We get this question all the time.
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to answer.
It’s like asking how much is it to build a house? Before you give the answer you need to know a lot of information:
• Where is it?
• How big do you need it?
• What are your requirements?
A mansion in the Hollywood Hills cost more than a bi-level in Indiana.
Video is the same way.
Compare the cost of your last Instagram story to Michael Bay’s Japanese military bombing scene in Pearl Harbor (5.5 million dollars).
Both are videos. You get the point.
So what’s the best way to talk about this uncomfortable topic of money? Well, we find one of the best ways is for the client to give a rough budget right out of the gate. This way we know what we can offer within those boundaries. This way it saves us time of coming up with an idea and over shooting the budget by taking a shot in the dark. Instead, it gives us a sandbox to create within where we can offer the client the best work with what we are given and they can afford it. It’s a win-win.
Now, I know what you are thinking. “What if I have a 10K budget and they say they can do it for 6K”?
Then give us a 6K budget and use the 4K to pick additional options to better the production and make your life a little easier.
Example:
With a 6K budget you’ll have to find people from your organization to act in the video. Because of this, you’ll have to cast them, dress them, rehearse them, and organize them all to show up after hours to the same place at the same time. Because they are not professionals, chances are the production will take longer. Or, you could use the additional 4K to hire professional actors who come in and knock it out, making the production take less time and look and sound that much more professional.
Finding examples of the type of video you would like is a huge help in this process as well. There is nothing wrong with finding a video your competition just put out and saying “I want this but more awesome”. Nine times out of ten we can watch that video, sprinkle in what we think will make it cooler and price it out accordingly.
Remember, the number one thing you can do to save money on a video is shorten the time it takes from concept to completion. That includes indecisive meetings that don’t include decision makers, going round and round on budget, and being strict on rounds of revisions.
After all, time is money right?
Now, let’s talk about that video you need.