Promotional video for cheap?

I made one a few years ago at university with a free trial of VideoScribe and a voice recording on Fiverr. Total cost was $6. Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9ne384kE0c

If you have a product walkthrough you could make a screencast for free with this: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/loom-video-recorder-scree/liecbddmkiiihnedobmlmillhodjkdmb

As others have said, if you're simply doing a demo video sans people or fancy graphics, you could do this pretty cheaply. I use Camtasia for screen capture and editing, plus background music from audio jungle and occasional stock illustrations/icons from various places (fotalia, etc). Here's an example of what you can do on your own: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQAqfYtvktQ

Hi Jeremy,

I've seen lo-fi versions work really well. The concept is:

• print off some graphics/icons etc
• fix a camera (e.g. iPhone) above a flat surface
• add some lighting (a lamp!)
• write a decent script (the tricky bit)
• speak the script and record your hand moving the pieces of paper to get the timing
• ditch the audio you recorded with the animation and re-record the same script using a mic (phone headset?) plugged into a laptop or your phone.
• sync the two (trim bits of 'ers' etc and maybe add some background music)
• correct the color in editing software
• boom!

I quickly searched https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=animated+explainer+video+with+paper+cutouts and although I couldn't see the one I remember from a few years ago, the top result (Polish?) isn't a brilliant example but is the sort of thing I've tried to describe. With a bit more time, you'll find some good examples.

Good luck - let us know how you get on...
James

If you're willing to put in the time you can do a pretty great job yourself using tools you probably already have (a smartphone). I put together an iOS promo video for a game I made a couple of years ago with nothing but iMovie and Quicktime and while it's not amazing it definitely got the job done!

One of my best friends works as a tv producer. So he was available to do help with the filming/lighting/sound. And we did it on a shoestring budget, about $100 worth of equipment from Amazon gave it a professional enough feel.

Then, I hired a professional off craigslist to bring in the super high quality camera and do some re shoots and editing. Everyone agreed it looked spectacular. Cost me $220

My recommendation: check craigslist. There are always underemployed media people looking for extra work, because the industry by nature is cyclical. Shows run seasonally and then stop shooting. Shows get canceled. etc

Another option is to reach out to your local college, or high school. You'd be surprised how many students will do this for free or cheap for a nice recommendation.