Video helps Font Awesome kickstart $1 million

[combatentropy]

In the summer of 2014, a computer guy named Dave Gandy launched a Kickstarter for a font he made called Black Tie. His goal was $30,000, and he made $70,000. Not bad considering that the promo video was home-made: "The video quality is off, the whole thing had to be overdubbed because we didn't know how to do audio, the background music is just terrible, and I am absurdly awkward on camera."

Last month, he launched another campaign to raise $30,000 for a new icon set called Font Awesome 5. This time he hired a professional production company to make the promo. With just a few hours left, Dave has raised over $1 million, to become one of Kickstarter's biggest campaigns ever.

https://vimeo.com/188869084

To find a company to make his video, he used Videopixie: "Videopixie has you describe your project and 20-30 professional video production companies will bid for your business. . . . We noticed a pattern during the Videopixie bidding process. Basically, any production company talking about their equipment (e.g. 'we shoot in 4k!', 'Red camera!', etc.) didn't actually know how to use it that well. The really amazing production companies were talking about how to tell your unique story . . . And it was easy enough to verify their technical ability just by watching their recent videos."

--- How Font Awesome 5 Became Kickstarter’s Most Funded Software Project

 

[dmitrizigany]

Interesting (and not surprising) observation regarding people mentioning equipment and specs!
Nice video... but still have no clue what the product is after watching it, but I really want some cake now

 

[Samuel H]

THIS IS GOLD

We noticed a pattern during the Videopixie bidding process. Basically, any production company talking about their equipment (e.g. 'we shoot in 4k!', 'Red camera!', etc.) didn't actually know how to use it that well. The really amazing production companies were talking about how to tell your unique story . . . And it was easy enough to verify their technical ability just by watching their recent videos."

As for the difference between the first and second kickstarter, there's also the fact that he had already proven he could deliver on the first project. But that usually doesn't have such a huge effect, so, yes, a good production value on your ads will help you sell stuff.

 

[combatentropy]

Interesting (and not surprising) observation regarding people mentioning equipment and specs!
Nice video... but still have no clue what the product is after watching it, but I really want some cake now

As best I can tell, it is a bunch of icons that you can use for websites, computer programs, and such.

But yeah, I love that quote. It's a good reminder and hopefully some inspiration. Even if you don't have the latest and greatest gear, focus on your reel and success will come.