Choosing a video production company has a major impact on your video. It can affect the quality, cost, professionalism, messaging, and even your brand’s reputation. No pressure, though!
If you’re looking to create a narrative or social media ad, branded documentary or animated explainer, finding a video production company doesn’t have to take a lot of work. You need to know what to look for and evaluate video companies correctly.
Here are some ways you can do that.
8 Tips to finding a great video production company
The video company you decide to work with will influence your video’s style and messaging. You likely already have a vision of your video in your mind, and a good production company has the technical talent to bring it to life. So, here are some of the things to keep in mind as you search for the right video production company.
1. Demo reel or portfolio of work
Ask to see some of their most recent production work. Some video companies will have their work available to see on their website. Others might offer you a demo reel. Watching their past productions can give you a good idea of the type of work they do. It can also help you see if the company will be a good fit based on what formats they’ve worked on before. For example, if you’re looking to produce a video of your daughters’ quinceanera, hiring a company that produces narrative works might not be the right fit. But it’s also a good idea to go beyond the demo reel and search out videos they’ve made. You can do this by exploring their social media accounts or even looking at past clients’ sites so you can see the entire video and not just the best clips.
2. Experience
Hire a company that has worked in the industry for some time. It gives you a good idea of their integrity and reputation. You want to work with professionals that understand video production techniques. But you don’t need to go with the most expensive company or one that has decades of experience. Look for someone who demonstrates capability and confidence in what they do.
3. Production quality
Your video is not where you want to skimp on production values. The quality of your video will reflect your brand. Consider it on-par with your business card. At the end of the day, your audience will hold you accountable for the quality of the production, not your video company. Search out a video company with a history of creating quality videos for other clients. If they aren’t able to produce videos that look like they belong on the big screen, it’s best to look elsewhere.
4. Cost
Video production can get pricey, but if you shop around, you should be able to find a good video company that can do quality work for an affordable price. It’s essential to know your budget before you start looking for companies. This can help you narrow down your choice. However, be flexible when it comes to cost as well-produced videos are worth the extra money. Remember that higher budgets equate to higher quality videos. And higher-quality videos can mean more sales, making the investment worth it in the end.
Yet, keeping the costs low is possible. Consider some of the factors that lead to higher costs, such as location, actors, and video length. If you’re able to keep these under control, you should be able to reduce the budget. For example, narrow it down instead of shooting in 10 different locations. Alternatively, if you were hoping to create a 10-minute short, cutting it down can make the story more concise, keep your budget costs down, and maintain your audiences’ attention longer.
5. Availability
If you’re on a deadline to get your video produced and released, you’ll need to know if the company will be able to get the work done on time. You don’t want to end up with a video that looks like it was thrown together in a hurry. But, you also don’t want to miss your deadline. Be clear with the video company about your expectations and ask them if they see a problem delivering it on time.
6. Reviews
Like any other business, research your video company before you sign with them. Look into past reviews from clients to see what others’ experience has been. You can find these through a Google search or social media. One or two poor reviews may not be a big deal, but if you see a lot of unhappy clients, you might want to reconsider working with that video company. It can also reflect well on a video company if they respond respectfully to bad reviews. That demonstrates they care about their service and their reputation. And that is a company worth hiring.
7. Communication
Almost every business relationship succeeds or fails based on communication. It’s important to determine if your communication style will mesh with that of your video company. For example, if you expect regular updates on production but your video company doesn’t report to you until the shooting is done, it might not be a match.
8. Vision
Video making is a creative process, but you don’t need to settle for a production that doesn’t fit your vision. Talk with the video company about their ideas based on your presentation. Keep in mind that they may have a different idea for your video based on current trends and their expertise. But, if they are suggesting something that you don’t feel comfortable with, you can find another video company. In other words, their vision should never eclipse yours.
If you’re looking for a great video production company, you’ve come to the right place. At Dan Rascal, we’re focused on creating high-quality videos that help you build your brand. Contact us today for a free quote.