So, you’ve decided you need some video content for an upcoming marketing campaign or
your website.
Brilliant.
You’ve also decided that you’re not going to try and produce it in-house, because you
recognise the value of getting experts in to make sure the finished piece is as polished,
engaging and downright sharable as possible.
Awesome!
Now all that remains is to find those experts. But how? Is it possible to find a good video production company without first working your way through countless providers who do nothing more than taking your money and leaving you with something you could have produced in-house?
Good news – it is possible to find a good company, providing you use the following ten tips
for sourcing the right video production company for your needs.
1) Check out examples of their work
It’s a great idea to check out the work previously undertaken by video production companies,
so don’t be afraid to ask for a list of projects they’ve worked on. If they’re worth their salt,
they’ll be able to dig them out pretty quickly for you. Look for high quality imagery, clear sound, interesting images and content that carries a clear message. If you find yourself wanting to watch it again and feel fully engaged, these guys know what they’re doing.
2) Is video their key business?
Some video production companies are swallowed up within larger marketing firms. This isn’t necessarily an issue, but it’s a good idea to find a company that specialises in video.
This means it will be their main focus and they’ll likely have staff that are solely dedicated to producing awesome video content, rather than being spread across multiple disciplines.
3) Look at their clients
A great way to assess the true capabilities of a video production company is to take a look at their previous clients. You can ask for a list or hunt down a ‘testimonials’ or ‘who we’ve worked with’ section on their website. Take a good look. Do they have a variety of clients, some of which are in industries similar to yours? Or are they seemingly focused on one particular sector? It’s the former you’re looking for, as this means they have more chance of understanding your industry and what’s needed to make your company shine on video.
4) Client testimonials?
There’s nothing quite like hearing it from the horse’s mouth, as it were, when it comes to finding out just how good a video production company is. The best way to do this is via customer testimonials. Once again, these should be available on request or via their website, and may come in the form of news articles, blog posts,
podcasts or videos.
Ideally, you’d want to see the latter, because that would again highlight how focused the company in question is on video. Video testimonials from clients who recommend working
with the video production company you’re considering speak loud and clear, because nothing speaks louder than someone who has experienced the service first hand.
5) Look for depth in their staff base
It’s advisable to find a company that has in-house talent, rather than one that farms out specific tasks to freelancers or other businesses. If it’s a ‘full’ company in that sense with several members of staff, there should be a nice, equal spread of talent across the many disciplines of video production. It takes a lot to make a great video. Editors, directors, producers and camera operators are all needed if the end result is to shine. For this reason, you need to ensure you don’t get stuck with a one-man- band videographer who may wilt under the strain if you’re after a large production.
6) Look for transparency
Budgets are always tight when it comes to marketing, which is why transparency in both pricing and the service on offer is vital. Look for video production companies that offer clear and simple costings. You want a company that can deliver on what it promises and does so within budget – not one that promises the earth and continues to send you invoices long after the project is finished for ‘additional work’.
7) How far will they go?
Although ‘going the extra mile’ is a bit of a business cliche, it matters when it comes to video marketing. This is a tricky one to assess when you’re looking for a company to help you produce great video, but the way in which they approach your enquiry should give you an idea as to how willing they are to do more than they quote for in order to get the best job done.
8) Look for online reviews
Online reviews are rarely the clearest indication of how good a company is, but they do offer a bit of an insight into their relationships with previous clients. Don’t be alarmed if you can’t find any reviews, and don’t be put off by negative reviews, unless they’re significant in number. Just have a browse and, if you see something that alarms you, raise it with the company when you speak to them. If they’re honest and genuine, they’ll happily talk about it.
9) Work on a tight brief
Video marketing companies are at their best when working from a good brief. The great companies will help you create the brief, but it’s important to remember that it’s your brief, therefore it pays to spend some time on it before you start looking for suppliers. The tighter you are with your brief, the less likely you are to wonder whether a failed project is actually down to your own poor planning. More importantly, it will give the best video companies the perfect platform from which to demonstrate their expertise.
10) Talk about deadlines
It’s vital you talk about deadlines with any potential candidates to whom you might outsourcing your video marketing. That starts from the moment you speak to them. Chances are, you’ll have a date in mind by which the piece will need to be published – are they able to fit your job in? If they say they are, ask for a brief plan or synopsis of how they’ll achieve the finished work in that time and what they’ll need from all the parties involved to make sure the deadline isn’t missed.
Wrapping up and final thought
Don’t forget to ask the video production companies you’re considering how they handle the hosting and online deployment of the video. Even if those aren’t services they provide, they should be able to offer guidance on how best to get the finished article seen and shared by the audience you’re targeting. We hope this guide helps in your quest for awesome video marketing content!