When Should You Create A Video Yourself Versus Hiring Out To The Pros
Shane Yeager
Combining professional and team made content can 10x engagement.
There are a number of opinions concerning DIY video production vs. hiring out.
With the increasing need for video marketing, it is easy to get stuck on whether to do the video production yourself or to hire out.
Both make sense depending on your needs and goals and brands should use both tactics in their marketing mix.
Here, we will discuss the pros and cons of both DIY video production and hired out video production so you can think it over and bring back to your team for discussion.
How most of the C suite feels about video marketing.
Do It Yourself Video Production
Technology has made it possible for anyone to do a video and market it. professional and capable cameras are cheap(ish), smart phones are all around and there is a ubiquitous amount of either free or low cost editing software.
YouTube, Wistia, Frame, and No Film School
among many others has made life much easier. You can find some “how-to” videos/articles and you’ll be running in no time.
All these are reasons that can push you to do a video by yourself.
Pros of DIY video
It is often lower production value and hence lower/no direct cost
It is sometimes faster to produce
The raw edge that it has seems to be more appealing in certain situations
It can be spontaneous and reflect current events
It gives an un-staged feeling which is great for authenticity
Cons of DIY video
The low cost can reflect that you are not taking your video marketing and brand seriously
It often results in poor image and audio quality which can hinder the message you want to pass across
It can be time consuming as well even if it is DIY
In many cases, DIY projects are not usually completed
The time and trade-offs in order to do the video yourself might not give a good return on investment
Hiring Out Your Video Production Needs.
Hiring out your video production gives you the best chance in making good first impressions.
Video production is not as easy as it looks. A professional video producer knows what he or she is doing and they have the expertise to do the work. They can get a quality project done because they are well-positioned to do so, possessing hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment.
These are important things to think about when hiring out video work.
Pros of hiring out
Professional videos have a more polished and stylish edge
An outsider usually brings a fresh perspective/idea
Professional video producers are aware of the latest trends in the market and bring these into the production
Professionals can help with the difficult aspects of video production
They can easily help you avoid scripting, casting, acting, & technical mistakes
Professionals save you time and money in the long run because the get the job done right the first time (or guarantee a fix until satisfaction)
Cons of hiring out
Cost. Most "real" professional shops start at $10k and go up from there.
Getting the right person/team to hire may be difficult
Working with a new team requires some on-boarding/culture fit
44 might have a point. If you're involving more than 3 people, you might consider calling a professional to help.
Regardless of what you prefer, it all boils down to what your expectations are.
What is the end goal?
Hiring a professional company like DC Visionaries or the many other awesome vendors out there may be the best way to go. In other cases DIYs like video blogs and social updates are much more suitable.
It is really about what you want to achieve, how you'll track success, and why you want that in your content strategy.
Try our self serve estimator. You'll have custom pricing for your next project in 5 minutes or less.
