Should you hire a professional video production company?
Wondering whether or not to out-source your video communications requirements?
There are lots of people who enjoy dabbling in video and there are now many 'cheap and cheerful' tools out there that make it easier than ever to do it yourself. Almost anyone with a camera phone can now start making basic films.
In a way, this 'video democracy' is all good. User-Generated Content (UGC) by its very nature doesn't have to be slick and professional. Much of its appeal lies in its viral spontaneity and this can be great for recording live event phenomena or adding a down to earth touch. But is this method appropriate when you need to communicate a concise business message for your brand?
Should you hire a professional video production company for your business or 'have a go' internally?
Here are 6 points to consider:
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Anyone can shoot video
That's right anyone can shoot video. But not everyone can shoot good video. Getting 'good' requires a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience with the right equipment. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. If you have the time and access to the kit, by all means, go out there and start experimenting. (We encourage this because generally, the more clients know about what we have to do to get good results, the more they appreciate and trust us to take care of it for them). -
Saving money
You may think that by doing something yourself you save money right? Well, in the short term perhaps.
Ever try to DIY a job, only to find out you didn't have the resources to complete it in a timely fashion? You probably realised it was a false economy, and maybe the point was reinforced by a spouse that told you to 'call a plumber!' Is that saving money or a false economy? -
Saving time
If you don't have the time to source, brief and engage someone you might think it will be quicker to do it yourself. Chances are though 'you don't know what you don't know' and you may encounter technical and creative dilemmas which the pros have already dealt with before.
These can cause delays and become a source of frustration which suck up energy and forward momentum. It could easily take you 3 times longer to do things yourself than if you hire an expert. And isn't your time better spent doing you what you know best? -
Keeping control
You might have an idea, know what you want and prefer to keep control of it. That's fine but video is a communications tool, which means there is an inherent relationship with your audience- the viewer. Sooner or later your 'baby' needs to be seen by its audience. If it's grown up in a 'bubble' chances are it's going to be a shy and awkward child. Wouldn't it be better if it was co-fostered with 'godparents' who could add some objective and even creative wisdom before it's debut? -
Quality control
Another benefit of having an outsider on board is they can be held accountable for bringing an agreed level of quality to the project. It's not always easy to be objective about your own work, even less so if you aren't grounded in what the industry standards are.
If you're hiring a good video producer, you should be getting the benefit of experience that can be brought to your project. You can expect them to deliver much higher production values than you could achieve internally and in less time. Of course, this assumes that quality is important to your brand and that you want to reflect those standards in your communications. Staff are often faced with internal pressures which may compromise the quality of their work, whereas an external supplier has a reputation to maintain and a vested interest in producing good work to secure their next contract. -
Added value
Good, experienced video producers know about scripts, shot lists, and scheduling. They understand that recording good sound is often at least as important as 'lighting' the subject. They take pride in crafting quality videos as quickly as possible and will sort out any issues that may arise. And because they do it regularly, they can add value - not only to how the footage is acquired - but by suggesting ways to re-use the content, helping you achieve value for money.
If you want to focus on your core business and make someone else accountable for the results, you should at least consider calling in the professionals.