When looking to hire a video production company, you may not know what to expect, what to prepare for, or what a reasonable price is for the work you require. We at Mack Media Group take pride in being "Easy to work with" because we know that each of our new clients has these questions in mind when deciding who to hire for their video production needs. Remember these 5 tips for your next video project to get the most bang for your buck!
1. Quality and contract workers
Contract employees frequently assist video production companies in reducing overhead costs, which may ultimately lower your bottom line. However, there is a cost to this, and that cost is quality. Every photographer/animator/creative works in a unique way.
If you decide to work with a production company that has contracted employees, make sure you understand their styles and whether they will fit your vision. Make sure to ask your production company if they use contract workers and that their style is compatible with your project.
2. Remember to keep your destination in mind.
Another thing to consider is where your videos will eventually reside. If you need case study videos for YouTube and your website, a video longer than 2 minutes may suffice. However, if you intend to share them on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, you must cut the length of your video content to ensure viewer retention.
Consider 'teaser' videos of 15 seconds or less for your social media pages, and keep the full-length videos on YouTube/Vimeo/websites. If you notify your production company that you want shorter videos for social media, they will format your video file to be mobile-friendly.
3. Don't rely on the demo reel.
Demo reels are great for showcasing the production house's full potential; however, look at the company's most recent work. This should give you a good idea and understanding of what you can expect from your video purchase. Base your expectations on recent videos, and don't be afraid to ask for something different!
We know from experience that it can be difficult to fit all of your best work into a short demo reel, so nothing makes us happier than a client who wants to see more!
4. Look around.
Get quotes from various video production companies and keep your search reasonable. Just because that wedding videographer can do your customer testimonial for a few hundred dollars doesn't mean you'll get the same quality as if you went with the highest bidder.
If your neighbor's nephew recently graduated with a film degree and has the most up-to-date equipment, that doesn't mean he's qualified to handle your or your client's expectations. Also, remember to shop around and get bids from places that specialize in the type of videos you want. For example, if you're looking for a 2D animated video, make sure to solicit bids from people with extensive 2D experience and work samples.
5. Don't give up on your budget vision.
One of the most important points to emphasize is that many clients believe that when they pay for a video shoot, they only get shots for one video. This is not true! Gather as much material as possible for multiple videos before scheduling a shoot date. Because you paid for the shoot day, you own the rights to your footage (at least, our clients do).
Each video you can create during a shoot day reduces your cost for each individual video and provides you with a video package that you can use in your video marketing strategy.
Hopefully these few tips will help out with your next project– feel free to ask us any questions you might have over these, or other topics. If you are looking for a video production company in New York we’re always here to help share our expertise with you!
