High-quality, professionally filmed video content is extremely sought after. Everyone wants it; businesses, non-for-profit organisations, governments, musicians and influencers. It’s because digital content captivates audiences so greatly, that it’s carried out across multiple marketing/advertising channels like social media, websites, e-commerce, television and more. This being said, strong digital content is very intentional and does require some careful planning from the client’s end. Ultimately, professional video production is an investment and we want to ensure you see value in the end product. So to help you along the way, we’ve given you some pointers on how to get the most out of your content creation team, whether that’s The Edit Suite or not.
Here are some things to consider when dreaming up your content campaign.
Purpose. You’ll need to put your thinking cap on and likely collaborate with your team so you can really identify the purpose of your project. One of our amazing clients, Louise from Crest Accounting, recently engaged The Edit Suite for both photography and videography. The purpose of this content was, in Louise’s words, to remove the often ‘confronting’ stigma associated with accountants and lawyers and instead encapsulate the human-side of the business that is made up of warm, compassionate people with strong family values. Watch one of the videos we’ve made for Crest here.
Deliverables. What is the length of your video? If you are creating a 90-second video for your website, do you also want shorter versions for your social media? It’s often overlooked that different platforms require multiple ratios, for example, Instagram posts are square (1×1 ratio) and are limited to 1 minute whereas Instagram stories are portrait (9×16 ratio) and are limited to 15 seconds. Having several versions of your video is an effective way to engage your audience and deliver your message across different demographics without breaking the bank!
Digital Strategy. Chances are you’ll love your new video and be excited to share it with your audience but how will you ensure it actually reaches them? Digital strategy is something that will call for marketing expertise within your company or through an agency, however, your content creator can certainly guide you on the right path. One of our suggestions would be to collaborate with social media influencers or brand ambassadors that are relevant to your brand in order to help boost exposure. There are a number of ways you can track how your video’s performance, one of which is consulting your website team to assess the level of engagement. Spend money on marketing!
Budget. This is the one that makes everyone cringe (but shouldn’t). At this stage of pre-production, this is when you would tell us what you want, what you really really want. You can dream BIG so long as you know and understand what you’re trying to achieve andddd it’s within budget. How much money are you willing to pay for your content? It doesn’t matter if you think your budget is too low or too high, or if you’ve got no idea how much these things cost. What’s really helpful in the planning stages is letting your production team know what you’re working with so they can match the service provided with your expectations and provide you with a number of different options. You might be surprised to know that your budget actually allows for some production extras like special lighting, talent or location sourcing, motion graphics – all of which can enhance the value of your project dramatically. If you don’t feel comfortable disclosing your budget then just make sure you have a rock solid brief that describes exactly what you’re after so there are no later surprises. By discussing your budget with your content team, you’re limiting the amount of back and forth correspondence which means less emails and who doesn’t love a clear inbox?
Inspo. Is there a specific style of video that you are trying to obtain? Send us some inspo. Whether it’s video links, photos or social media accounts, we want to know what inspires you. If you’ve chosen to work with us for your next content initiative then feel free to tag us or slide into our DMs and show us what spikes your interest. When collating your favourite content examples, try and keep the style consistent so your production team can really hone in on what you’re drawn to! Use visual language to explain exactly what it is that you like about the example; “I like the way this text moves”, “this background music is a vibe”, “I love the raw look to this video” etc. Pinterest and Behance are great for finding inspiration. A good production company will take the time to reflect upon your vision for the shoot and ensure the end product is authentically you, or your brand. Finally – just keep the scale of your project in mind when looking for inspiration… we don’t want to have to crush your dreams 😉
Freelancer (One man/woman band) vs Production Team. Know the difference between a freelance videographer and a production company. The Edit Suite is a multi-service production company made up of full-time creatives and a benefit of this is consistency in style and quality outputs. Pricing can vary and you may find the rate for a production company is higher, however, generally this is matched with the level of service provided. It’s great to support local freelancers within the industry and we have no shortage of talent here on the Gold Coast, though you could potentially experience longer turnaround times with self-employed videographers if they are cross-hiring gear or engaging additional freelance personnel to assist with your project. There is also a risk of creativity being lost when working with freelancers who may be otherwise engrossed in other facets of their business whereas having a production team means having a number of creative eyes invested in your project. Don’t hesitate to check people’s previous work or ask if they outsource anything like camera operators or cheap overseas editors. If you’re going with a production company you SHOULD have a dedicated production manager or producer that you can rely on for guidance throughout the whole process.
Preparation is Key. Shoots run much smoother with readiness. Some crucial things to consider when planning your shoot are the weather and having a backup plan, ensuring your talent have read the brief and know what they need to say/do/wear, having the correct props closeby (and functioning) and confirming the brief with your production manager ahead of time to agree on timings for the day. Being prepared will fundamentally save you time and money and make for an epic production. Having said all this, things may not always go to plan but try and go with the flow and have fun! At the end of the day, producing content should be an enjoyable experience for you and as content creators, we are extremely grateful to be doing what we love as a profession.
These are just a few ways to ensure you get a professional end product. Don’t worry about the technicalities, you can leave that to us. If you have a genuine vision and belief in what you do, you’ll attract the right viewers. The Edit Suite team is all about fostering customer relationships and we want all of our clients to feel confident and excited well before the camera starts rolling.
Let us know if you have any questions or would like to have a chat about your upcoming project!
Based in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, The Edit Suite team is made up of experienced creatives who travel across Australia helping a range of clients take their business, project or personal brand to a new level. The Edit Suite offers a multi-service experience specialising in pre-production, video editing, motion graphics, photography, drone operation and live streaming. We provide a custom experience for every client based on their specific project requirements. Let’s chat!