Okay, so like, I've been through this whole process of finding a Good Video production company recently, and wow - it's not as simple as it looks! I thought I'd share what I learned cause maybe it'll help someone else who's feeling as lost as I was. Why Videos Matter Now More Than Ever Let's be real - videos are EVERYWHERE now. My phone is basically just a video-watching machine at this point lol. According to some Social Media Video Statistics I found, people are watching more videos than ever before. And if you run a business and aren't using videos... well, you're kinda missing out big time. Figure Out What Kind of Video You Actually Need Before you even start looking for agencies, you gotta know what you want! This was my first mistake - I just went in saying "I need a video" without knowing exactly what kind. There are sooo many different types: If you need to explain your product or service, an Explainer Video Production company would be your best bet For showing off your company's values and story, look for Brand Video Production specialists If you're trying to sell stuff, Marketing Video Production companies know all the tricks General corporate videos? Business Video Production agencies got you covered Trying to raise money? Crowdfunding Video Production is actually a whole specialized thing! Want to make ads? Advertising Video Production companies will help you stand out I didn't know all these existed until I started researching. Crazy, right? Choose the Right Animation Style This is another thing I had NO clue about! I just thought "animation is animation" but there are like, so many different styles and each one gives a totally different vibe. Some of the main types I found: Whiteboard Animation Service - That classic drawing-on-whiteboard look that's super popular for explaining complicated stuff 3D Animation Service - Looks super professional but usually costs more 2D Animation Service - More cartoony and usually less expensive than 3D Motion Graphics Service - Great for making data look interesting I ended up going with 2D for my first project because it fit my budget better, but honestly it depends on what feeling you want your video to have. Check Out Their Portfolio (Like, REALLY Check It) This is super important!!! Don't just glance at their work - really study it. When I was looking at agencies, I checked out some Top 10 Startup Videos to get an idea of what good quality looks like. It helped me recognize the difference between "okay" work and "wow" work. Some agencies specialize in certain industries too, so if you can find one that's made videos in your field before, that's a huge plus. They'll already understand your audience and what works. Ask About Their Process Every Motion Play Studio or video agency has their own process. Some will be super hands-on and want lots of input from you, others will just take your brief and come back with a finished product. Neither is necessarily better, it just depends on how involved you want to be. I'm kinda control-freaky so I wanted to be involved in every step lol. But if you're busy, you might prefer an agency that can just take your ideas and run with them. Make sure to ask about their: Script writing process Storyboarding Revision policy (SUPER important - some charge extra for changes!) Timeline expectations Communication style Budget Considerations (The Awkward Money Talk) Ugh, talking about money is always weird, but it's gotta happen. Video production can range from like $1,000 to $50,000+ depending on what you want. Don't just go with the cheapest option though! I made that mistake once and ended up with a video that looked... well, cheap. Sometimes it's worth saving up a bit longer to get quality that actually represents your brand well. Some agencies are more transparent about pricing than others. If they have packages, that can make it easier to budget. But custom quotes are normal too, especially for more complex projects. Look at Their Specializations Some video agencies can do everything, but many specialize in specific types of videos. If you need Training Video Production, make sure they have experience in that area. Same goes for Promotional Video Production or Product Video Production. I found that specialists usually deliver better results than "we do everything" agencies. I was looking at some Corporate Training Video Examples for ideas and noticed that the best ones came from studios that focused on training content. Read Reviews and Ask for References This is kind of obvious but SO important! Read all the reviews you can find, especially the bad ones. Bad reviews tell you more about a company than good ones sometimes. And don't be afraid to ask for references! A good agency should be able to put you in touch with past clients who can tell you about their experience. Communication Style Matters This was something I didn't think about at first but ended up being really important. Some agencies were super responsive and made me feel valued, while others took forever to reply to emails. If you're sending multiple emails without getting responses during the research phase, that's probably how the project will go too. Trust me, you want an agency that communicates well! Don't Forget About Distribution Strategy A lot of video production agencies just make the video and then leave you to figure out what to do with it. The best ones will help you think about distribution strategy too. I found some helpful Latest YouTube Statistics and Latest Facebook Video Statistics that helped me plan where to share my videos for maximum impact. If your agency can advise on this stuff too, that's a huge bonus! Consider Long-term Relationship Potential Are you going to need just one video, or might you need more in the future? If you're planning a series or ongoing video content, building a relationship with an agency makes sense. Sometimes it's worth choosing an agency that might be slightly more expensive or have a longer timeline if you think you'll work together again. The learning curve is steep - once they understand your brand, future projects will be much smoother. Ask About Their Revision Policy!!! Okay, I'm putting this in its own section because it's SO important. Some agencies limit you to like 2 rounds of revisions and then charge extra. Others, like some I found that offer an Unlimited Revision Policy, will keep working until you're happy. This can make a HUGE difference in both the final product and the total cost. I learned this the hard way when I had to pay a bunch of extra fees for changes that I thought would be included. Book a Consultation Call Most good agencies offer free consultation calls. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS! It's the best way to get a feel for whether you'll work well together. Some even have a specific Book an Appointment page to make this easy. During the call, pay attention to: How well they listen to your needs Whether they ask good questions If they seem genuinely interested in your project Their enthusiasm and creativity Trust Your Gut At the end of the day, after all the research and calls and portfolio reviews... trust your instincts! I almost went with an agency that looked perfect on paper but something felt off during our calls. I ended up choosing my second choice and it worked out so much better. Final Thoughts Finding the right video production agency takes time, but it's so worth it when you get a video that actually achieves what you want. I hope these tips help someone else avoid some of the mistakes I made! If you're specifically looking into product videos, I found this Ecommerce Product Videos Guide super helpful. And if you're making employee training content, check out How to Create Training Videos for Employees and HR Training Videos Guide for some good tips. Good luck with your video project! It's a learning process for sure, but when you see the final result bringing in customers or explaining your product perfectly, it's totally worth all the effort of finding the right agency.

Prashant Dhasmana

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