Getting Your Video Successfully Produced: Why quality is Key and how to get it!
You are ready to have your video produced,Getting Your Video Successfully Produced: Why quality is Key and how to get it! Articles and you are about to choose a video production company to do it. Did you know that choosing the right production company will make or break your show? No matter how great the subject or script, the overall quality they give you will determine where your video falls on a scale between powerful and effective or weak and useless.
Yet how do you know what to look for when choosing a production company? Video quality is determined by far more than just the types of equipment used or the price being charged. I’d like to show you why the quality of your video is so important, how to identify what makes great quality, and how to choose a company that will give it to you!
Why choose great quality?
Show viewers a video with below average quality or even the average level of quality many production companies give, they will have trouble focusing on the message. Without all of the elements of quality in your video, it will not achieve the results you are looking for.
On the flip side, when you do have good quality, viewers really don’t notice it. What they notice is the content of the show. They become absorbed in your message. When you watch TV or movies, do you think about the production quality? Most people don’t notice the elements of the show such as shooting, pace, camera work, lighting, sound, editing, music, etc. They experience the show and get the message.
Also keep in mind that your video quality will reflect on the quality of your company, yourself and your message. It’s similar to the principle of dressing for success! Your video can impact your image. Here are some examples of where quality can make a difference:
– A nicely done employee orientation tape or corporate communications tape “sets a tone” that can influence the employee’s perception of the company, inspire pride and can even motivate them.
– In a sales or marketing video image is everything. For example, who would you hire to manage your money? An investment counselor who drives a Kia or a Lexus? Good video quality identifies you as a credible success who can be trusted, and with something valuable to offer.
Poor quality teaches the viewer not to trust you.
– A training tape with good quality says you are knowledgeable and serious about your subject. It will influence viewers to “buy in” to what’s being shown. It also says that you value them enough to give them something valuable.
– A demo tape with good quality says you are a successful in demand consultant.
– A public relations video must have good quality for stations to use it on air, and to draw the viewers’ attention.
While paying a high price for your video is not a guarantee of quality, often the opposite is true. Usually the bargain that’s hard to pass up is what you should pass up. There is always someone out there who will charge you less.
Here’s a little story I heard that says it all. Driving along the road to work, a man passed the little 2-man barber shop that had been there for ages. The lot was filled to the brim and there were cars lining the street… There were LOTS of folks going in. As he passed the throng, he saw the sign out front:
“We fix 7-dollar haircuts”.
I’ve had many clients come to me to fix programs done by other companies that were poorly produced. It may seem like you are getting a deal at the time, but in essence you may be throwing away your money.
It is true that in today’s economy, production companies have had to drop their overall prices somewhat. Generally those charging below industry averages are either without experience and/or talent, without the right type of equipment and resources, or those whose businesses are in the process of going under.
Although you may be able to find the rare true bargain, I have seen over and over in the world of video that the old adage is true when it comes to extreme low prices: You get what you pay for.
What makes great quality?
Let’s look at several areas that you need to be aware of when determining the level of quality a production company will give you:
Equipment: Believe it or not, a high priced company using the best equipment does not automatically translate to quality. You can put me in a gourmet kitchen, but would you serve my food at a dinner party attended by your boss and co-workers? No way!
It is the same with video. Having the best tools can help, but without the right knowledge, experience and skills you can end up with an ineffective video that you would not want to be associated with. So beware of the production company that primarily stresses their state-of-the-art equipment.
It’s become easier and more affordable to buy video equipment. So these days, many people are becoming “video professionals”. In fact, it seems like almost everyone these days has two careers – whatever they do for a living, and video production. Yet every aspect of video production really is an art form. It takes talent, years of experience and a wide range of training to make a quality video. When choosing a company it is essential to look beyond equipment, and to the total package you will be getting.
That being said, the main requirement concerning equipment is that it be broadcast quality. As long as it falls into that category, you have the potential to receive good quality. Anything below this will have that amateur,unprofessional look.
Experience: In my opinion this is probably the most important issue. It will dramatically impact the way the video is planned, shot and edited. Think about when you flip through the TV channels looking for something to watch. Do you stop and view the local cable access station? Most people flip right by that, deciding in a split second that this not worth their interest.
They may not be able to tell you all of the reasons why, but these days if a show is not done with quality, most folks perceive it and will tune it out instantly. Almost everyone can make a video with today’s available technology. My nieces used to produce their own music videos in elementary school. However there is a huge gulf between amateur video and a professionally produced show that holds the viewers attention and accomplishes your goals. There is a huge difference between the quality you get with various professional video production companies. Experience and talent have everything to do with that.
