We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words–so how about video? In an age dominated by digital marketing, corporate videos have become an increasingly popular and effective way for businesses to promote products and services. Good corporate video can attract new customers and keep existing customers engaged.
But producing a high-quality corporate video isn’t as easy as it sounds. There’s so much to consider–from the planning stages of pre-production to the final edits of post-production. In this post, we’ll go over some of the dos and don’ts of corporate video production so you can avoid common pitfalls and create a product that’s sure to wow your audience.
Do: Plan Ahead
Planning is key. Before you start filming, you’ll need to determine both your target audience and your goals for the video. Some other considerations are length, style and tone, location, props, and any necessary special effects. Another important decision is settling on a distribution strategy to ensure that your target demographic will see your video.
Don’t: Make it all about you
While your corporate video should be informative, it shouldn’t be a commercial. Instead of talking about how great your company is, focus on how your product or service can benefit viewers. What problem does it solve? How will it make their lives easier? You can create a more effective video by speaking to the customer, rather than about yourself.
Do: Show off your company culture
Corporate video is a great opportunity to show viewers what it’s like to work at your company. You might include footage of employees working together, or of your physical workspace, or the area where your corporate headquarters are located. Maybe you have a great water cooler culture–or maybe your employees mostly went virtual and you want to show them logging on from their backyards or with their babies napping in the background. Viewers love to see behind-the-scenes, both so they can relate to the real people who work for you and so they can better understand your corporate culture.
Don’t: Go Overboard with Special Effects
While it’s important to make your video visually appealing, you don’t want to go overboard with special effects or try to do too much in one video. Remember that your goal is to communicate a message in an engaging way, not to produce a Hollywood blockbuster. Too many special effects can be distracting and take away from your core message.
Do: Keep It Short and Sweet
When it comes to corporate videos, shorter is almost always better. People are used to quick videos that they can click on and watch as they scroll through their social media feeds. Even if you’re featuring the video on your web site, it’s still helpful to keep it concise and to the point–ideally under two minutes. If two minutes feels too rushed–like you’re trying to squeeze everything in–then we recommend cutting up that longer video into smaller breakouts so that viewers can watch everything in bite-sized chunks.
Don’t: Forget about Post-Production
Once you’ve finished filming, you’ll probably feel ready to call “wrap” and move on to other projects. But your involvement in post-production is important so that you can put your branded stamp on the final product. During post, you’ll edit your footage, add music and/or voiceover narration, and put all the finishing touches on your project.
Your best option is to work with a professional editor or production company who can help take care of post-production for you. They will have access to high-quality editing software and sound equipment that will make your video look and sound engaging and professional.
Conclusion
Corporate video production can be an incredibly effective marketing tool. These dos and don’ts should help you create a video that grabs your audience’s attention and drives results. If you want help putting these ideas into action, contact the team at Front Runner Films. We know corporate video, and we’re committed to producing the highest possible product using our signature blend of humor and heart. We’d love to help you tell your story, so get in touch with us today.
