Well, that statement may be very cheesy and something that we all know. Proper planning leads to better results when you’re in the moment working on a

project. It’s very easy to disregard this sentiment when creating video content. There are myriad factors that can impact the final results: from lighting and sound challenges to

scripting and on-camera performance – which is why when we work with clients we ask a ton of questions.

Here’s a quick list of some of the most important details to remember for your next video project.

It sounds simple but this is the most overlooked thing we find when working with clients who want to create videos. You need to have a very clear sense of what the purpose of the video content is, as that will dictate all of the other decisions you make in regards to content format and distribution of the video. So, ask yourself “why am I making this video?” and “who is the most important person to be watching this content?” Marketing experts may refer to this process as “creating a persona,” in which you imagine a single person – a “Bob” or “Anne” – who is the ideal yet realistic single audience member to represent your target audience.

It’s not always the most knowledgeable person about a given topic that should deliver the information. HOW you present it is just as important as WHAT information you present. So, think about who makes the most sense to appear in the video and weigh that out with who would be the best representative of the brand. You want to come across as engaging as possible to the

viewer.

You may even decide that animation is better than having someone appear on camera gives you more time than you might expect. I can’t tell you the number of times clients assume that something will take as long to film as it does in real life interviews can take 30 to 60 minutes to capture two minutes of quality content and shots of a product or team action shots can sometimes take hours to get a few minutes of high-quality visuals.

These were just three tips of many. There are multiple other points to keep in mind. For example, think about the time of day you’re filming and the light conditions in the room. Blinds are a helpful tool to control light. Listen to the space you’ll be filming in and recognize that it’s likely not dead silent, so see what you can do to control that noise. And prepare for technology to fail. It’s more likely to happen than not! Have backup batteries and as much as other backup gear as you can get.

Video is a medium that is only growing in popularity and it’s a very useful tool to get across information in a dynamic way – but in order to put your best foot forward with video, ensure you start planning long ahead of the shoot day. If you ever need some helpful advice for your video project you know where to find us.