With 3.37 billion internet users watching videos at least once a month, finding the right video production partner for your business is paramount if you’re to experience the benefits video marketing brings—and there are many.
86% of marketers claim videos help grow traffic and 78% of them agree videos have boosted sales. If you want to witness an increase where you most need it, we’ve prepared a step-by-step guide on how to choose a video production company, hassle-free.
Table of Contents
- Step #1: Know What You’re After
- Step #2: Set a Budget
- Step #3: Do Your Research
- Step #4: Check If Their Portfolio Matches Your Concept
- Step #5: Ask How Your Project Will Be Managed
- Step #6: Prepare for the First Meeting
- Step #7: Set a Deadline
- Step #8: Ask for a Proposal and a Quote
- Step #9: Send a Contract
- Why Video Production Is Important
- How To Choose a Video Production Company: Key Takeaways
Step #1: Know What You’re After
You can’t go far if you don’t understand your needs and objectives. Having an idea of what you want to achieve with the project will help you narrow down potential candidates quickly. Start by making a list of key points that are important for your project—budget, timeline, style preferences, etc.
If you’re shopping for an all-around solution, you may choose a video production agency that offers additional services such as editing, writing scripts or developing storyboards might be just up your alley.
Step #2: Set a Budget
When choosing a video production company, know how much you’re willing to spend ahead of time. Researching and comparing different companies’ prices can help you find a quality video production team that fits within your budget.
Generally, video production costs between $880 and $1200, depending on several factors such as the total runtime of the video, the number of cameras, graphics and more.
Discuss pricing upfront and ask what kind of quality they can offer for the price you have in mind. Remember that sometimes higher prices may indicate better quality or highly-skilled professionals, so don’t base your decision on cost alone. Consider other factors such as timeline, level of expertise or the company’s track record of success.
Knowing the exact amount of money you have available for the project will make it much easier to find a company with the right services and features required for your project without breaking the bank. Moreover, it allows you to remain transparent throughout negotiations, helping ensure both parties understand their expectations and are on the same page during production.
Step #3: Do Your Research
Every hiring process begins with research to see what’s out there. A simple “top video production companies” search query will help you get a feel of the market and pinpoint the companies that deliver top-notch services.
Once you have a list, research each company separately, check reviews online for any complaints and gather information on what they specialize in, the type of services they offer and how experienced they are.
Read their portfolio of past work—it’s the best way to determine if their style fits with what you have in mind. However, there’s more than meets the eye, so talking to their previous clients is a great way to get to the bottom of how they operate.
You can also look into the types of technology they use and how long they have been in business as this will give you an idea of their level of experience and expertise. Finally, understand what their process looks like from start to finish to ensure it meets your needs and expectations.
Step #4: Check If Their Portfolio Matches Your Concept
Examine what types of videos the company has produced in the past, paying attention to style, quality and audience engagement. Be sure they can accommodate any specific needs you may have.
For instance, if your business provides financial services and you want a video featuring people using your service, it’s better to hire a video production company that has handled similar projects before as they’ll know what works and what doesn’t.
To get an idea of whether they’re well-suited for your project, think if the video projects are up to your standards. Does the company’s portfolio showcase creative content you can see yourself displaying?
It’s crucial you and the company you choose are on the same page. They have to understand your vision to meet your expectations. If you’re uncertain about what kind of video content will work best for your business and audience, be clear about what you’re trying to achieve. A video production company with a demonstrated history of satisfactory results will know how to help you reach your goals even if you don’t.
When assessing their portfolio, make sure their fees are within your budget and that they have a timeline that works for you.
Step #5: Ask How Your Project Will Be Managed
To choose a video production firm that won’t fail you, you have to get all important questions out of the way before settling on one. One of the key inquiries you should be concerned about is how your project will be managed.
This includes gaining an understanding of the:
- Pre-production process, such as storyboarding and scripting
- Production process, including shooting and editing techniques
- Post-production services, such as graphics and voice-overs
Ask about the people who will be involved in the production of your video with regard to their qualifications and expertise to ensure your video is made according to professional industry standards. You want to know who is the point of contact and how they will communicate with you. Will they give updates on a regular basis, or just when something big happens? Who is responsible for what parts of the project, and when can you expect their input?
