Video Production Hints and Tips
Finding customers
- Develop a niche expertise eg. Videos for charities, shops,
weddings. Customers prefer to see experience of their requirements
rather than just good video skills.
- Decide whether to offer highly creative work, or if you want to
be in a more packaged production business (eg. weddings) where
there will be more work, but more competition, cheaper rates and
less opportunity for creativity.
- Develop contacts with music studios and web
designers.
- Offer your services to
schools.
Keeping customers
- Send newsletters to previous customers
containing links to recent work
Things you must do
- Take clear briefings from clients.
- Don’t compromise on quality.
- Encourage clients to develop ideas as
production progresses, but warn them if changes might lead to
budget over-runs.
- If extra work is agreed, always confirm in
writing precisely what it is and how much it will cost.
Things to be cautious about
- If you offer format conversion services such
as VHS and 8mm into digital, you may discover it's not as
widely required as you might hope. It can also be more
time-consuming than you might expect.
- Customers rarely require repeat business.
However, they may prove to be a valuable referral, so stay in touch
with them.
- People may ask you for video production
favours without realising how much work it would probably involve.
Be polite but firm in declining non-paying work.
- Video production is typically regarded
as a fun activity. Friends and acquaintances may offer their
services to assist. If you really don’t need their help, it’s not
always a good idea for them to get involved. If it comes to paying
them, you’re probably wasting your money and they may just get in
the way. If you need help, use freelancers.
Other Tips
- Google sponsored links (Adwords) can create a
lot of hits but relatively few enquiries. Visitors may be more
interested in searching for videos you have created rather
than using you to create ones for them. Be careful how you use
keywords!
- Try www.blip.tv instead of www.youtube.com to host your work.
Arguably better quality and no ads.
The One Thing You Must Do....
- Make time every week to find new business.
It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the things you enjoy (making
videos) and putting off those aspects of business you find less
enjoyable. But if you don’t do it, the worst time to try
to find new projects is when you desperately need them.
Useful Websites
www.digibroadcast.com -
Equipment
www.jigsaw24.com – Equipment
www.tateuk.co.uk – Consumables
www.aprmedia.com – Consumables
www.agstudios.co.uk – Duplication
services
www.mandy.com – Directory
www.shootingpeople.org –
Directory
www.eandl.co.uk – Equipment
insurance