Vision: Review the work of the companies you are considering and see if they share the same type of vision you do. Video production companies can vary greatly in the types of videos they do. Do you see the creativity you envision? Do you see the quality of shots you desire? Also, do you see the type of video you’d like for your company in their portfolio? You may want to give style more consideration than substance when reviewing a company’s work. The style from one video to another is less likely to change. Keep in mind, your video will have its own substance, but it may be a challenge to demand a whole new style out of a company. However, always keep in mind, a company that does good, quality work can usually do all types of videos, even if you don’t see one in the same genre in the portfolio.
Price: When you look at various videos, you may get an idea about which company is the most expensive, but you will have a hard time assessing the various prices unless you call. Sometimes, a video can be much less expensive than you think. Some companies use stock video and stock photographs to keep the budget in line. At most video production companies, time is the big commodity. Some projects don’t take a lot of time and don’t require location shooting. The use of actors and various location shots can really drive up the price. If you want an accurate apples to apples price comparison, ask about per hour editing rates or half day shooting rates. It’s always a good idea to talk to a representative from each company. You may get a lot more details on price than if you just email.
References: Just like in any other business, it’s always a good idea to check references. You may want to ask the company to provide names and numbers, and you may also want to go online and see what past clients are saying about the company. If you do speak to past clients, you’ll get a much better idea about the video production company’s customer service commitment.
Time: The process of creating a video can vary greatly from one company to another. It’s a good idea to know how much time you, as the client, want to invest in a project. Are you very hands-on? Do you want to spend your time helping the company create your project or do you feel more comfortable working with a video production company that is more turn-key and likes to create the script and simply get client approval? Some companies routinely create a detailed story-board for every project. Others conduct interviews and develop a script after the interviews.
Experience: Evaluate companies based on how long they have been in business and the experience of the staff that will be working on your video. Online video is a relatively new industry. Do you want a video production company that is just starting out? Do you want a video production company with an established reputation? If the company is new, it’s a good idea to ask about what the principals did before starting a video production company.
