Top Video Production Companies

Demo videos -- or short clips that explain how something operates -- are one of the most helpful projects you can enlist a production company to produce, as 80 percent of consumers believe that they are helpful when deciding whether or not to make a purchase.

The type of demo video that suits your business goals may vary, though. These projects can range from a short explainer video to an in-depth tutorial or how-to video. Consult with your video production agency to determine the type of video your demographic would prefer. And remember -- although they may seem short and simple, budget several weeks for a final cut to make sure you have a clear and concise end result.

Top video production companies have the team of experts and access to high-tech programs to design intricate custom animation, motion graphic and stop motion videos that will promote a product or boost brand awareness. You may notice that many of these playful videos are utilized on social media in particular -- a tactic that can boost engagement and shares drastically.

Animation and motion graphic videos are proven top 2018 video design trends for good reason, too. Utilizing them can advertise a service or product while simultaneously engaging audiences and improving click-through rates. In fact, 64 percent of consumers will complete a purchase after watching a branded social video.

A brand video is a longer-form video (think several minutes) that showcases an entire brand identity -- including core values, mission, history, products or services, and even employee and consumer testimonials, in certain circumstances.

The best video design agencies are able to create a high-quality video that encapsulates your brand and reaches more consumers that other marketing content. After all, 85 percent of Internet users in the United States watch video content online and 92 percent of viewers who watch videos on their mobile devices will share that content with other people. What’s more? 87 percent of online marketers utilize video content in their own strategies, with most saying it breeds the highest return on investment.

Commercials are perhaps the most well-known project a great video production agency can create. The best production companies have in-house advertising experts and creative professionals who can concept the project, storyboard it out, and even help with casting, scouting locations, creating call sheets and more.

Plus, top companies have access to top equipment and editing services that will ensure your commercial looks polished and high-quality. The general cost to produce a video commercial with a one-day shoot and intimate crew can range between $500 and $5000, depending on the concept.

Who will be working on our video?

Unlike other creative agencies, video production companies don’t always use the same experts to create projects. Although key players such as producers, cameramen and video editors are likely full-time and in-house, various agencies often just have professional partnerships with freelance photographers, stylists, lighting experts and more.

This means that any time you set out to complete a video project -- even if it is with a company that you have already successfully collaborated with -- you need to confirm each and every person who will be working on your campaign.

• Who will be working on this video?
• What role will they have?
• Is this team member full-time, part-time or freelance? Have you worked with them before?
• What similar projects have they worked on and what was the outcome?
• Does this person cost an extra fee on top of our general production costs?

Who will run production on the day of the shoot?

Determining the many, many logistics of a video shoot is often forgotten when brands hire video production agencies. However, don’t assume that hiring a top agency will take care of every single item for a video shoot -- especially those shot on location.

Ask the questions below to find out exactly who will handle those important tiny details and discover exactly what they will need from your team throughout the project.

• Do you have an in-house producer?
• Will your producer work with our in-house producer or point of contact?
• Who will send the call sheet?
• Who will scout and secure locations (permits included)?
• Who handles catering, transportation, props, music playlist, casting, and glam squads?
• Who will be in charge of keeping the shoot on schedule?
• What information or assistance will you need from us leading up to the shoot, during in, and post-production?

What similar video projects have your agency and team members worked on?

As with any professional agency, previous projects, success stories and failures will say a lot when determining if a video production company can help you realize your business goals or not.

Do your own research, then ask the following questions to gain a better understanding of where they find inspiration and how they design creative videos that are rooted in strategy.

• What videos within our industry have you worked on and what was the result?
• Have you created videos that achieved a similar business goal? What was the result?
• Tell us about your most difficult shoot. What did you learn from it?
• How would you describe your creative aesthetic?
• What filmmakers, brands, or campaigns inspire you and why?
• What video trends should we be paying attention to?

How much from start to finish will this video cost?

Unfortunately, the above question doesn’t always have a black and white answer. Many times, in photo and video shoots, unexpected delays occur, schedules run behind, and overtime charges kick in. Thus, you might not get a solid answer -- even from an excellent agency.

However, any reputable video production company will be able to give you an educated range that factors in reasonable overtime charges that may or may not occur and even help you budget for additional costs that their agency doesn’t cover, such as renting studio space.

• What is the minimum this project will cost? The maximum?
• What reasonable overtime charges should we factor in?
• Do we need to budget for additional crew members, stylists, and hair and makeup artists, or does your cost include them?
• Does this cost include catering, cost of location, styling and glam items, transportation and props?
• Are there other costs that we should expect to incur throughout the production process?

The amount of time you have to actually determine a concept, shoot the video, and edit several versions will determine the video production agency you choose to partner with. Some agencies have faster turnarounds than others or may charge a hefty fee to expedite a project to meet your deadline.

