Smart Questions to Ask a Video Production Partner
Video production is an important decision for any company to make. They are the most potent branding, marketing, and customer engagement tools – videos. If you want to make a brand film, promotional video, or media campaign, the quality of your project is up to the advertising agency. To select the right partner, you must go in armed with the best questions you should ask your video production agency.
This post will take you through all the essential video production questions to ask before hiring. From learning about industry experience, to what you can expect for pricing, revision requests, and timelines – asking the right things up front will ultimately help you to have your vision executed with quality and professionalism.
Why Asking the Right Questions Matters
Before investing in video content, businesses always need to check agencies carefully. With the top questions to ask before hiring video production, you can prevent expensive mistakes, ensure that your goals are the same, and gain clarity about expectations. It's not enough to find a company that makes videos — you need a brand video content production company that "gets" your audience, your brand story, and where you want to be in 5 years.
1. Industry Experience
A production company that's worked within your sector before will know your challenges, market, and audience. This comfort level can be a big timesaver when planning your shots in pre-production. Ask about their previous work — and don't be afraid to ask how it translates to your business. One of the most important questions to ask for video production. A history of success in your niche. By now, you realize the importance of hiring an experienced video production company.
- How is your experience relevant to our industry?
- What are some obstacles that you have encountered in this field, and how did you manage to address them?
Repeat that the success of the past is a good indication that the video production company will be able to produce a video that is suitable for your audience. And this is something that plays a major role when you are hiring a brand video production company.
2. Portfolio & Case Studies
The simplest way to determine a video production company's creative and technical abilities is by taking a look at its portfolio. A strong portfolio will showcase a diverse range of styles, from animated explainer videos to high-end corporate films. If it is filled with variety and quality, you can trust that you are working with a versatile video production agency.
- Could you link to one of your portfolios in full?
- Do you have any references with stories of the vision of the project and the success?
- How do you measure whether a video is successful, and can you share some metrics for previous projects?
Case studies are also great — they demonstrate the video production agency's problem-solving ability, as well as the real return on investment of their work. When you see these examples, you will know what they're able to produce, and that's why this question is one of the top questions to ask before hiring a video production company.
3. Production Process
The key to a successful and collaborative process is a full understanding of the production procedure. You always know how the shoot will happen and feel comfortable from script to final versions. This is another crucial video production question to ask, preventing things from getting lost in translation and prolonging the process unnecessarily.
- What does the complete production pipeline look like for you?
- What are the critical touchstones and approval gates for client input?
- What is your process for pre-production, such as writing a script and planning a storyboard?
The top video production agency will also maintain a clear, organized process that isn't afraid to keep you updated and involved. How they handle everything, from creative development to actual filming, however, might need a little explanation.
4. Team Involvement
Know who will be working on your project is a must. You want to ensure that you have a team that is dedicated and possesses the appropriate expertise. A great video production company will have experts dedicated to each stage, ensuring quality and efficiency.
- Who will we refer to?
- How many will work on our project?
- Who are the key team members (e.g., director, editor) and what are their expertise levels?
This is a significant aspect of the greatest questions you should ask your video production agency, as the answer helps establish a personal connection and fosters trust in the team. You are not simply hiring a brand video production company, but working with humans.
5. Revision Policy
Edits are part of the imaginative process. A clear revision policy will also prevent feature creep and budget surprises. It is also very important to understand the number of rounds of revisions you may have before a contract is signed and for what additional cost, if any.
- How do you go about revising?
- Are there moments in production that one is more constricted in terms of what to change (eg, after the shoot)?
- What do extra revisions or major overhaul revisions cost?
The answer to this simple question can save you from many headaches and financial surprises. It's among the top video questions to ask before signing with a video production company.
6. Pricing & Packages
Pricing structures can vary wildly. Some agencies give you the option of paying for à la carte services, while others offer all-inclusive packages. Be sure you understand what you are paying for and what is not included to prevent any surprise charges.
- Can I get a list setting out your charges?
- What is provided with the package, and what are any additional expenses (such as voice-over talent, licensed music)?
- Do you have a variety of packages for different budgets or project types?
7. Timeline & Deadlines
A realistic timeline is crucial for planning purposes and aligning with your marketing calendar. A professional video production company can provide you with an in-depth project schedule that includes deadlines, so you know what to expect.
- How long will it take to get from project start to final delivery?
- How do you handle possible delays?
- How about a rush job—and will it cost an extra fee?
This makes it easy to ensure your new video is there when you need it. A professional video production company should deliver on time.
