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Corporate Video Service Hiring Tips: A Small Business Guide

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Whether it’s your company story, a product explainer video or a customer testimonial, video is a powerful marketing tool that should be leveraged by your small business.

Corporate Video Services are not all the same.  Things to know before hiring a production crew.

Your small business needs to outsource a video production team to create a professional-looking video to market your company, brand, and website to the masses. Seriously, you need video as part of your marketing plan. That’s not what this article is about, though, so if you need proof, Vidyard will provide you with 14 Benefits of Video Marketing for Small Businesses. 

Still, hiring a corporate video service is not something you’ve ever been tasked with before. A Google search will offer plenty of companies that make corporate videos. However,  hiring the right video production company is essential as they will become a pivotal extension of your team. It will seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.

Having a clear understanding of your ideas and ability to communicate this story to the video production team will help them bring your vision to life.

What to have in order before you begin your search

A recent behind the scenes shot from 2 East 8th Productions. Preparing for the perfect shot takes thoughtful planning by everyone involved.

You don’t need to know everything. That’s why you’re hiring the professionals. Hopefully, they will even be able to guide you through some of this process. But again, the clearer your vision, budget, goals, and expectations are, the more likely you are to end up with a finished product that meets your needs. 

As for the content of your message, Video Brewery has a great article on Why Corporate Videos Fail.

 

What To Look For in the Perfect Collaborative Video Production Company

If you’re providing an example video,  you’ll want to keep that video in mind when going through potential production crews. Their reel should mirror the quality, content, style, and tone that you are seeking.  If you want to produce a video with quality interviews and b-roll, but the reel you’re watching shows only live-action or sporting events, they may not be the best fit. 

Don’t spend an excessive amount of time on the demo reels, as they will quickly begin to blend. 3 to 5 that feel “right” should be sufficient enough for you to start reaching out. While it is always good to schedule a phone conversation or in-person meeting at some point down the line, the first contact is almost always made via email. Be friendly and provide as much information (vision, budget, goals, expectations) as you can to gauge their interest and availability for your desired timeline.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Response

Your first interaction with a filmmaker may feel pretty alien. You won’t speak the same language or shorthand, and you won’t know what equipment they’re referring to when they start asking about camera model numbers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

When responding to you, the prospective video production company should be efficient, effective, and energetic. 

Create a partnership with a video production team

The video production team you choose will be an extension of your company. Creative partnerships can be challenging to navigate and rely heavily on respect, communication, and trust. Quite simply, it’s like beginning any type of relationship. 

So, ask yourself, is this someone I like and want to work with? The actual shoot may only be a day or two, but if they’re also involved in pre-production and post-production, you will be in contact with them long before and after the filming takes place. It’s especially true if you’re fortunate enough to form a long-standing relationship with that team, as is often the case in this industry. Statistics vary, but generally anywhere from 50 – 65% of video production revenue comes from repeat clients. So it’s certainly in the interest of both parties to keep each other around. 

Hiring a corporate video service for your production should be like hiring staff. You want someone skilled who can share your vision and further the goals of your business. Like any hiring, do your homework and come prepared to ask questions. While you’re here, check out our services page and let us know what you think.  

Assembling the perfect crew will ensure smiles all around because making movies is fun and rewarding!
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