It is also important to note that shorter schedules may eliminate interesting effects that you originally envisioned in your video. For example, a certain company may be able to get your finalized brand video back in time to publish on social, but it may not have as many custom animations as you wanted. The best way to avoid a give-and-take on your project would be to search for agencies much earlier than you think you need to.

The best video production agencies also have digital marketing expertise. This knowledge helps them identity the types of videos that do best on various platforms, the lengths they should be, and what particular demographics relate to best.

Remember, you aren’t creating an artistic film -- you are promoting a business. Therefore, every idea -- even the creative ones -- need to be rooted in B2B or B2C objectives. Don’t just rely on an agency to have great shooting and editing skills -- an equal amount of strategy needs to be present.

Many incredible video agencies have varying levels of full-time, part-time and freelance crew members, and these might not be the same every time they work produce a video. Before you sign a contract with a production company, ask who your point of contact will be throughout the project, who exactly will be working on your video, and in what capacity.

Bonus Tip: Even if you have collaborated with a video production company previously, ask all the same questions about crew members. They may not assign you the exact same team members, meaning you could oblige your brand to work with people whom you haven’t personally vetted yet.

The process of actually producing and editing a video is extremely involved and time consuming, and while the top video production companies are familiar with their own process, take the time to make sure you are as well.

Determine how involved you need to be (or tell an agency how involved you want to be), learn how the videographers draw inspiration, discover who sources other professionals such as glam and styling squads, and find out who sends the call sheet! Then, document all of the information and costs in a signed contract. This will protect your business and the agency, resulting in a smooth video production process.

The best video agencies have talented video experts on staff -- creative individuals who are dedicated to their craft. These employees contribute to creating a company that has a demonstrable artistic perspective. This is important because you want to work with an agency that can do more than simply point and shoot. Ideally, you should be looking for a team that will be able to provide true artistic direction and valuable recommendations that will improve the overall quality of the project. 

The best video production companies will set clear expectations about the video production process. Nothing should be left to chance, and the client should know where they stand at all times. Look for an agency that is upfront about their process, including nitty-gritty details like lighting and equipment. They shouldn’t shy away from budgeting out the project once the client’s needs and objectives are made clear, and they should be able to provide a reasonable expectation on when the video will be complete. Also look for agencies who are willing to work around key milestones and deliverables so that you are given the opportunity to weigh in at different points during the process. The agency should always be clear in their communication with the brand representative and manage the entire project with as much transparency as possible.

The best video production company will take the time to understand exactly what the objective of your video campaign is, create a strategy to ensure that objective will be met. From script writing to storyboarding, filming, and post-production, agency experts ensure everything runs smoothly and that each of the brand’s key requirements is met.

When it comes to crafting a compelling video for your brand, top video production companies will take the time to outline a strategy that will dictate the video process. The strategy phase is necessary because it helps ensure that everything is accounted for before you move into the costly production phase where mistakes will result in lost time and wasted money. A good strategy will outline all the key aspects of video design, including tone, language, visual aesthetics, length, as well as detail all the resource that must be provided by the client. 

When it comes to crafting a compelling video for your brand, top video production companies will take the time to outline a strategy that will dictate the video process. The strategy phase is necessary because it helps ensure that everything is accounted for before you move into the costly production phase where mistakes will result in lost time and wasted money. A good strategy will outline all the key aspects of video design, including tone, language, visual aesthetics, length, as well as detail all the resource that must be provided by the client. 

The best video production companies will set clear expectations about the video production process. Nothing should be left to chance, and the client should know where they stand at all times. Look for an agency that is upfront about their process, including nitty-gritty details like lighting and equipment. They shouldn’t shy away from budgeting out the project once the client’s needs and objectives are made clear, and they should be able to provide a reasonable expectation on when the video will be complete. Also look for agencies who are willing to work around key milestones and deliverables so that you are given the opportunity to weigh in at different points during the process. The agency should always be clear in their communication with the brand representative and manage the entire project with as much transparency as possible.

The best video agencies have talented video experts on staff -- creative individuals who are dedicated to their craft. These employees contribute to creating a company that has a demonstrable artistic perspective. This is important because you want to work with an agency that can do more than simply point and shoot. Ideally, you should be looking for a team that will be able to provide true artistic direction and valuable recommendations that will improve the overall quality of the project. 

The top video production companies should readily share highlight reels from past video projects. The agency should takes pains to demonstrate not only that they’re an industry leader, but that they have the skills in-house to make your specific project a success. Credible agencies will be happy to share information about awards and honors they’ve earned for their work, and will connect your company with past clients who can act as references if you require it.