8. Communication Plan
Good communication is the linchpin of a good project. You'll want to have an idea of how often you'll be communicating with the agency, and how that communication will take place.
- What means of communication will we use during the project (i.e., email, video conferencing, CRM)?
- How frequently will it be updated?
- What is your process for dealing with time-sensitive questions or problems?
An effective communication plan ensures a healthy working relationship and helps you keep the project on its feet. These are all important questions to ask in video production.
9. Deliverables and Final Asset Ownership
Good communication is the linchpin of a good project. You'll want to have an idea of how often you'll be communicating with the agency, and how that communication will take place.
- What means of communication will we use during the project (i.e., email, video conferencing, CRM)?
- How frequently will it be updated?
- What is your process for dealing with time-sensitive questions or problems?
An effective communication plan ensures a healthy working relationship and helps you keep the project on its feet. These are all important questions to ask in video production.
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10. Measuring success
The fact is, a quality video production agency doesn't make a video. They help you reach a goal. Establish your video success metrics, work with video owners to understand what success looks like for this content before it's created.
- What is your advice for clients measuring the ROI of their videos?
- Which key measures do you suggest tracking for success?
- What are some of the ways your videos have affected clients' businesses?
This discussion will make sure you are both on the same page when it comes to goals and also fit into the video production agency's planning. You'll end up with a more effective final product if you focus on the results. That is an important part of the best questions to ask your video production agency.
With these key, basic video production questions to ask, you will be ready to choose a partner who can produce a business video that is not only of high quality but is also effective in achieving your business goals. Engaging a brand video production company is not to be taken lightly – it is a big investment, so make sure you're covering your bases with the vetting process.
Conclusion –
The fact is, a quality video production agency doesn't just make a video. They help you reach your goal. Establish your video success metrics, work with video owners to understand what success looks like for this content before it's created.
- What is your advice for clients measuring the ROI of their videos?
- Which key measures do you suggest tracking for success?
- What are some of the ways your videos have affected clients' businesses?
This discussion will make sure you are both on the same page when it comes to goals and also fit into the video production agency's planning. You'll end up with a more effective final product if you focus on the results. That is an important part of the best questions to ask your video production agency.
With these key, basic video production questions to ask, you will be ready to choose a partner who can produce a business video that is not only of high quality but is also effective in achieving your business goals. Engaging a brand video production company is not to be taken lightly – it is a big investment, so make sure you're covering your bases with the vetting process.
A sense of adventure combined with a creative side of strategy. Simply Thrilled's creativity and energy have earned its place among the UK's most innovative video production companies. Our team works on the production of brand films, promos, and social media distribution that cuts through the noise. Named for its passion for fresh thinking, good and powerful storytelling, and measurable success, Simply Thrilled turns work into attractive, visual stories. When it comes to hiring a brand video production company, Simply Thrilled is the best choice.
Frequently Asked Questions -
Q1: How much does it cost to hire a video production agency?
A: The price of video production projects varies from “$2,000 to $3,000” to a few hundred thousand dollars, depending on complexity, length, and scale. Elements such as location, professional actors, special effects, and animation all influence the final price tag. Get a detailed quote that spells out all the costs.
Q2: How long does a typical video production project take?
A: Depending on the project, something simple might be done in a few weeks, something more complex might take several months. The actual timeframe will vary based on pre-production, the number of shoot days, post-processing days, and rounds of client reviews. The best video production company will outline the time frame before the project begins
Q3: What is the most important factor when hiring a brand video production company?
A: The budget and timeline are definitely major considerations, but the most important thing is to work with an agency that gets your brand and knows how to effectively communicate your message creatively. Seek someone with a good portfolio, good client reviews, and a good way of working. Here are the top questions to ask before hiring a video production company.
Q4: What's the difference between a video producer and a video production agency?
A: The difference is that a video producer is a person who takes care of a video project where a video production agency is a company with a whole team, they have specialist for its own area (like a producer, director, camera men, editors), that takes care of all part of a project (from the concept to makes it happens). An agency offers a one-stop shop service that you can scale.
Q5: How can I ensure the video will meet my business goals?
A: Define your objectives first and foremost: Is it to drive more brand awareness, is it to generate leads, or is it to sell? Communicate these goals with the video production company upon requesting a quote. The better agencies will help you devise a video strategy specifically designed to get there, and will help you track the results. And this is one of the key strategies that you want to have in place when you're trying to hire an agency that specializes in brand video production.
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