You've already decided that you need video as part of your digital marketing campaign. You've heard of the studies.
A useful video starts with a defined audience, a clear message and a plan for where it will run. Before choosing a production company, decide what the project needs to achieve and how you will assess its work.
Your business needs video. You can't afford to produce videos that don't best represent your brand.
Production quality should fit the job: clear sound for an interview, an accurate demonstration for a product, or consistent visuals for a campaign. Compare examples that resemble the work you need.
Hiring the best video production company may seem hard. But it's easy when you know what to look for. In this article, we'll explore what to look for and how to make the right decision for your business.
Here's how.
Start With Online Reviews
Read recent reviews from several sources as well as the testimonials on a company's website. Look for repeated comments about communication, deadlines, scope changes and the finished work. One negative review does not tell the whole story; consider the issue and how the company responded. If a concern matters to your project, ask about it directly before deciding.
Don't Get Sucked in
A video production company, like any business, will want to sell you their service as quickly as possible.They'll often have a video on their home page set to music that gets you excited, evokes emotion, and makes it nearly impossible not to sign a contract right then and there.But you're looking for more substance -- not just a good show. You need to know that this company is right for you, your brand, your customers, and your budget.To find this out, you'll need to look a bit deeper.
Hear From Clients
Most video production companies will have video testimonials on their site.Watch the testimonials. Listen to how clients felt about working with the company. Also, look for insight into what happened after.
- Are they happy?
- Did they get the desired ROI?
- Did they have any concerns?
- What did they like most about working with the company?
- Was the company professional, helpful and responsive?
Video and written testimonials can both be useful. In a video, you can also see how the client describes the experience and explains the work. Treat these as supporting evidence and ask for a relevant reference if you need more detail.
- What the client commissioned
- How the team handled communication and approvals
- Whether the agreed work was delivered
- How any reported result was measured
Ask who supplied the testimonial and which project it refers to. If a result is mentioned, check the time period, campaign scope and measurement before using it to set expectations for your own project.
View Their Most Recent Projects
Every video production company should have an extensive portfolio for you to review. This isn't the time to skim through. If you're seriously considering a company, invest some time watching several of the videos.Make note of the dates on projects. Many video production companies have been around for years. Equipment and industry standards change. Their latest videos will give you the best representation of what they do today.When watching videos to choose a company, be on the lookout for things you might not even think about if you were watching for leisure.Does the intro effectively get attention? The first 15 seconds are incredibly important. A professional video production company knows this and understands how to make that impact that will keep viewers watching.Do they use multiple types of shots like long shots, medium shots, over-the-shoulder or cut-in? Are they able to tell a brand's story through visuals and an effective script? Do the music and voiceovers flow smoothly with the visuals? Do their style and ability align with what your customers expect and will appreciate?
Ask About Their Involvement
This may seem strange. If it's in their portfolio, they did it, right? Well, yes and no.A video production company will often collaborate with other artists for things like special effects, animation, editing, sound, scriptwriting, etc.If something in the video was really a deciding factor, make sure this video production company actually did that work. Most people will be honest if asked a straight question. But they may not speak up if you don't ask.
Get Everyone On the Same Page
Create a creative brief including:
- Company Background
- Logo
- Brand Style guide (fonts, colors, styles associated with your brand)
- Target Audience
- Competitive Advantage
- Competition
- Goals for the Project
- What you want to promote
- Examples of videos you like & why you like them
- Examples of what's worked for you in the past, if applicable
- Who to contact /How to contact
- Deadlines
- A detailed Budget
Share the brief and ask the production company to identify any constraints. Confirm who will lead the project, who will handle each production stage and who will approve the work. Specialist freelancers and partner teams are common; what matters is that responsibilities, availability and quality checks are clear. Ask who did the work you liked in the portfolio and who is proposed for your project.
Review Your Quote
Request a written quote with deliverables, production days, editing, revision allowances, usage rights and exclusions. If there are unknowns, ask how they will be priced and approved. Compare companies using the same brief. The lowest quote may cover a different scope, so resolve those differences before you choose.
Hire a Video Production Company That Makes it Simple
There are lots of moving parts in video production, and several people involved in making a high-quality business video.Things can get complicated. But not when you're working with a video production company that keeps the process simple with a streamlined process-driven approach.We take the time to listen to our clients in order to design videos that best meet your needs and connect with your customers.If you'd like to learn more about how we can help your business through video, contact us today for a free quote.
