5 Signs That You May Need A Video Agency To Assist With Your Marketing and Communications.

We all know that with the ever evolving nature of how audiences consume and retain information, video content has become an absolutely essential part of any successful marketing campaign.

But under the extremely vast and expansive umbrella category that makes up ‘video’ sits a pretty darn broad range of types, formats and styles that can at times seem a little daunting and confusing.

With so many paths your video can take (depending on your objectives and what you’re specifically wanting and trying to achieve), it can sometimes be hard to ascertain whether you can do it all by yourself, or if you perhaps on this occasion need to consider bringing in a few experts to help you out.

The short rule of thumb here is that if you feel you need it... Then it is time.

But if you want to consider your options further and have a more concrete benchmark for yourself... Here are 5 tell-tale signs you may need to engage and collaborate with a video production agency:

1. You know you need video, but have no clue where to start

So its gotten to that point where you are starting to feel like everyone around you is making video (from competitors, to people in other departments and that annoying guy who sits opposite you that your boss loves but you secretly despise), every LinkedIn article and post is seemingly screaming at you that your business, brand, organisation or institution needs video and the videos your competitors have created are popping up all over your social news feeds and are driving you crazy.

There’s no denying that you need video, but you just have no idea where to start.

Some of the obvious questions that are running constantly through your mind are:

• What video(s) do we make first?
• Who will write the script? Who will film it?
• How do we fit the production of video content around other projects and marketing and communication objectives we have on?
• How do I convince my boss?

Okay so the first step here is to breathe and don't panic.

If you’re having trouble kickstarting your video efforts, a professional video agency can and will help with that all important first step – providing a strong direction or strategy to produce effective video content that aligns with your objectives (whatever they may be).

2. You’ve made video in the past but weren’t happy with the outcome

So...

You’ve taken a stab at creating video content either by doing it yourself, bringing in a friend of a friend, hiring a freelancer, using that guy from your comms team who wields a camera at your events or even by putting up some hard earned $$$ from your annual budget and hiring a fancy local production company...

But despite your best intentions (and the intentions of all of those involved) you just haven’t always been happy or even satisfied with the finished product (probably nowhere close).

I feel for you.

But from 20+ years of doing this I also know that it happens and just like a lot of things in life you have to get back on the horse/bike (insert euphemism of your own preference) and give things another go.

Hopefully from this first (or potentially 2nd, 3rd or I'm sad to say it 4th go around - the challenge of video in this day and age is the vast difference in quality of suppliers and their output) you have learned a vital lesson...

Video is not just about:

• pretty imagery
• good-looking talent, or
• hilarious/emotional content

It’s foundationally created on:

• a solid video strategy,
• a huge amount of topic, audience and platform research
• a production plan, and
• a well thought out and executed distribution strategy

Next time you are watching an amazing video or film I want you to consider the following:

The more ‘effortless’ a piece of content seems, the more planning and strategy has gone into creating and executing it.

Most of the time when you engage a video production agency, you’ll be working with people that have been there and know the ropes and where the gaps in every stage of the process lie.

If they are good at what they do then they will have devised a clear and clean set of processes that they use time and time again to generate a successful piece on content (and the good ones will not only do it on-time but also on-budget).

All you really have to do is give your input, guidance and timely approvals.

3. You have a deadline coming up FAST!

A lot of the time when the phone rings at APV, it is a client calling because they have an urgent deadline and a lot of people they have spoken to have told them the only people who could conceivably deliver to that deadline... Are the team at APV.

It happens a lot.

The reason it happens a lot is because when it does happen we deliver...

And we deliver in container loads...

Deadlines are sneaky things and sometimes even when they seem like a remote distant location... They pop up out of nowhere and take you by suprise.

For example, you may only have a week to come up with video content to support a massive conference/event or a timely marketing campaign or important internal campaign, with such little wriggle room it can be downright dangerous to take the task and all the risk that goes with it into your own hands.

