After the launch of our very first product, a Project Management Web App, we wanted to create some animated videos to socialize some of the functionality in a fun way. So, we explored a few outsourcing options as creating software is our skill, not so much creating animated content.

As it turned out, we were quoted about $500 apiece and we were allowed up to 2 edits (tops) as feedback. That seemed rather limiting to us besides the fact that it was quite expensive as well. We intended to create a number of such videos so at $500 a pop, it was going to turn out to be very expensive.

Given all that, we decided to do what we do best — do things ourselves!

Now, agreed, this is not the most spectacular animated product video you may have seen but also it didn’t cost us $500 to make it. It was fun, didn’t take a lot of time, cost us very little, and most importantly, it provided us the luxury of creating more such videos.

What’s the takeaway from this?

Well, it is simply that you take what you have, and do what you can with what you know (or can learn). That’s the best way to do self sufficient as a startup.