. Founder of: Smarter Wireless,
Real Good Technologies, Moblify
and a couple of more. Talk startups
monthly at Denver Founders
Network and helped Startup Week
Denver get off the ground. Producer
and co-host of Starto TV.
Monday, May 20, 13
4. AGENDA
• How Video Can Help You Get Funding- crystalizing your vision to potential investors
• How Video Can Help You with Customer Acquisition- get attention from your target audience, call-
to-action, how-to use your product/service, etc
• How Video can help you with Branding, Marketing & PR- get more press, get your name out there,
humanizes your startup, tells the story of your start up
• How to look super Hot (or at least not look idiotic) on camera.
Monday, May 20, 13
5. Three Basic Rules for Online Video
SHORT
3 mins is LONG
INFORM
INSPIRE
ENTERTAIN
GOLDEN RULE
Monday, May 20, 13
10. MUST HAVES FOR FUNDING VIDEOS
Establish your goals- Why are you taking my time?
Feature your team!
Customize to your audience
Crowd funding site?
Individual investors
Monday, May 20, 13
11. Why are you dedicating the next 3 - 10 years of your life to this project?
Why are you passionate about this?
How is this going to change the world?
Product can be shown but only AFTER you establish the WHY
TELL YOUR STORY
The Secret - Your GOAL is to get a face to face meeting. The best way to do that is through
personal intros. The worst way is to send a cold email with an exec summary or pitch deck...
video is someplace in the middle
Monday, May 20, 13
13. The Cool Animated Video
Spare Room
Rando
Endorphin.Me
Monday, May 20, 13
14. Pros and Cons for Cool Animated Video
PROS
Accessible
Short
Fun
Demo your product
CONS
Expensive
Hard to do well
Gives a single use case
Fail to CONNECT
Monday, May 20, 13
17. Video Blog
• Tell the stories of your startup- Good and BAD!
• Ask specific questions to your audience
• Answer the key questions your customers are asking you
• Be real / be authentic
Monday, May 20, 13
18. How Video Can Help You with Customer Acquisition
• Make sure the focus is on the story NOT the product
• Taylor your video’s for specific audiences
• BE FEARLESS
• HAVE FUN
Monday, May 20, 13
20. Using Video for Branding, Marketing & PR
• “Video is one of the most effective forms of content to generate engagement.” Venture Beat, Feb. 2013
• Most Effective = Most Difficult?
• * = Advantage for YOU
Monday, May 20, 13
21. Using Video for Branding, Marketing & PR
• Case Study: Zappos.com
•“We have seen an increase in conversion, what’s more important is the decrease in returns we’ve noticed.
Overall, video has allowed us to have more of a social media presence and has been attributed to an increase
in organic traffic.“ Laurie Williams, Zappos.com
• Video worked so well for Zappos, they’ve added multiple youtube channels with unique voices that
include product videos, how-to’s, style videos, internal behind-the-scenes clips and a few TV
spots. They plan on evolving their content as the industry grows.
Monday, May 20, 13
23. Quick & Dirty Tips- DIY
• Video
• Set UP: simple background, camera above eye line, lighting directly behind camera, or natural outdoor
lighting
• Lighting - Floor Lamp Multi-Arm - $30.
• Background - Stand w/ Muslin or Paper - $60.
• Kit w/ Lights - Full Portable Video Set Up- $180. (amazon.com)
• Audio
• IK Multimedia iRig Mic - Microphone for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad- $ 56.99
• Blue Mic - numerous price points, USB, iOS
• Lavalier Microphones - numerous price points
Monday, May 20, 13
24. Quick & Dirty Tips - Content
• Home Page, Social Media, First Point of Contact = under 3 minutes (very short attention spans!)
1-1:30 minutes is ideal.
• Soundbites - leave them wanting more, use intro video to lead to longer, more informative videos.
• Consistency & Connection - daily, weekly, monthly, consistency is key when building an audience.
Connect to your audience, use humor, be vulnerable, show your personality, experiment, play.
• Do It - the more you do it, the easier it gets & the more natural you will be.
Monday, May 20, 13
25. Quick & Dirty Tips - Pro
• Things You Can Do In-House To Manage Your Video Production Costs:
• Treatment
• Script
• Storyboard
• Locations
• Shot List
Monday, May 20, 13
