Ever wondered what sets exceptional video content apart? It’s the attention to detail that experienced production companies pour into their videos. This is why some videos make you go ‘Whoa’ and stay with you for days, while others quickly fade away.
Given this, today it’s important for businesses to invest in professionally produced videos more than ever. People are consuming about 100 minutes of video content every day and 96% of consumers rely on videos to explore a product or service.
If your video isn’t impactful, it’s going to get lost in the sea of videos we have today. So in this post, we’ll guide you on how to choose the ideal video production partner for your business and increase the ROI of your video content.
Video is dominating the digital content landscape. As of 2023, it is responsible for 65% of the entire internet traffic.
What’s more:
The increased video consumption combined with strategic production over the last few years has also resulted in impressive (and promising) ROI for marketers. Vyzowl reports that 91% of marketers say video content has helped them increase traffic. Increased traffic has lead to a significant increase in:
92% of marketers also agree that videos give them a positive trend in ROI.
What captivates viewers most about this content format is visual storytelling. Visual storytelling involves the use of compelling visuals combined with narration, music, or other audio elements. It’s a way of communicating information, emotions, or a brand’s story through the power of images and sequences. This form of storytelling captivates attention for several reasons:
Visual storytelling also transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, making it appealing to diverse audiences.
A corporate video production company can give an extra flair of perfection to your video content. They can make your videos stand out from the crowd. Here’s how they do that:
Video production is both an art and a science. It requires an in-depth understanding of storytelling, cinematography, and technical aspects.
A video production company has a team of seasoned professionals who excel in their domains. Their collective expertise ensures that your video content not only meets but exceeds industry standards. From crafting corporate scripts to editing, they’ll make sure each step is executed flawlessly and infused with a professional touch.
Another advantage of partnering with a video production company is gaining access to top-tier resources and cutting-edge technology. Many video teams are equipped with the latest cameras, lighting setups, and editing software, which ensures that your video is professional-grade and has top-notch quality. This is something you might not be able to attain independently without spending like crazy.
Hiring professionals allows you to save time. Their streamlined workflows and know-how of filming reduce the time required to achieve a polished product. This lets you focus on more meaningful activities, such as hiring the right talent, introducing new products, and strategizing marketing plans.
An external videography team also brings a fresh set of eyes and ears to the table. They offer insights that you might not have considered.
This third-party perspective helps in refining and enhancing your initial concept. It ensures that the final product is not only visually appealing but also resonates effectively with your target audience.
As beneficial as your collaboration could be, things can also go terribly wrong if you choose the wrong video production company. Here are some insights into potential consequences:
Say you invest weeks into planning a video only to find out that the team you’ve hired can’t make things how you want or when you need them. This can be frustrating and hurt your finances.
The worst thing that can happen is getting a video that doesn’t look good or tell your story right. If the team you choose isn’t up to the task, your video might not connect with people like you want it to. This could harm your brand and not win the attention you hoped for.
To avoid this, here’s a brief but effective process to research and shortlist the right company:
Browse Google or in industry directories to find possible video teams. Check out what people are saying about the services you like to see if they’re good at their job.
Next, check out their past videos to make sure they are capable of producing the quality you seek. We recommend assessing the portfolio first by niche and then by skill level.
If they don’t have experience in your desired niche but have the required skills, it’s still recommended that you consider a production team with relevant experience.
Lastly, tap into your professional network for recommendations. Seek insights from those who have recently collaborated with video production companies, especially on projects similar to yours.
When someone trusted recommends a service, it’s likely to be more reliable than what you’d find online.
But what are the qualities you should look for while searching for a video production partner? Here are five essentials to keep in mind:
You can judge the expertise of a company by looking at the:
A high number for all three indicates high expertise. Talking about expertise, we have an experience of over ten years and have dealt with a variety of industries as well as filming styles at Ivory Media. You can browse all of our latest work here.
When assessing the team members of a video production service, you want to assess the quality of the team rather than its size. There’s no guarantee a large team will execute your project better than a small team (of let’s say three individuals).
Schedule a meeting with the team members who will be directly involved in your project. Discuss their roles, experiences, and contributions. Ask about their specific qualifications and how their expertise aligns with your project’s requirements. This will provide a clearer understanding of the team dynamics and the skills they bring to the table.
A high-quality portfolio is visually distinguishable from a poor-quality portfolio. The cinematography, storytelling techniques, technical proficiency, and diversity of projects testify to a strong command over video production.
On the other hand, confused messages, blurry and pixelated visuals, and repetition of video themes (within the portfolio) tell the opposite — they’re not experts in their craft yet.
We also recommend looking at the customer testimonials to assess portfolio quality.
Next, assess if the video production team is sensitive and accommodating of your culture. You can do so by initiating discussions about values, communication styles, and work processes.
Share your organisation’s culture and expectations and inquire about theirs. Consider arranging a casual meeting or team-building activity to gauge how well your cultures align. This is essential because it ensures smoother collaboration and a shared vision for the project.
Lastly, ask about the specific equipment and technology the company utilises. A reputable and confident video production company should be transparent about the tools they use.
If you’re not familiar with the latest advancements in video production technology, conduct some research and then ask targeted questions about their equipment. Alternatively, you can ask them about the recency of each software/tool in their gear.
As you meet with different video production teams, consider asking them the following questions:
In addition to asking the right questions and knowing what to assess, you also need to be well-prepared to identify the red flags of a video production company. These include:
If the company is inconsistent or slow to respond during the initial stages, it may do the same when working on your project. Slow and incomplete responses might mean that the company is overbooked.
A reliable video production company should be able to answer all of your queries with complete transparency, whether they are about their process or money. Nothing is secret in a video production collaboration and they cannot withhold information. If they do, it’s a red flag.
Companies with outdated technology won’t be comfortable sharing their gear with you. Be sure to ask the company if they can show their equipment to you before working with them. In this way, you’d be able to figure out whether tech is being compromised or not.
A reputable company should provide a clear and detailed breakdown of its pricing structure to avoid any misunderstandings. Companies that don’t quote exact figures may bring up hidden costs later on.
If the company has a high turnover rate or seems to be booking too many projects at once, it may negatively affect the quality of your project.
Since video production involves risks and accidents during shooting, an insurance plan is necessary. If a company doesn’t have one, it may leave you vulnerable to potential liabilities and financial risks.
The average cost of professional video production in Australia is $100 – $149 per hour. However, most video production companies do not charge by the hour. They charge per project or monthly subscriptions. In that case, you should expect to pay anywhere between $5000 and $55000 per video.
Here are a few tips to negotiate the pricing:
Once you finalise your decision to move forward with a video production company, ensure that all the essential details are well-documented in a contract. Here’s how to do it:
Summing up, we hope this guide helps you choose the right video production partner. Before we sign off, we’d like to give you some more post-production tips:
If you’re still on the lookout for a video production partner in Australia, reach out to us today. We have a combined experience of 40 years in this industry and would love to chat about your video needs.
