By Joseph Cekauskas
Marketing Consultant & Strategist
JC Marketing Communications
How much does it typically cost to develop a video for your organization?
Imagine asking a building contractor, “How much does it cost to build my dream home?”
When building a home, there are several important factors to consider.
For example:
Do you already have blue prints for your dream home?
Did the bank tell you how much house can you afford?
How much square footage, bathrooms, kitchen details, special amenities, etc. are you expecting?
Like building your dream house, the same depth of questioning will be asked of you regarding your video marketing strategy.
In order to make your video reality, JC Marketing Communications (JCMC) of Southington, CT requires additional information … and there are many options/elements available when developing and producing your video presence.
If you want to do it the right way and not look amateurish, here are some of the elements that go into developing your video budget:
Pre-production which includes:
- Concept Meeting(s)
- Scripting
- Shot List
- Storyboarding
- Set Design
Principle Photography which includes:
- Shooting Days/Location
- Crew
- Travel
- Camera and Lighting Gear
- Audio Gear
- Actors/Voice over Talent
- Set Dressing/Props
Post Production which includes:
- Editing – (Rough Cut … Re-Edit … Final Cut)
- Narration
- Animation
- Graphics (Custom designed components … stock photos, etc.)
- Special Effects (Green screen compositing … etc.)
- Deliverables (DVD … Digital Movie Files … etc.)
Your answers to the above items, combined with our 30-plus years marketing experience are crucial to the process of budgeting and developing a successful video production. After all, video is a way to increase profits along with awareness—thus adding to your organizations bottom line.
In addition to the above components, JCMC requires additional details to fortify your strategy. They include:
- Does your project require JCMC to write and develop your script?
- What is the length/time of your video?
- Does your project require JCMC to contribute time-tested marketing methodologies within the video that will get viewers to “take your most desired action now?”
- Does your project need an original score by live musicians or will you approve the use of royalty-free music instead?
- Do you desire motion graphics or 3D animation?
- Are you able to utilize your employees/personnel … or do you require actors/voice over talent?
Video production relies on the answers to these questions. And you can get all of these services from JC Marketing Communications of Connecticut.
Your video production is an investment, and JCMC delivers ways to maximize this investment
A typical 30-second commercial can have a targeted life on television, and can also be enormously effective when used as an embedded web video … or included as part of an e-newsletter campaign, posted as a blog entry or a tradeshow video.
In an effort to maximize cost-effectiveness, we will help you create a large library of footage and materials that can be used in all the other projects.
Moving forward, this philosophy becomes very cost-effective, because it allows you to create alternate versions of your project. That’s terrific money-saving strategy.
How much time is required to develop and produce a video?
Every project brings with it different parameters. Concept-to-completion date will be determined largely by the complexity of your project. Simple web videos can oftentimes be completed in under 4 weeks (see www.jtec-online.com), whereas company videos may reach 12 weeks … and finally, documentary films may take 12 to 15 months. As a client you can minimize the processing time by limiting the number of people involved in the approval process, making sure there is a professional Project Coordinator Expert (ProCo-x) at each shooting location and budgeting enough pre-production planning time to adequately prepare for your project.
And lastly, if this is your first project with us, the process may be extended—should we be required to introduce marketing strategies into the video.
Is developing a video in HD worth doing?
Yes! Today, shooting and editing in HD is no more expensive than standard definition. A corporate video shot and edited in HD can easily be down-converted to a standard definition DVD or compressed for streaming from a web server. As more boardroom, training centers and web-streaming sites upgrade to be HD capable, you can re-release your video on Blu-Ray or upload higher resolution versions.
JC Marketing Communications shoots in HD with the same camera & lighting equipment used on many of today’s television shows.
Another thing to remember: every time you have a video produced, all the original camera footage can be a valuable asset for future projects— especially if it’s HD. Keeping a library of your original footage can maximize your production dollars.
How can my business/organization use video?
- Web Clips on your website — introduce your services/products to your audience. Prequalify your prospect/audience before they meet you.
- Marketing Videos
- Product Demonstrations — “How to’s”
- Corporate Presentations
- Looping Tradeshow Promos
- Video News Releases
- Social Media e-news
- Fundraising videos
- Training Videos
- Recruitment programs
- Employee Roast or Benefit
- Safety Videos
- Instructional DVDs
- Employee Information
What questions will JC Marketing Communications ask me?
- What is the purpose of your video? Ideally, what do you hope it will do for you?
- Who is your target audience/demographics?
- What message do you wish or need to convey?
- What visual and graphical elements do you want or need to show?
- Where do we have to travel to get these elements?
- How many minutes do you think your program should last?
- What is the estimated shelf-life of your video?
- Who will be the Project Coordinator Expert (ProCo-x) on this video?
- Who will be approving your scripts and edits?
- What is your deadline? What is driving your deadline?
- How much do you have budgeted for your video?
- Can we re-purpose video elements for other uses, like a company website?
- When can we get started?
What can my business do to get the best results?
First, clearly articulate your expectations to your producer at JC Marketing Communications (JCMC). Everyone who has say in the final product should be included in that first production meeting. Based on what is discussed in that meeting, our team will then provide you with a script treatment, preliminary draft script and/or storyboard.
Review the treatment and read it carefully. Pay attention not only to the script language, but also the “visual” side of page. Once filming begins, changes will not only slow the production process, they can potentially result in significant cost overruns. We encourage you to make sure everyone is on the same page and the process will be streamlined and rewarding.
Why is JCMC the obvious choice to develop your video?
First, we partner with you on every level because we have an equally vested interest in the success of your project. We know marketing—something no other videographers offer.
Second, you get to take advantage of our 30-plus years of experience successfully marketing organizations from small businesses … to the Fortune 500 company.
Our approach to marketing goes way beyond that of “image advertising,” so that you receive the best return-on-investment for your dollar (see www.jcmcom.com).
JCMC utilizes time-tested, proven marketing strategies that no other video developer has access to. It’s more than pretty pictures and color.
Next, our script writing, photography and graphics are second to none. We have state-of-the-art technology guaranteed to impress any tech savvy pro!
And lastly, we do this all in house! We’re a one stop shop—here you work with the talented team that produces your successful project.
Imagine—one quick phone call to us can launch your business toward accelerated growth, larger market share and higher profits. Call us while the thought is still fresh in your mind—860.621.8866.
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