Producing a Video? Ask These 10 Questions First!
Some time ago, we published an article about ten questions you should ask yourself prior to embarking on a video project. The questions still hold up today. These are question we would ask in discussing a potential project with you, but it’s important that you ask these questions of yourself and your team first.
Here they are…
What is the purpose of my program? Put it into a single sentence. That will help you focus, and the more focused your program is, the more effective it will be. Use verbs like “to teach, to motivate, to celebrate, to inform.”
Who is my audience? Again, focus is the key. The more tightly you can define your audience the better.
What do I want to achieve? Define several objectives for your program. What action do you want the viewer to take after viewing this program? What should they believe, know, or feel? Limit yourself to 4 or 5.
What’s my budget? Know what is an appropriate amount for you to spend. Share that information with your creative partners. That way they’ll be able to plan a treatment that will achieve what you want at a price that works for you.
For how long should this program be useful? Is it for one-time use at a big event, or is it something that needs to be evergreen? Maybe it’s something you’d like to have updated on an annual basis.
Following from the above question, how many other uses can I think of for this program? Maybe that longer piece you used at your event can be broken up and used on social media. Or in an email to donors. On your website. You’re making an investment. How many different ways can that investment pay you back?
And now following from question 6, how and where will it be shown? At a big event? Small event? Social Media, or your website. Will viewers watch it on their phones or tablets? On their large screen TV, or on a huge screen in person? All of the above? Think about accessibility. Will you need open or closed captions or ASL signing?
What resources do I have? Photos, video clips, in-house talent. Think of all the things you might be able to bring to the table that may add to the production.
What branding resources do I have? You’ll want your program to be branded to fit in with your guidelines or the design for a special event.
Who will be involved in the approval process? Often overlooked, this is an important question to ask. You’ll want to have buy-in from the get-go from those who will have something to say down the road.
Ask yourself these questions prior to starting your project, and be prepared to share this information with your in-house team as well as your out-of-house creative partners. You’ll be well on your way to a successful production. Click here to download a PDF of our 10 Questions!