Whether it comes to raising money for a new startup or a social enterprise, you’ll find that convincing investors to part with their cash to find your idea is not an easy sell.
And why should it?
There are no free lunches in this world, and any investor or corporation looking to deploy capital wants to see a plan for a return on investment if it’s a business or a gauge of social impact if it’s an NGO.
Telling a compelling story becomes crucial; you want to ensure that your pitch is memorable and lives long in the memory.
But not all of us are born salesmen; we’re not all Jordon Belforts here; some of us are more focused on showing and not telling, and that shouldn’t mean you end up failing to raise funds if you know how to play the ability to display results to your advantage.
Standing out in the crowded fundraising landscape requires innovative approaches that combine traditional marketing with cutting-edge technology.
Video brochures offer an alternative medium but, nonetheless, a powerful tool that bridges this gap, offering organizations a unique way to tell their story and connect with potential donors.
Why Video Brochures?
Video brochures are marketing materials that combine printed content with embedded LCD screens capable of playing high-quality video content.
These are not your traditional paper brochures oh no, they bring rich media to your fingertips, creating a memorable experience that captures attention and drives action.
Instead of text and images to play with, you now have video, sound and even internet access, allowing you to customize an experience for every donor, investor, or demographic you’re trying to target.
Why Video Brochures Work for Fundraising
The effectiveness of video brochures in fundraising stems from several key factors:
Emotional Connection
Video content allows organizations to showcase their impact through compelling storytelling. By presenting real beneficiaries, project outcomes, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your work, you create an emotional connection that traditional printed materials cannot match.
Memorable Impact
Studies show that viewers retain 95% of a message when presented in video format, compared to just 10% when reading text. Video brochures leverage this by combining both mediums, significantly increasing the likelihood that your fundraising message will resonate and be remembered.
Professional Presentation
Video brochures convey professionalism and innovation, demonstrating to potential donors that your organization is forward-thinking and worthy of investment. This perception can be particularly valuable when seeking substantial funding from institutional donors or venture capitalists.
Strategic Applications for Different Organizations
So your project or business needs some seed funding, or you’re looking to raise a round to extend your runway for the next phase of operations, right?
So we have the goal; now we need to give those with the money a reason to fund you.
They need to understand your mission and vision, or the chequebook will never leave the pocket.
So how do we achieve that?
For-Profit Startups
Startups can use video brochures to:
- Demonstrate product prototypes in action
- Showcase market validation and early customer testimonials
- Present financial projections and growth strategies through animated graphics
- Feature team members and their expertise
- Highlight competitive advantages and market opportunities
Non-Profit Organizations
NGOs can leverage video brochures to:
- Document the impact of previous projects
- Share beneficiary testimonials and success stories
- Demonstrate the scope of the problem they’re addressing
- Present their solution and implementation strategy
- Show donor recognition and stewardship practices
Best Practices for Video Brochure Content
Video books or brochures are only a medium for conveying a message; it’s up to you to craft a unique and appealing one by working out your scripts, images, and key selling points.
Working with a video content agency or social media marketing agency can help since they can draw from a wealth of ideas and data, see what worked in the past and then offer you some suggestions.
You can even test out your videos beforehand by promoting them on social media or YouTube pulling A/B testing data, seeing how audiences react and then picking the one that performed best.
Every business or project is going to be different; there is no set template for creating a video brochure campaign. You can be as creative and expressive as you like, but if you’re unsure, you can stick to the basics like:
Video Production Guidelines
- Keep videos concise (2-3 minutes maximum)
- Start with a compelling hook within the first 10 seconds
- Use professional-quality footage and audio
- Include subtitles for accessibility
- Incorporate a clear call-to-action
Print Content Recommendations
- Use clean, professional design
- Pick between a hard or soft cover
- Pick the size of your brochure 4.5, 5, 7, 10 inch
- Include key statistics and impact metrics
- Provide multiple ways to donate or invest
- Feature QR codes linking to additional information
- Include contact information for key team members
Cost-Effective Implementation Strategies
While video brochures represent a significant investment, organizations can maximize their ROI through:
Targeted Distribution
Video brochures are obviously going to be more expensive than printing out a bunch of glossy paper brochures, but what you lose in reach, you make up for in impact and conversion rate.
The idea here is not to try to reach everyone but to reach the most applicable decision-makers and leave a lasting impression, an impression that gets them to take action.
When distributing video books for your fundraising efforts, rather than mass distribution, focus on:
- High-net-worth individual donors
- Institutional funding organizations
- Corporate sponsorship decision-makers
- Major philanthropic foundations
- Impact investors and venture capitalists
Reusability
Design your video brochures for multiple uses:
- Create updatable content through USB functionality or WiFi connectivity
- Use them at multiple fundraising events
- Share them among board members for peer-to-peer fundraising
- Incorporate them into donor stewardship programs
Measuring Success and ROI
Track these key metrics to evaluate your video brochure campaign:
Quantitative Metrics
- Donation/investment conversion rate
- Average gift size from video brochure recipients
- Return on investment (total funds raised vs. production costs)
- Number of new donors/investors acquired
- Add QR codes or custom links to track traffic or engagement from your video brochures
Qualitative Feedback
- Donor or investor feedback on presentation quality
- Engagement levels during presentations
- Frequency of follow-up questions
- Quality of subsequent discussions
Future-Proofing Your Investment
Ensure long-term value from your video brochures by:
- Choosing high-quality hardware that will last
- Creating content that won’t quickly become outdated
- Planning for content updates and refreshes
- Building a library of video content for different audiences
- Finding a reliable supplier that can turn around orders in time for your events
Once you’ve raised the capital, you can compare your expenditure from your various marketing efforts and work out an ROI or ROAS.
Raise interest and then raise capital
Video brochures represent a powerful fusion of traditional and digital marketing that can significantly enhance fundraising efforts.
By planning your content, targeting the right audiences, and implementing strategic distribution, these innovative tools can help your organization stand out in a crowded fundraising landscape and achieve your financial goals.
Remember that the key to success lies not just in the technology itself but in how effectively you use it to tell your story and demonstrate your impact.
When properly executed, video brochures can become a cornerstone of your fundraising strategy, helping you build stronger connections with donors and secure the funding needed to achieve your mission.
Ready to order your video brochures?
Curveball Media’s custom video brochures are designed to help you connect with clients, showcase your cases, and grow your firm’s brand. Contact us today to learn how we can help you take your legal services marketing strategy to new heights and bring your vision to life!
For more creative marketing ideas, check out our blog and start crafting campaigns that truly connect. Contact us now for more information.
