Pre-production checklist: A guide to creating effective corporate videos

Charlotte Miller

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Video content has become increasingly important. Whether they are posted on social media networks, websites, or even in emails, consumers just love watching them.

So, why are there still businesses that don’t create or post videos?

Video production is not particularly easy and affordable. It will require careful planning, preparation, setting up, and editing.

There is no better time for marketers to create corporate videos than today. And if you’re up to the challenge or have an idea already brewing in your head, here is a list of things you need to tick off as you go.

Know your audience

Catching the attention of every single consumer is next to impossible. It may happen some of the time but not all the time. Figure out and define your audience. Create a buyer persona of the person your video is trying to reach and captivate. 

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Are you reaching out to college students? 

Mothers who work at home? 

Individuals working in a specific industry?

Determining exactly who your target audience is will make it easier to craft the right video that gives out the right message.

Purpose of the video

Now that you know who your video is for, what is it that you want to tell them? Plan your message well. Whether you are explaining a process, providing a solution, or sharing information, make sure that your message is crystal clear.

Set a realistic budget

It can be difficult to determine an exact figure during pre-production but list down everything you think you need to spend for and set a realistic amount. Just make sure that you don’t overspend and under-deliver. If the budget is small and can’t be stretched far enough, you may record with your phone and an online corporate video maker and editor.

Write the script

If your video will include characters and dialogues, don’t just wing it. Write the script, rehearse it, revise it, trim it down, or add more. Involve others in the team and be ready for critiques. It can be a tedious process but the results will surely be worth it.

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Specify length and size

You should already know how long your video is and what size it will be before shooting it. These will depend on the type of video you are making and where you plan to post it. To ensure maximum engagement, keep it at 5 minutes or less. To catch the attention of your target audience right away, make the first 8 seconds count.

The size or aspect ratio of your video will depend on which digital platform you aim to publish it. The most common is 16:9 but only if your consumers are watching from television or via YouTube. If your target audience includes active and busy people, choose a video size that works best on mobile devices.

Create a storyboard

Visualize your shoot by planning how the story should go. You don’t have to be a film expert to be able to create one. Just list down the parts of the story in the order that you want them to be shot.

Make a shot list

A shot list is the breakdown of the video, scene by scene. This will help you and your team determine where the camera should be placed, where the direction of the light should be, and what props will be needed, to name a few.

Choose locations or backgrounds

Once you create the storyboard and shot list, you should be able to determine the locations where you need to shoot. If it is not possible to go out and shoot, you can use a chroma key or green screen technique to alter the background. 

Review the recording

After planning the shoot and preparing the equipment needed, go ahead and shoot your video. Review each scene to make sure it was done right. If not, do another take and another until it is done right. When all the scenes have been shot, you have to scrub the video, review the footage, and organize all the scenes to match the storyboard.

The power of videos

If your business has not considered videos in the marketing plan yet, the time is now. Allowing your target audience to interact with your brand in a more personal way will help build and establish a good connection. 

The more engaging you edit a video, the more aware your audience will be. And the higher the awareness, the more likely that the views will translate into more profit for your business.