The world is changing so rapidly. Most of us used Facebook for the first time on around 2008 to 2012. Back then, there were only a few videos on the Facebook timeline and most of the posts were in image format. But now, more than 80% of posts on the Facebook timeline are in video format. There are multiple reasons behind this massive uplift for the video posts and so for the entire video production industry.
One of the main reasons is over the last few years we have witnessed a sharp drop in the price of the internet. In India, before Jio entered in the market in 2016 we had to pay around Rs 250 for 2GB data, but Jio launched unlimited internet package for Rs 399/month. Soon, other telecom companies also followed the path of Jio in the fear of losing the hyper large telecom market of India.
Another reasons behind videos’ success story is, videos are way more engaging than still images or just a simple write up.
Even the most complex things can easily be taught with the help of videos. Will you by a book for learning coding or simply buy a Udemy course, which is in video format?
When we read something we actually imagine everything we read in image format. Let’s just say “Crow”. When you hear the word “crow”, an image of a crow appears in your subconscious mind, not just 4 letters c, r, o, w. But if you watch a video of a crow you do not have to imagine the image of a crow. Videos touch more of our senses than texts or images do.
Hiring a team to create videos for your business can be a substantial investment but one that’s well worth it, if you end up with a superior product that effectively markets your company. Yet choosing a production company can be risky business: You pay upfront (at least in part) for a product that hasn’t yet been created. It requires a leap of faith.
Below are a few insider tips for finding a production company that will create the video your business deserves.
What’s in it for you?
- Don’t get dazzled by a demo reel
- Fond their most recent projects
- Get several quotes
- You really do get what you pay for
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Here are four tips to get a really good video production agency.
1. Don’t get dazzled by a demo reel.
A lot of video production agencies host a demo reel on their homepage. Typically, it’s a minute-long series of clips from past projects set to music. The purpose is to prove to you that they’re an established company with a variety of clients. Sounds good, right? What demo reels don’t show you is what those finished projects really looked like. You need a video that does more than look pretty: It needs to be effective for your business and communicate the message you’re intending to send. Dig deeper into their website and find the actual videos they were hired to create. Don’t see any? It’s a red flag.
2. Find their most recent projects.
I’ll admit it: The company I work for doesn’t always showcase our most recent projects on our website. Updating our website is time-consuming, so we only refresh the videos every few months. You can see our most recent projects on our Vimeo and Facebook pages because it takes just a few clicks to upload them to those sites, and I can easily send direct links to specific videos to potential clients.
Visit a production company’s social-media sites to see what their most recent works look like. Recent projects deliver an accurate representation of the current equipment and talent they’ll bring to your shoot.
3. Get several quotes.
Getting several estimates is the only way to make sure your project is priced right. It can be time consuming going through the bidding process with several vendors but well worth it in the end as pricing can vary wildly.
Last year, we had our team assess our pricing structure to see where we fit in our local market. We sent out a fake RFP to see how other companies would bid on a project compared to us. (Yes it was very sneaky, but how else could we do it?) What we found was that for the same project bids came in anywhere between $800 and $20,000!
Consider the price along with the quality of their past projects. The company that seems like the best value is the one you should choose.
4. You really do get what you pay for
No matter what your budget is, you’ll be able to find someone to create videos for you. If your finances are really tight, there’s nothing wrong with hiring a college student who does production on the side, or someone who’s really new and just trying to build up his portfolio. Just know that the production quality won’t be the same as if you hire a professional team. On the flip side, if you have a bigger budget, use it. Professionals who command higher rates do so because they’re confident in their product. They have the bells, whistles and experience to make your video sizzle.
To find a local production company, visit a site like ProductionHUB. You can simply post an RFP and let companies bid on it (be prepared to get inundated with phone calls and emails) or browse listed companies and contact those who are a good fit. Remember, doing some legwork upfront is the best way to ensure the end product is what you had envisioned.
Other than finding a video production agency here and there you can simply head to a freelancer site like Fiverr and find lots of freelancers and agencies.
You can very easily understand who do good job on Fiverr, beacuse of the rating system.
If you have a tight budget, then don’t find for a video production agency in the first place. Try to find a freelancer or a beginner who wants to create a portfolio in order to acquire clients.
Conclusion
Now it’s worth to spend a few bucks to get a good video for your business or to cover an event organized by you or for any other reason.
But, seeing the opportunity in this industry many people have started video production agencies and believe me, most of them cannot give you the result you are looking for.
So, take your time before choosing an agency.
FAQ
The world is changing so rapidly. Most of us used Facebook for the first time on around 2008 to 2012. Back then, there were only a few videos on the Facebook timeline and most of the posts were in image format. But now, more than 80% of posts on the Facebook timeline are in video format. There are multiple reasons behind this massive uplift for the video posts and so for the entire video production industry.
One of the main reasons is over the last few years we have witnessed a sharp drop in price of the internet. In India before Jio entered in the market in 2016 we had to pay around Rs 250 for 2GB data, but Jio launched unlimited internet package for Rs 399/month. Soon, other telecom companies also followed the path of Jio in the fear of losing the hyper large telecom market of India.
Another reasons behind videos’ success story is, videos are way more engaging than still images or just a simple write up.
Even the most complex things can easily be taught with the help of videos. Will you by a book for learning coding or simply buy a Udemy course, which is in video format?
A lot of video production agencies host a demo reel on their homepage. Typically, it’s a minute-long series of clips from past projects set to music. The purpose is to prove to you that they’re an established company with a variety of clients. Sounds good, right? What demo reels don’t show you is what those finished projects really looked like. You need a video that does more than look pretty: It needs to be effective for your business and communicate the message you’re intending to send. Dig deeper into their website and find the actual videos they were hired to create. Don’t see any? It’s a red flag.
Getting several estimates is the only way to make sure your project is priced right. It can be time consuming going through the bidding process with several vendors but well worth it in the end as pricing can vary wildly.
Last year, we had our team assess our pricing structure to see where we fit in our local market. We sent out a fake RFP to see how other companies would bid on a project compared to us. (Yes it was very sneaky, but how else could we do it?) What we found was that for the same project bids came in anywhere between $800 and $20,000!
Consider the price along with the quality of their past projects. The company that seems like the best value is the one you should choose.
Other than finding a video production agency here and there you can simply head to a freelancer site like Fiverr and find lots of freelancers and agencies. You can very easily understand who do a good job on Fiverr, because of the rating system.
If you have a tight budget, then don’t find for a video production agency in the first place. Try to find a freelancer or a beginner who wants to create a portfolio in order to acquire clients.
