With more eyes than ever on streaming services and social media, you should be considering video production for your business.
Video has remained marketing king in the digital age. If you are not thinking about using video in your marketing strategy, you are making a mistake.
This article will go into the types of video production on the market and what they can do for you and your business.
Video production is a broad term. It encompasses things from feature film to live streaming, animation to documentary.
If you are looking to add video production to your marketing plan, you should first ask yourself what exactly you’re looking for. Do you want a massive, polished production or a documentary-style brand film? The options seem endless.
There is a lot to keep in mind when picking what videos will suit your brand. If you are in the dark about what types of video production there are, don’t worry; we’re here to walk you through everything you need to know.
Video production is not as simple as pointing a camera at something. Preparation is critical when it comes to producing a great ad.
First, the production company will have a meeting with you to discuss your needs as a client. They’ll want to talk about what message you’re trying to send, your objective, and what kind of budget you have.
After this initial meeting, the production company will take this information and figure out a creative way to tell your message within your budget. They’ll pitch this idea to you to make sure you’re on board. If you are, they will start planning the video shoot.
The actual production portion of a commercial doesn’t take up as much time as you think. Most of the time spent goes into planning. A producer will look at the script and figure out everything needed, from casting talent to sourcing props. Every step of the way, they’ll communicate with you to keep you updated on what is happening.
Once everything is gathered, and a filming location has been secured, filming begins! Clients can usually choose whether they want to be on set. That is up to you! The film production process can be fun to watch.
Once production is finished and the film is in the can, it’s time to start post-production. There are a few different arms of post-production, and depending on what type of final product you have decided on, post can take a long time, or it can be pretty minimal.
The first thing that happens in this process is the edit. That footage you got needs to be turned into a coherent story. When the footage is shot, it’s in pieces, and it needs to be put together like a puzzle. An editor will go over notes from production and put together a cut for you to look at and approve.
Once you have given your approval on the cut, this is when any VFX work will happen—adding graphics, name keys, and any transitions that occur in this stage. Depending on what kind of VFX work your commercial needs, this can be a lengthy or straightforward process.
After VFX is complete and you have given approvals, it’ll move over to sound design. This is where the magic happens. The sound designer will add sound effects, music, and clean up any VO or dialogue.
Shipping the Spot
Once all of the post-work is done and you approve the cut, the commercial spot needs to get to you. At the beginning of the production process, you’ll have discussed where your commercial will live, be that broadcast TV or the internet.
There may be some social media versioning that’ll need to get done, but where the commercial goes will depend on what platforms you’ve decided will work best for your marketing plan.
Upload your new commercial, and you’re ready to go!
Like you and your brand, every video production is unique. If you are trying to make a video that encompasses your brand, the first step is understanding your options.
This is the big one. TV commercials are probably the most common and most recognizable medium. They can be anywhere from 10-90 seconds and a variety of video formats.
TV commercials are tailored to your needs. At the beginning of the process, you, as the client, will sit down in a pre-production phase and explain what your needs are. From there, a production plan is set into motion, and you have started producing videos that will get your brand’s message out into the world.
If you want a national commercial campaign or a local ad, there is an option for you.
When you produce a more extensive campaign, you can also create shorter versions of your main spot called cutdowns. Cutdowns can be used online in things like YouTube pre-roll or as Instagram ads.
Examples of commercial production:
- YouTube Ads
- YouTube Pre-Roll
- Longform
- Cutdowns
- Branded Content
- Social Media Ads
- Broadcast Media
You’ve likely seen these types of videos on YouTube. They are short, animated or live-action, and tend to explain a specific product or service.
An explainer video should have an informative but engaging script. The information you want to distill may seem dense, but that’s why you hire a professional video production company! They will help you write something that stands out.
We should note that explainer videos can be hugely successful. 94% of people have watched an explainer video at some point in their life to get more information on a product or service. To make it even better, 84% of those people have decided to purchase based on watching that video.
Examples of explainer videos:
- Live-action Explainer Video
- Whiteboard Explainer Video
- Animated Explainer Video
- Hybrid Explainer Video
- And more!
Corporate video can mean a lot of different things. Your mind may immediately go to something like training videos, but more exists under this umbrella.
Video is an essential corporate messaging tool. You can build up your brand through video by showing your company culture and what your brand stands for.
Testimonials are a common type of corporate video. These show your customers or clients speaking highly of your service. This type of video builds trust with new clients who are looking to work with you.
Examples of corporate video production:
- Training Video
- Company Profile
- Branding Video
- Recruitment Video
- Internal Communication Video
- Conference Video
- Company-wide Livestream
- And more!
Marketing With Video
Now that we’ve discussed the different options you have for video, and the video production process, let’s discuss how and why marketing with video works.
Video is an accessible format for your audience to consume. It engages people and connects with them on an emotional level. It’s ingrained in us to react emotionally to a story well told. This is why video and storytelling are so crucial for your brand. It fosters connection.
These days, anyone can access the video from their phones. Social media, YouTube, streaming services, and your website are all places where your video can live. With this kind of easy access to your audience, why would you not at least try some sort of video in your next marketing plan?
Eight out of ten people have said that a video has convinced them to buy a product or service. That is huge. There is very little out there in the marketing world that can provide those kinds of numbers. To go even further, if you add a video to your landing page, that can increase conversions to almost 80%!
When it comes to video production, there may be an initial investment, but you will get your money’s worth in return. Join the 85% of marketers who already use video and stay competitive in your market.
Now that you know all the different types of video out there, are you ready to do some video marketing of your own? As we’ve discussed, video is a powerful tool that will help your company stay competitive.
Creating a good video is one of the best things you can do for your company, but it’s a ton of work if you try to do it on your own. If you want some professional video production help, get in touch with us today!