Think the typical price tag for creating a professional promo video is out of reach for your startup or business? Join us for an informative workshop that includes tons of insider tips on how you can create your own promo video in a few weeks and with a measly $100 budget.

1. HOW-TO: Create a
Business Promo Video
An Introduction to Explainer Videos
+Chris Mohritz | chris@mohritz.co | #IdeaToOperations

2. OUR JOURNEY
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Write a script
Record the voiceover
Create the visuals
Edit for effectiveness
Add music and sfx
Publish it
We’ll jump right in
Feel free to ask about my background after session

3. METHODOLOGY BASED ON...
“How to Create Your Own Promo Video”
blog.kissmetrics.com/create-your-promo-video

4. WHY VIDEO
It Works

5. THE 24/7 ELEVATOR PITCH
● Leverage!
● Anti-bounce
● videobrewery.com/blog/18-video-marketing-statistics

6. WHAT IS AN EXPLAINER VIDEO?
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Overview what your product or service does
Not a sales pitch
Audio/visual of how you solve their problem
Typically first video of yours they see
Goal: answer all of your prospects
major questions and concerns

7. MARKETING IS A SERIES OF STEPS
Typical
explainer video

8. TRY A TAG TEAM (STEPS EXAMPLE)
Home Page
Product Page
Explainer
Video
Anti-Objection
/ Testimonials
Video

9. PROFESSIONAL EXAMPLES
Contractor Portfolios
● ydraw.com
● demoduck.com
● seanduran.com
● epipheo.com
● adtoons.com
● explendidvideo.com
● videojeeves.com
● videobrewery.com
Live Sites
● line25.com/articles/20-creative-examples-of-intro-videos-in-web-design

10. STEP 1: SCRIPT
Create a Story

11. DO YOUR HOMEWORK
● Keyword research (adwords.google.
com/ko/KeywordPlanner/Home)
● Keywords will help define your content
● Find an existing video to model
● Survey your audience

12. TIPS (SCRIPT)
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Script is most important part
Shoot for 60 secs (2 mins max)
120-150 words (per min)
Don't outsource writing script (you know
your business & customer pains best)
Use short, jargon-free sentences
Speak directly to viewer (you, your, etc.)
Get an outsider to review (multiple times)
Focus on essentials, skip the rest
Use a storyboard format

13. STRUCTURE
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Start with a “pattern interrupt” (NLP)
Explain the problem
Explain your solution
Explain how it works
Explain what the viewer should do next
Mix in a touch of humor to get them smiling

14. STEP 2: VOICEOVER
Tell the Story

15. TIPS (VOICEOVER)
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Use a decent microphone
Should be able to hear tonal inflections
Record in a quiet, echo-free space
No (distracting) background noise
Speaking energy level at or above viewer’s

16. DIY TOOLS
Software
● audacity.sourceforge.net (free)
● techsmith.com/camtasia.html (30-day trial)
● apple.com/mac/garageband (mac)
Hardware
● bluemic.com/yeti ($100)
● plantronics.com (AUDIO 655, $40)

17. OUTSOURCE
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mikeobrianvoiceovers.wordpress.com
voices.com
voicebunny.com
fiverr.com (spokesmodels)
craigslist.org
Family / friends

18. STEP 3: VISUALS
Boost Visual Engagement

19. PICK A VISUAL FORMAT
● Animation (live not feasible, simplify)
● Live (physical products, more personal)
● Screen capture (demonstration)
● demoduck.com/2013/03/live-action-vs-animation-explainer-video

20. TIPS (VISUALS)
● Create visual impact for the script
● Keep it simple, essential elements only

21. STOCK MEDIA
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videohive.net
istockphoto.com
shutterstock.com
pond5.com
gettyimages.com
t3licensing.com
footage.net

22. DIY TOOLS
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Your smartphone or flip cam
goanimate.com
powtoon.com
google.com/apps (slide presentation)
prezi.com (slide presentation)

23. STEP 4: EDIT
Remove All Distractions

24. TIPS (EDITING)
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Use smooth transitions
Nothing fancy
Don’t distract from the script
Slow playback speed if speaking is too fast
Clean up speech (no “ums”, pauses, etc.)
Remove any reasons to tune out

25. DIY TOOLS
● techsmith.com/camtasia.html
● adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html
● sonycreativesoftware.com/vegassoftware

26. STEP 5: MUSIC & EFFECTS
Boost Emotional Impact

27. TIPS (MUSIC & EFFECTS)
● Create audible impact for the script
● Don’t distract from the script
● Smooth out harsh audio levels

28. STOCK AUDIO
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audiojungle.net
audiomicro.com
tunefruit.com
premiumbeat.com
audiosparx.com
royaltyfreemusiclibrary.com
pond5.com
beatsuite.com
stockmusic.com

29. STEP 6: PUBLISH
Share it With Your Audience

30. TIPS (PUBLISHING)
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MP4 format
High Definition (1280×720 or higher)
Use keywords: title, description, tags
Title must match content
“Bounce” is bad
Always be Testing (ABT): track, tweak, test,
repeat
HD is a must for “live” videos

31. GET THEM TO WATCH IT
● Avoid autoplay (with exceptions)
● Give them reason to watch (conversionrate-experts.com)

32. HOSTING SERVICES
● youtube.com
● wistia.com
● vimeo.com

33. RESOURCES

34. OTHER OPTIONS
● animoto.com (music-only)

35. LIKE A BOSS
Take it to the next level…
● andyjenkinsblog.com

36. SUM IT UP
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Its way easier than you think
There are tons of resources available
Give yourself a starting point (to model)
It’s not the video quality ...its the script
Solve your viewers problem
Keep it under 2 mins
Don’t forget the call-to-action

37. Questions?
Feedback?
chris@mohritz.co