TIPS FOR YOUR CORPORATE PRODUCTION

Recent studies show that people remember merely 20% of what they hear, and only 30% of what they see, and an incredible 70% what they hear and see.* With this in mind, it's clear to see why video is such a powerful communications tool!

So your company has decided they need some type of video services. Where do you start? What questions do you ask? How can you ensure that the final product is what you really want? This article will give you some helpful hints so that you'll end up with a professional video project you can be proud of.

First, let’s talk about money. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for. That is definately true of video production. If you make a decision to hire a production company just by choosing the lowest quoted bid, you will probably end up with a video that is a poor representation of what you expected.

Remember, this video represents your company. Do you want your video to look like a high school A/V project? On the other hand, there is no reason to go nuts and spend tons of money. It’s important to find a company that gives a fair bid for the services you are asking for, and can produce your project in a professional manner.

To start off on the right foot, there are a few questions that you will want to ask of every company that you contact when asking for a bid:

What kind of experience do you have? - Number of years of experience and what kinds of experience will speak volumes as to whether or not the production company will be able to properly handle the job you are looking to produce.

Do you have samples I can view? - Viewing samples online or samples sent be mail are both good ways of ensuring that the company's quality is to your liking.

Do you have any professional credentials? - Things like: business insurance, business licenses, memberships in video associations, etc. - those all speak to the validity and seriousness of the business.

What type of equipment do you use? All cameras should be 3 chip digital or better. Ask if the company owns a professional lighting kit. Ask what kind of microphones they use. Equipment is not everything, but it is definately a big part of it.

Also, be ready for numerous questions from the company. If the company is going to work up a fair and proper bid for you, they should be asking these kinds of questions:

1. When and where is your event (if you are planning a specific date(s) )?
2. What is your deadline (if the shooting day is not date contingent)?
3. What is the purpose of the video? What do you want to achieve with this video?
4. How long do you think the video needs to be to cover the subject matter?
5. What is your budget or what is the max you can spend?
6. Who is your target audience?
7. What is the desired response from your audience after they watch the video?
8. Do you currently use video for your training/marketing? Do you have examples?
9. What do you like or dislike about other videos?
10. Would you like any of the following: lower thirds titling, script-writing services, a DVD menu, music intro with graphics and logo, chapter stops, personalized casing?
11. Will you need any voice over talent?
12. Are there any other materials that need to be included in the video, such as photographs?
13. How many copies will you need?

You may be asking - why so many questions? Your project, though it may be similar to others, is still very unique. Since the production company doesn't know anything about your company, or the products/services that you offer, or the vision of the video that you want....the production company will need a lot of information to work up a proper bid for you.

You may also be asking - why do you need to know what my budget is? - or - What if I don't know what my budget is? Very simply put, a production company can give you a huge, creative, highly impactful video production, or they can give you a small, simple, yet still informative video production. It all depends on what you want and how much you are willing to spend. If you can give a price range, that will help the production company to know what to offer you to suit your needs. While knowing your budget range is not highly necessary, it will help you to get the right services for the right price, so it is a highly desirable piece of information.

Final Points to Remember

It is important to remember, especially if you are new to using video, is that communication is vital to the success of your video. Your production company should be available at any time to answer any questions you may have.

Because television is such a huge part of our lives, we are very accustomed to high quality programming. Today’s viewers are sophisticated and expect broadcast quality video productions. If your video is not high quality, your message and image will suffer greatly.

Remember to ask questions, be sure your production company asks you a lot of questions, and go with your gut feeling. If you follow these guidelines you will probably end up with a great product and have a fun time in the process!

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions.

*Source: Harvard Business Review