Ask if your project will have a dedicated team. In some cases, when you have a small project, it’s better to have one point of contact for all communications. If you’re communicating with a bunch of people, not all of them may see eye-to-eye on how things will be done and what resources will be used. However, if the size of your projects makes it impossible for a single person to notify you about the progress, having more people on board to assist is what you need.
Step #6: Prepare for the First Meeting
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a certain number of contenders, brainstorm points of discussion for the first meeting. Questions you might consider asking about include:
- Their typical turnaround time on projects
- What type of equipment they have access to
- The length of time they have been in business
- Their portfolio of completed videos or sample clips
- Details regarding the process they use to create videos
- What other editing and post-production services they offer
- Who will be providing any additional services such as voice-overs or music licensing
- Do they charge fees upfront or are there any additional costs after the video has been created (e.g., travel expenses)
By taking the time to ask these questions, both parties can work harmoniously together moving forward to create one of the best video production designs.
Step #7: Set a Deadline
Deadlines ensure your project stays on schedule and on budget, eliminating the possibility of any delays or extra costs down the line. Try not to rush into getting everything done at once. Instead, work in small chunks over time—not only will everyone have enough time before the deadline hits, but reaching smaller goals will keep the team motivated. Plus, you can adjust deadlines based on what happens during each step of production.
Deadlines also guarantee that both parties involved in the project are held accountable and have realistic expectations of when the project will be completed. Establishing deadlines helps create an environment where everyone involved is aware of what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and how much time they have.
Step #8: Ask for a Proposal and a Quote
Just as you should write an RFP for video production, the companies you’re thinking of hiring have to write a proposal and give you a quote.
The proposal should be comprehensive, outlining the company's understanding of your project, their creative approach, estimated timeline and the cost of video production. The quote has to give a precise breakdown of the services provided and all associated costs. These two documents together provide assurance that the process runs smoothly with no hidden surprises or unexpected obstacles.
The best way to do this is by emailing the company you are interested in working with. You can also call them and ask for a proposal or have them bring it to you in person, but make sure you receive the proposal along with a quote before you commit to anything else.
This way, you can understand what the company offers and how they plan on doing business with you. You want to ensure they will be able to provide what you need and if they don't, there may be other companies that can deliver just what you expect.
Step #9: Send a Contract
After you find the right match, draft a contract and have the company sign it. Having everything spelled out in writing will give you peace of mind knowing that the project scope, timeline, budget and deliverables are agreed upon by everyone involved.
Include any additional terms and conditions regarding intellectual property or usage fees in the contract so you don’t face any unwanted surprises down the line.
However, keep an open dialogue and don’t take everything for granted. Have regular check-ins where changes can be discussed and talk about any modifications or additions to the contract.
Why Video Production Is Important
Video production is a powerful tool for businesses that want to reach customers and get them engaged with their brand. Consumers are more likely to respond positively to visual content, making it an essential component of any modern marketing strategy.
Videos can be used in various ways, from explaining complex concepts and services in simple terms, demonstrating products or processes, creating entertaining videos for social media campaigns to even showcasing customer stories. They also provide an opportunity to share the personality behind the brand and create connections with potential customers.
Videos are often incorporated into SEO strategies which can not only increase website traffic but also generate leads over time, as 83% of marketers agree. This makes them an incredibly valuable asset.
On top of this, professional video production also offers other tangible benefits such as improved brand recognition and credibility amongst competitors. Videos give brands a chance to stand out from rivals by displaying their uniqueness through creative storytelling or simply conveying their message with visuals that capture attention instantly.
Video format helps explain products better than words alone, which is why it’s so effective at driving traffic and conversions on websites or social media platforms alike.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to utilizing video productions for marketing purposes—all you need is the right team behind your project who understands how best to use visuals effectively for maximum impact, and we have a list of the top commercial video production companies that can work wonders for your business.
How To Choose a Video Production Company: Key Takeaways
Businesses should prioritize video content in their overall planning. It provides an edge in terms of visibility and engagement from potential customers, not to mention the obvious benefits that come with easily accessible visual content.
The right video production company employs effective tactics to increase your reach and grow your presence both online and beyond. With video production being fast becoming the norm for modern marketing, it’s essential for businesses at every level to take full advantage of its tremendous capabilities.
That’s why choosing the right video production company for your business is crucial and our guide simplifies the process.
