In today’s digital age, video content has become an essential component of any successful marketing strategy. From social media to website landing pages, videos are a powerful tool for engaging audiences and driving conversions. However, as with any aspect of marketing, the way you produce your videos can have a significant impact on their effectiveness. Let’s explore the pros and cons of in-house vs external video production and how they can affect your marketing initiatives.

This is one of the key decisions you need to make and will, to a large extent, be dictated by the budget you have available. But even if you have the resources, a professional video may not always be needed. Equally, if you don’t have the cash to splash on external help, then that shouldn’t stop you considering video marketing.

Depends On Your Marketing Initiative

Taking a short, simple video on a handheld camera, or even on a smart phone with a good quality camera, can have a valid place in the mix. It can offer a more authentic experience than a super polished video and there are many ways you might capitalize on it.

In contrast, there will be times where a professionally directed and produced video is called for, and anything else would lessen your impact. Production quality is the most important thing – whether you shoot it yourself, or book a professional crew. Any video you plan to share must be visually interesting, lit properly and the audio must be clear. Great content can easily be muddied by poor production quality. People nowadays have short attention spans, so you don’t have more than a few seconds to pull them in.

In- House

In-house video production refers to the process of creating videos within your own organization. This can be done by a dedicated video production team, or by employees who have been trained to create videos as part of their job. The main advantage of in-house video production is that it allows for a greater level of control over the process. You can easily communicate your vision to the production team. You’ll benefit from being involved every step of the process. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re creating videos that are closely tied to your brand or product.

However, in-house video production also has its downsides. One of the biggest challenges is that creating high-quality videos requires a certain level of expertise and equipment. If your team is not experienced in video production, they may struggle to produce videos that meet your company’s standards. Additionally, in-house production can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, taking away from other important tasks.

External Production

External video production, on the other hand, refers to the process of outsourcing video production to a third-party company. These companies are typically staffed by professional videographers, editors, and other experts who have the necessary skills and equipment to create high-quality videos. The main advantage of external video production is that it allows you to tap into the expertise and resources of a professional video production company. This can help you produce videos that are of a higher quality than what you could create in-house. External video production can be more cost-effective. You don’t have to invest in equipment or pay for in-house staff time.

However, there are also downsides to external video production. One of the main disadvantages is that it can be difficult to communicate your vision to an external production company. You may have less control over the process. This can make it harder to ensure that the final product aligns with your brand and messaging.

Choose What’s Best For Your Marketing Initiative

Ultimately, whether you choose in-house vs external video production will depend on your specific needs and resources. In-house production can be a good option if you want a high level of control over the process. It’s good if you’re creating videos that are closely tied to your brand or product. External production, on the other hand, can be a good option if you want to tap into the expertise and resources of a professional video production company. You will save time and resources on your end.

In either case, it is essential to have a clear understanding of your video production budget, timeline, and goals. This will help you make an informed decision about which option is best for your company.

Video is now common place and stats consistently show that its popularity is on the rise. The viewing stats are phenomenal and if you’re not making the most of it, your competitors probably are (or soon will be). So find ways to make it work for you.

Conclusion

Video production is an essential component of any successful marketing strategy. The way you produce your videos can have a significant impact on their effectiveness. In-house video production allows for a greater level of control over the process but requires expertise, equipment, and time. External video production allows for access to professional expertise, resources and can be more cost-effective, but can come at the cost of less control over the process. Ultimately, the choice between in-house vs external video production will depend on your specific needs, resources, and goals.

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