Seven Things to Consider When Hiring a Video Production Company

There are several important questions to ask when hiring a video production company. We recommend that you get two or three estimates before selecting a video production company. Below are some of the important questions to help guide you through the process.

1) Does the video production company understand your goals and objectives for your video?

Your number one priority should be making sure that the video production company fully understand the goals and objectives of your video and its intended audience. We encourage our clients to provide an outline when approaching us to produce a new video.

This outline will include the following information:

• What are the goals and objectives of the video?
• What are the key messages you need to communicate? (this can be bullet points)
• Who is the audience and what is likely to motivate them?
• How will the video ultimately be seen? (Web, events, sales meetings, all of the above)

The more information you can provide about your audience to your video production company, the better. It’s important that the company understand what is going to motivate and inspire your audience.

2) Does the potential video production company understand your brand and your company culture?

It’s critical that your video production company understand your company brand and culture. Whether the video is meant for an internal employee or potential customers, the video production company needs to appropriately communicate your message to your audience.

One of our favorite aspects of the creative process is pre-production. We work closely with clients to determine the style, approach and storyline that best fits their brand. Our process is organic, allowing ample room for brainstorming, watching videos for inspiration and sharing with clients’ our findings. We recommend clients go through the same process of brainstorming and discovery.

3) Have they done work in the past that reflects the “look, feel and style” that is appropriate for your messaging?

The proof is in the pudding. If the video production company you are considering has produced a video with a similar look and feel as the one you want to create, you can have confidence that they will produce for you.

4) Are they customer service oriented and will they keep your project on schedule?

Producing a video that is going to make you and your boss proud is only half of the battle. Almost equally important is selecting a video production company that cares about you as a client. Good communication and providing a clear and realistic production schedule (including milestones along the way so that you can know that you are on track), is essential.

5) Can they give you good advice about the right length of the video?

The attention span of the average web audience is short. It’s best that you leave them wanting more rather than risking the audience clicking away. We recommend a web video no longer than 3 minutes, shorter is even better. If you have a lot of content, it is more effective to simplify your message rather than trying to put it all in one video.

For example, rather than combining a product video with a “who-we-are” branding video we recommend making those separate videos. Having said that we are also fans of the “economy of scale” so by all means when possible shoot the content for two or more videos when it makes sense, because it can save time and money, which is just smart.

6) Is there a good synergy?

Is this a company that you want to spend the weekend on a deserted island with, or at least on a production stage? Producing a video can be a fun, creative process, so we think this process should be an enjoyable one. We recommend you have coffee with your potential video production company to make sure that there is a good vibe and creative synergy.

7) Are you getting the best bang for the video production buck?

Putting it all together, when you’re comparing estimates make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Have the video production companies that you are considering provided you an estimate that is based on the same information? Based on the company’s past work will they provide you with similar production quality? Will you enjoy working with them? Are they a good fit culturally?