A Step-by-Step Guide to an Effective Fund Video

Crafting an engaging video for your fund or firm doesn't require a hefty budget. A well-made video is an effective tool for conveying your value proposition and connecting with your investors. While hiring a high-end video production agency might be beyond your financial reach, producing a quality, low-budget video that meets your needs and reflects a professional image is possible. In this blog, we will walk you through a detailed, step-by-step guide to creating a professional and captivating video on a budget.

1. Define your goals for your fund video

Before you start filming, it’s essential to define the goals of your video. What do you want to achieve with it? Understanding your objectives will guide the content and structure of your video.

Here are some common uses for fund videos to increase engagement:

• Attach to emails along with your presentation.
• Send in your monthly email.
• Send when someone makes an introduction.
• Put it into your data room.

Why:

• Make your emails stand out.
• Easy to digest.
• Able to tell a story in your own words.
• Short summary for attention span.
• Pack content into a short period of time.
• Video/visuals commit to long-term memory while reading is short-term memory.
• Provide a dynamic introduction.
• Regular updates with engaging content can keep your investors informed and interested.
• Enhance your data room materials by providing a clear and concise overview of your firm.
• Great way to remind investors of what you do again and again. Investors get over a hundred emails daily and review hundreds of opportunities a year.

2. Keep your fund video simple and make sure to tell a story

Aiming for a video length of 3 to 4 minutes is ideal. Within this timeframe, simplicity and storytelling are crucial. Your video should cover the essentials of your fund:

• Product (Strategy): What are you offering? Highlight the key features and benefits.
• People: Introduce your team. Highlighting expertise and experience.  
• Process: Transparency builds trust. Highlight investment process, construction, risk management, etc. 
• Performance? "Sell your strategy, not your performance." We want to be compliant as well as not date the video

Questions to answer:

• What do you do?
• What are you offering - your strategy?
• What is the opportunity set?
• How does your product help investors or solve a pain point and fit in their portfolio?
• Try not to date the video by talking about a specific period of time, like “last month.”
• Additionally, ensure you hit your unique edge – what sets your fund apart from others in the market.
• Conclude with a clear call to action, encouraging viewers to take the next step.

3. Make sure to write a script for your firm or fund

A well-crafted script is vital to keeping your video concise and impactful. The scripting process can be time-consuming, but it’s essential to get your pitch right. Define key takeaways for each segment of your story to ensure your message is clear and effective. The script should be around 500 words, which is about 3-4 minutes, depending on how fast you speak. The scripting process will be a great exercise to fine-tune your pitch. We recommend developing an elevator pitch, a 3-5 minute pitch, and a 10-15 minute pitch.

When scripting becomes a challenge, we like to do a pitch call with our clients to record, transcribe, and then edit the script down to the most salient message in 500 words.

4. Build out a video storyboard and visuals

There are several video formats:

1. In-person video of the speaker
2. In-person video with text/graphic visuals
3. Audio only with text/graphic visuals

Creating a storyboard helps visualize your script. This step ensures that your video will flow logically and look professional. Identify the visuals that will accompany your script, whether they are live shots, graphics, or animations and provide clear direction for your editor.