Outsource to Outperform: 5 Reasons to Outsource Your Video Production
How many times have you scrolled past a lifeless advert without even batting an eyelid? Now think about how often you’ve done the same with an engaging video?
The answer is probably far less, but you’re not alone. As the marketing landscape evolves, video content has become one of (if not THE) most important tools for communication. It captivates audiences, conveys messages and builds awareness.
In an age where 92% of people have a mobile phone, short-form videos are a convenient way to digest content, whether you’re on the tube to work or sat on a beach in Spain. The trick is to stop the scroll, but you’ve only got three seconds.
Not only do social media platforms love video, expanding your brand’s reach and engagement, but search engines have a soft spot for them too. By introducing motion graphics and visuals assets to your website and marketing channels, you’ll climb the rankings and improve your organic traffic – so customers come to you!
But producing top-tier videos isn’t as simple as stringing a few clips together and adding some quirky transitions. It takes a considerable amount of time and skill to deliver a gripping watch that draws the viewer in and converts interest into action.
This is where outsourcing comes into its own. By tapping into the knowledge and resources of external experts, you can lighten the load on your internal team, save yourself design budget and develop a consistent style across multiple channels.
1. Efficient & Economic
Building an in-house video production team would set you back a fair chunk of cash, with several salaries and expensive equipment to consider before the new hires have even walked through the door. By outsourcing your campaigns, you can lean on the experience of a professional agency while saving costs on the technology, editing software and admin hours required to put together an impressive asset.
The result is high-quality content for a fraction of the price, as you’re only paying for the time it takes to craft your video, rather than the sick days, downtime and hardware that come with hiring. Imagine heading into a busy week with the comfort of knowing your next marketing campaign is in the best hands – sounds nice, right?
2. Access to Ability
We’ve all seen the result of a rushed video project with no real vision or creative direction. You only have to watch an episode of The Apprentice to understand how widely an asset can miss the mark. It can cost your business and client relations.
For an agency however, whipping up a slick piece of motion is well within its remit. Whether it’s a brand-new animation for social media or an interactive illustration for a digital campaign, they have the knowledge and know-how to deliver the goods.
At Tone for instance, our team includes expert designers with specialisms in motion graphics, web design and static creative, so we’ve got you covered for all bases.
3. Track Your Time
Creating top-notch video can feel like an endless task, especially if several tweaks are needed to get it spot on. While the end result can generate more conversions for your brand, the process can take away valuable hours from your internal team.
When you outsource design services, you set clear deadlines for deliverables and get SLAs to give you predictability, with time logged to the minute. Not only does this allow you to keep track of projects more effectively, but it also means you can focus on other areas of your business without a niggling thought in your mind.
No more questions like ‘where’s that video up to?’, or ‘Mike is off sick today, so how do we plan on getting that graphic finished and over to the client by tomorrow?’
4. Managing Multiples
More often than not, if your in-house team is working on a relatively major video project, they’ll be pretty strapped for time so adding another task on top will be greeted with a firm no. Either that or the asset will fall to the bottom of the pile.
The beauty of partnering with a design agency is that they have the capacity to manage multiple briefs simultaneously, allowing you to scale your video production needs. Planning to roll out several campaigns over the next month? No problem.
Agencies are well-versed when it comes to producing a standalone video or an entire series of assets, so they’ll have no issue shuffling their own team to handle concurrent requests. Don’t be afraid to hit that send button for another video brief!
5. Cross-Channel Consistency
Ultimately, you want high-quality videos that look like they’ve been produced in-house. Consistency is key, so it’s best to work with an outsourcing partner that can provide a sense of cohesion whilst sprinkling a healthy dose of creativity on top.
At Tone, we guide videos through a three-tier QA process to ensure they stack up against your wider suite of brand assets. We ask ourselves questions like ‘will the video help to achieve the goals of this campaign?’, and ‘is the asset coherent with everything else we’ve delivered this month?’ Only then do we share it for approval.
We’re not only reviewing the specific asset, but how it fits into the bigger picture of your brand and whether the creative works for the channel it’s destined for. If we’re not convinced, then how can we improve to video to make it even more effective?
Key takeaways
If you’re looking to enhance your video output without hiring a specialist in-house, then outsourcing is the smart option to choose. The services that an external partner offers will help you to create scroll-stopping videos that hit the mark, enhancing brand awareness, engaging consumers and boosting conversions.
Given the growth of social media and digital advertising over recent years, there’s no escaping the fact that you MUST harness the power of video in today’s market.
Fail to seize the potential of video and you’ll be left behind, watching other people’s campaigns and wishing you’d invested more wisely. So, what’s holding you back?
Liam Veitch
Head of Production at Design on Demand
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