In the previous post, we talked about the four different automobile price levels and how that relates to setting a video budget. In this post, we follow up on that thread to demonstrate what impact planning and budget has on your finished video.
What Should Your Video Do?
Basically, buying a car involves first determining what services the car needs to perform, researching different manufacturers, and then choosing a model that suits your needs. Do you need good gas mileage or maximum towing power? Will a mini-van do or do you need an SUV? Set your sites on first finding the model that suits your needs then customize your selection with options… Do you need a sunroof and four-wheel drive? 20-inch rims? Heated mirrors? You get the picture. Starting with “How much will it cost?” doesn’t make much sense because you could end up buying the wrong car with the wrong options to begin with.
Start Planning Your Video
As you plan your video go through a similar question and answer session. Ask yourself:
- “What do I want to achieve with the production of this project?”
- “What impact do I want it to have?”
- “What do I want my viewers to think and feel once they’re done watching?”
Then add options like: graphics, theme, style, multiple cameras, etc. Once you’ve done this soul-searching, your assured of creating the right project that achieves the results you’re looking for.
Adjust Your Video Plan And Budget Accordingly
Sometimes, the aforementioned Q & A will reveal that you need to put together a bigger budget to meet your needs. You could discover that the mini-van you were prepared to buy won’t have the towing power to pull your boat – only the Chevy Tahoe will do. You’ll have to find the extra spending power to buy the vehicle you really need. The opposite can be true too – many times, you start out thinking that only an Aston Martin convertible will do when really, a Chrysler Sebring will do the job and leave budget left over to cover a couple smaller marketing videos.
So, a higher budget simply makes a finished product look more polished, refined, and have a more advanced “look and feel.” A higher budget also gives you greater flexibility to make tweaks and changes to fine-tune the finished product. It doesn’t necessarily communicate “better” than a less expensive model it just does so in a way that can be more eye-catching and appealing. And, just like buying a car, you can always add and subtract options until you get the project you want that fits your budget.
Once you answer these questions and consult with a professional, you’ll know what budget you’ll need to allocate to your next project so that it informs, impresses, and drives in style. Of course, talent and skill come into play too – no matter what car you choose to drive, you need the firm hand of a good technician to make it run its best. That means you need to also pick your production team well.
Learn more about the Plum Media video production services here. When it’s time to start your next project, contact us to find out how we can work with you to bring it to life.
Originally Published June 2012 - Updated May 2019