This is where seasoned (not salty) video professionals come in handy – you can expect a video production agency to be used to creating content under tight timelines, but to speed up the process, you always want to have an idea ready, and some "rainy day" budget to spare.

A few ways a video production agency like APV can add value in this area are:

• we know exactly how much editing time is needed to create the desired outcome, and can give you accurate turnaround times
• we could have established studios or location spaces which can be utilised for shoots
• we'll be able to add finishing touches to your video – such as closed captions, music, or even make snackable versions of the video specially for promotion on social media.
• we'll make you, your boss and everyone else associated with the project look like rockstars.

4. You want to create a series of videos

Series content (whether it be internal or external, narrative drama or documentary) has grown exponentially throughout the pandemic.

Along with binging the latest episodes of "Just Like That", "Tiger King" and whatever Disney+ has on this month, employees and brand audiences are tuning in to regular content delivered as series, on time and schedule by businesses, brands, organisations and institutions.

If you are not doing it yet...

You should be...

Okay so you enjoyed the sizzle to point four and now you too want to create a number of videos that represent your brand.

The key to doing so successfully is encapsulated in a single word: consistency.

One of the biggest perks of working with a video agency like APV is that they take the time to get to know your brand, and develop customised video brand guidelines to ensure that each video in the series speaks to the personality of your business.

Video brand guidelines usually include:

• correct PMS colours to use
• which logos should be used where
• lower third and name tag graphics
• music choice
• studio setup and layout (if applicable)

If you’re unsure of any of the above points, it’s time to bring on a video production agency.

In addition to these points when creating "series" content for you, a video agency should be creating guidelines for the series as well that cover things like:

• What kind of stories do we do and not do in this series?
• How do we deliver a consistent look and tone?
• How can we make production efficiencies that enable us to shoot multiple episodes at once and have them batch ready for distribution

5. You want to film videos across different territories and countries

If you need to shoot video content in a cross country or countries location/s, a video production agency will save you time, money and a lot of headaches.

Employing a video agency like APV that services not just Hong Kong and Mainland China but also all of APAC (and the rest of the world... Yep... We shoot everywhere) can offer many distinct benefits and advantages including:

• peace of mind knowing your videos will look uniform and professional even when they’re filmed offsite
• no additional travel costs – if the agency has crew in each location there is no additional cost of flying people around the country to get your video together
• handling the logistical side of things, pulling together all the call sheets and editing schedules, and transporting equipment.

In Conclusion:

Now that you’ve read through this quick and simple guide that I've created you should have a pretty clear understanding if you do or don’t need a video production agency to help meet your company’s objectives.

As always if you need further help or assistance just reach out to me directly.

About The Author Of This Article:

Featured as one of LinkedIn's Power Profiles for 2018 for Marketing and Creativity in Hong Kong.

Thomas brings over 21+ years of international video and animation film making experience to the table every time he receives a new brief and he is a well respected thought leader and innovator in the field of directing Visual Content.

Here and throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand and beyond, Thomas has worked with an exciting list of international businesses, brands and agencies, including: 3HK, Aegis Media Dentsu, Alibaba, The Australian Government, BBH, Buchanan Group, BUPA, Coca-Cola, Creativa, Disney, Genting Cruise Lines, Hasbro, Heinz, HSBC, IXL Appliances, KAO, Kraft, Maille, Manulife, Mattel, Microsoft, Nintendo, PZ Cussons, Prudential, Reckitt Benckiser, Red Bull, Rolls-Royce, Shangri-La Hotels, STW Group, Subway, Unilever and many more...

He is a master cinematographer and the author of five books on visual content, film making and creative thinking.

He has won over 86+ prestigious international awards throughout his career and is highly sought after as a creative, storyteller, strategist, director, cinematographer, educator and consultant.

Find Out More Via His Website: https://www.thomaselliottvisualcontent.com