Every video project is really a real partnership between client and production company and there are many important elements to consider. Sometimes the intangibles is as important since the tangible. All video companies aren't created equal and your option depends on what you want to accomplish. Below are a few things to consider when you produce a decision.

The Plan - When you contact production companies

Begin a clear goal. The more defined your objectives, the greater the last product will be. Determine a budget range. Oftentimes, the budget will define the finished product. You'll save lots of time by knowing what you want to spend - even though it's a variety - and sharing these details with the production company. Know your audience. Will this program be used to market a product? To educate customers? To launch a product? To improve your brand and image? To motivate and inspire employees? To entertain?

Establish quantifiable measurements for success. What are you wanting the audience to accomplish, think or feel after they have seen the video? Research. Get on the Internet and discover as much as you are able to about the production companies where you might be interested. Ask business colleagues. Plenty of business will come from word of mouth. What better method to narrow your choices that to ask your friends who work at other companies? Check social media. Ask your contacts on LinkedIn for advice and their experiences with video production companies.

Identify internal expectations. What results will persuade your management that the project is a success? Does your CEO expect you'll be on camera? How long if the finished product run? Will there be travel? Budgets can increase dramatically if a crew must shoot in multiple cities. Getting customers and experts on camera can strengthen the message and is usually worth the additional cost. What're the most well-liked delivery options? Will this program stream online? Will it be broadcast on TV? Will it be presented at an event?

Limit the amount of bids. Request bids from two or three production companies. Whenever you approach four companies and above you could reach a place where it's hard manage proposals and arrived at a qualified decision effectively. Is there strong opinions for a direction? Sometimes companies think they know what type of approach they want before they start. In that case, they must be made recognized to the bidders. Who is the purpose of contact?

The Meeting - The first impression can tell you a great deal

How's the pitch? If the business can sell themselves and understands what it takes to provide key information, the greater the possibility they can do the same for you. Have they done their research? Could it be obvious which they understand what your company does or is this initially they've heard about you. It's (almost) O.K. if you're a startup but with the Internet, they will have some inkling about who you are. Can there be chemistry? You are going to be spending lots of time with your people. You need to at the very least like them. Do you get the sense they like each other? You don't need conflict when you even get started.

Do they listen? Do they're going on and on about themselves without digging into the goal of this program and the potential challenges. That's a warning sign. Do they ask good questions? Intellectual curiosity is key to an excellent proposal and a fruitful script, shoot, edit and finished product. Look at reels. If you haven't seen their work online, be sure you notice it whenever you meet and ask questions. If you don't see examples that show the degree of quality you expect, it's not likely planning to suddenly show up in your project.

Take a tour. If they have an editing facility ask to see it. You don't need to know much about equipment but know enough to find out if the apparatus is relatively new. If the apparatus is old, there might be problems. Consider awards. But don't decide based on awards. A shelf of awards can indicate a company's excellence or their competence at filling out award competition applications. Be consistent. If you're getting bids from several production companies, make certain they all receive the same parameters and background and budget information.

Learn about the staff. Do they have in-house writers, editors, videographers, directors and producers or use freelancers? Or both? What's their experience? Who owns the footage? In most agreements, the production company owns the raw footage and the consumer owns the finished product. Avoid surprises and discover before time.

The Proposal - Do they get it?

May be the proposal presented in a specialist manner? A well-produced proposal demonstrates an attention to detail that'll be crucial to the production of one's project film production companies. Is the method clear? A video production is really a logistical challenge. May be the workflow well organized? Can there be a deliverables timeline that is clear and straightforward? Is your role as client defined? Is the concept befitting your audience? Did they look closely at your input? Does your gut tell you this can work?

May be the creative treatment attuned to your corporate culture? Is it possible to sell this idea to your management? Or even, how can it be revised to make it work? May be the production company open to your creative input? This is a preview of one's future working relationship. If they are rolling their eyes now they are not likely the team for you. Is really a person in the creative team present? Account managers serve a useful purpose but sometimes you'll need to talk directly to the writer, producer or director to get key questions answered.

May be the budget clearly presented? Did they look closely at your financial allowance range? May be the payment schedule clear and tied to deliverables? Can there be a contingency budget with guidelines regarding how and when those funds will soon be spent? How many creative treatments? An excellent proposal will limit the amount of creative treatments. This shows confidence in the proposed approach. A bid with four or even more treatments lets you know the creative team isn't sure what you want or what'll work (but it's within somewhere).

Your decision - As soon as of truth

Check references. It may seem like it's unnecessary, but do it anyway. Think that the production company is giving you their happiest clients and most successful stories. You are able to still dig for useful information. Would they utilize the production company again? What were the challenges? How was the merchandise received? Location. Location... etc. How important could it be that the production company be local? To some folks it matters. Trust your gut. Decision grids are great but sometimes you just know one company will do a much better job. Go with that feeling.