The first question you might ask when looking for a creative and affordable video production company is how much does video production cost. Budget is usually a primary factor for most businesses when they’re searching.
Because the market is highly competitive, it’s easy to find cheap video productions. It’s no secret that videos have become the most popular and effective form of content to capture an audience’s attention. Nearly 84% of people say they buy a product or service after watching a brand’s video. As a result of the growing demand, companies are competing for clients and are willing to work at reduced prices.
This means you can easily find an affordable video production company that fits your unique needs and budget.
But remember that affordability does not mean you need to trade quality for lower prices.
Understand What You Really Mean by “Affordable” Video Production
Video content is usually more expensive than other forms of content.
Why?
Because to create truly engaging videos that drive customers and revenue, you need professionals with excellent specialized skills. With greater expertise comes higher costs. Moreover, pre-production requires time and filming can require expensive equipment. All of these factors often make video production costly.
Despite this, video marketing is a cost-effective way to increase your reach, expand your client base and drive revenue in business. So, every penny you spend on video production will be worth it.
Affordability hinges on various factors like needs, budget, campaign type, etc. So, you need a partner who can produce excellent video content that aligns with your business goals and budget.
With a little research, you can find an affordable video production company that offers excellent services at competitive prices.
Important Steps to Find a Reliable and Affordable Video Production Company
Whether it’s a promotional video for a new product or an Explainer video for your company’s homepage, finding the right video team should be the first thing on your mind.
To kick off your quest, follow these tips to find the right video production company:
#1. Define Your Goals Clearly
Write down a creative brief explaining your campaign objective and information about your business and audience. This will give you a focus to help narrow down the type of companies that fit your needs. In addition, it saves you time in your search by streamlining the initial discussion.
Please note that a creative brief is not the same as a script. It’s a straightforward summary of your objectives, audience, and the message you want to convey. So, make it as simple and clear as possible.
#2. Set Your Budget
Keep in mind that video production is an investment, not an expense. Marketers who use video increase their revenue 49% faster than non-video marketers. Nearly 87% of video marketers report earning a positive ROI and increase in traffic.
So, you can rest assured knowing that the money you spend on video production will be worth it. Setting a budget is important to find an affordable video production company and give them an insight into what they can provide for you most cost-effectively.
Set a realistic budget! You should consider costs depending on the type of videos you want. For instance, animation is usually cheaper than videos that involve filming live-action with actors and crew.
When it comes to services and results, you get what you pay for. So, be thoughtful, practical, and realistic with your budget.
#3. Research and List the Companies to Approach
Some ways to start your search are:
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Ask for referrals
Get referrals from trusted colleagues, LinkedIn peers, Instagram followers, or Facebook friends. Make a list of all viable options and move on to the next step (before contacting the recommendations).
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Search on the Internet
If you enter the term “video production company” on Google, you’ll find an overwhelming list. So, how do you narrow down your choices? Look for a local video production partner. For instance, if the video will be filmed in your facility located in Texas, you can Google “the best affordable video production company in Texas.”
Moreover, some companies are willing to travel around the country to serve their clients. Keep this in mind if you don’t find a good video production company near you.
Important note: Ignore Google ads and directory listings. Choose from organic results only.
#4. Shortlist the Companies (What to look for When Contracting a Video Production Agency)
While there are countless factors, the following four can help shortlist video production companies:
- Portfolio: Portfolios showcase the work a company is most proud of. Take a look to get an idea of the highest quality work they can deliver.
- Reels: A reel consists of snippets of the company’s best work, edited together to demonstrate its work style.
- Testimonials: Check out client reviews and stars on the company’s website, Google, Clutch, and other popular review channels.
- Awards: Did you know that some companies pay to get an award? So, discount companies that tout awards you never heard of before.
- Industries/Companies they serve: Check portfolios for industries that are similar to yours.
Create the final list of 3-4 top contenders you’ll choose from.
#5. Ask Questions and Have a Detailed Discussion
If possible, visit shortlisted companies in person or set up a Zoom meeting to get a feel for their work culture, skills, and creative ability.
During the discussion, refer to their previous work and open up about all your concerns. Give them your content briefing and ask about their approach to your campaign. Understanding their process will help you to understand what is involved and see what they can achieve out of your budget.
#6. Clarify Your Timeline
Avoid working close to a major deadline! Allow some extra time because the video may undergo several rounds of review and edits to be perfected to fit your expectations.
#7. Understand How The Company Estimates Costs
Remember that the video production process includes pre-production, production, and post-production stages. Additional things like interviews, shooting locations, and special effects add more time and increase costs.
To get an accurate cost estimate, the company should understand your expectations and consider elements you want to include in the video. A good video provider should be able to provide affordable video production while maintaining quality standards.
#8. Don’t Be Swayed By Flashy Equipment and Gear
If you want to hire a truly reliable and affordable video production partner, be cautious of companies that brag about their impressive studio and equipment. Fancy gear may make your video look great, but may not tell your story effectively and engage the target audience.
Every form of content – graphics, text, or videos – should focus on the art of storytelling. So, look for a company that excels at telling stories and hooking your viewers.
#9. Measure Your Return on Investment (ROI)
Affordability and ROI go hand-in-hand. A video that drives significant profits to your business may be of huge value. A video that costs $5,000 can be considered affordable if it generates $50,000 in return. So, be clear about how you will use the video to drive traffic and revenue to your business.
Finally, get a time and price quote from each shortlisted company. Compare and choose the one that best aligns with your business objectives and budget.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the above tips will help you choose the right company that delivers affordable video productions with exceptional content.
And remember: the only thing that matters is a video that resonates with your goal and helps drive new business.
Contact Us to learn more about how businesses use EditMate for video editing and affordable video productions.