Not every company will be able to afford or require a full-time production crew in-house. Instead, you might hire an outside firm with experience in filming and content creation to assist you.
Finding the correct producer is crucial to the success of your content, whether you’re making a brand movie or a promotional video for a new product. Spend some time assembling the best crew to work on your video marketing material.
To get you started, here are some pointers on how to find the best video production firm.
Create a Content Brief With Specific Goals in Mind
One of the most important aspects in assembling the best team for your content? Begin working on the project description.
The brief should include goals and pertinent information about your company and target audience, as well as any significant statements you want to express.
You’ll discover that the act of creating the brief itself will help you focus. You can start your search with a clear understanding of what you want from a production company. Early preparation of the brief might help you save time in your search and expedite the initial negotiations.
Keep in mind that the brief is not the same as a script or storyboard. A brief is only a synopsis of the images you want to include, whereas a script and a storyboard detail the particular visuals you want to include. You’ll be able to keep the brief as simple as possible if the aim of your video is clearly stated throughout.
Make a Financial Plan
It may seem apparent, but you’d be shocked how often clients begin negotiations without knowing how much money they have to spend on a project.
Get estimate quotes from at least three different video production businesses to get an idea of market pricing if you’re not sure what kind of budget you should establish.
There are many expenses to consider depending on whether you want live-action or animated video.
While animation isn’t always the cheapest option, live-action filming comes with a slew of additional expenses. Setting a budget can provide insight into what the video production firm you select to deal with can accomplish for you in the most cost-effective manner.
Make a List of Businesses to Contact
There are three major approaches you might take while conducting your search:
Look for advice from other firms and marketers. Request a referral from a reliable source for a video producing company. You can be a little more confident in their reliability if someone you know has already worked with them.
Look for well-produced videos on the social channels of other firms. Look for video material from some of your favorite brands. It doesn’t have to be a competitive company or even a corporate video production. You can come across something for a completely different niche that impresses you stylistically and effectively communicates a message.
Do a fast search on Google. If you’re looking for a local video production or animation studio, simply search for video production in a specific city and begin browsing at showreels. For the next step, choose three to five of your favorites.
Go Beyond the Showreel
It’s crucial to remember that the results of video content should be concrete, and not just creative. There are numerous examples of well-produced content that hasn’t resulted in increased traffic or conversion.
Finally, you want a team that can create a video that meets your company’s goals. Examine the types of businesses and industries with whom they’ve previously worked to get a sense of what they can provide.
You can also discover these videos on social media, where you can see how far they’ve gone, how many likes and shares they’ve gotten, and how many comments they’ve gotten. These are all good indications of audience engagement, demonstrating how successfully the videos connected with viewers and converted them into buyers.
This will also help you figure out where you should market your finished video. Consider your target audience’s age range to see where you can obtain the most exposure for your business. It’s pointless to make a well-made video if no one is going to see it.
Have a More In-Depth Conversation
Once you’ve reduced it down to two or three strong candidates, go over your project brief with them in greater detail.
Set up a face-to-face encounter if at all possible. This is necessary to determine whether your team and theirs are compatible. Remember that finding the best video production business is about more than simply expertise and creativity.
Take into account your personality and culture as well. Because you’ll be working closely together, you’ll want to make sure the employees are a good fit.
Before you hire a video production business, do some research to determine what you like and dislike about them. Refer to previous videos they’ve made to demonstrate what you want to accomplish or to raise any concerns. Understanding their video production process can help you relax and see how much money they can squeeze out of your budget.
Read our guide to growing a business with affiliate marketing as well.
Make a List of Questions
We’ve developed a list of 10 questions you should ask before choosing a video production business to go along with these suggestions. These include important issues such as requesting case studies for previously produced content.
The following are examples of topics to discuss in the meeting:
Which services they provide in-house and which they outsource are listed below. Is scriptwriting, for example, included? Is it possible for them to provide voiceovers? Make sure you’re completely clear on your requirements so you can figure out if they’ll be able to fulfill them.
What will be the project’s management strategy?
Will they provide modifications if any changes are required?
Based on their experience and knowledge, what advice do they have for making your project work?
A more in-depth discussion can also assist you determine whether members of your team are actually willing (and genuinely interested) in learning about your company’s and audience’s demands. A producer should be interested in learning more about the brief in order to create a video that resonates with your target audience.
Request a Proposal
After you’ve visited with a few video production businesses and discussed your needs, request that they offer you a proposal along with their quotation. A timeline and an analysis of the quote should be included.
When you compare the bids, you’ll be able to tell right away which company has grasped your vision and what you’re looking for. Pricing will also be a consideration when deciding who to hire. However, keep in mind that, like with anything, you get what you pay for. Finally, a more interesting video that effectively communicates your idea will yield a higher return on investment.