Show HN: The Art of the Startup video

I am about to put together a prelaunch video for a new startup I’m working on. Video gives your landing page and company instant credibility. It is also a medium of communication people are comfortable with. This greatly increases your sign up conversion rate. I put together a list of some great startup explainer videos I really like and some different things I took away from them.

Robin Hood - “Free stock trading” - https://vimeo.com/87163777 - It always helps when you’ve got Adam from Sandwich video on the job. The anticipation and confidence is strikingly similar to DollarShaveClub. This resulted in 300k prelaunch emails.

VidFall - “Videos play, prices fall” https://vimeo.com/84588387 - Example of a great animated video. This is how you do it on a budget. Professional voice over is a MUST!

Notabli - “Your Child’s Greatest Moments” - https://vimeo.com/119583565 - You don’t need a voiceover. Your job is simply to inspire. Use images and music that hits home and is relatable.

Dollar Shave Club - “Great shave for a fraction of the price” - https://vimeo.com/37974974 - We’ve all seen it, but come one… it is genius. You have to take risks.. plain and simple.

Other takeaways: - Always use your Vimeo link. There won’t be a pre-roll advertisement. - Try to avoid the future tense (Our company will XYZ…). You’ll want this video to last a long time. - Strike an emotion and take risks. A simple explainer video/powtunes video kills a little piece of me each time I open one. - Sometimes professionals like Sandwich video will take equity in your company to create your video. It could be the exposure you need to succeed. Go for it!

Would love to hear what you guys think makes a great pre-launch video. Or if you have any other great examples. Hope this is helpful to you guys.