In-house video production vs outsourcing: 5 Questions To Help You Choose

Video is the future. Within the next year, it’s estimated that more than 80 percent of internet searches will be for video content. At this moment, video is the preferred method of content consumption 

for the audience you’re trying to reach.

So how do you keep up? Do you establish an in-house video team, or do you outsource to a group of video professionals? Which is best for your business? Here are some questions that can help you determine which method for producing high-quality, engaging video is appropriate for you.

Question #1: Do you have the manpower to do your video in-house?

While it would be ideal to have one person responsible for your video content, that’s a lot to ask of someone. Consider everything that goes into creating great video: devising a concept, writing a script, shooting it, editing it, and distributing it. Say your video person is great on the creative side but struggles with the editing. Or maybe they’re a genius at directing, but coming up with a concept is like pulling teeth. If you hope to make video a cornerstone of your content plan, this workload is too much to ask of one employee.

Now imagine you decide to hire an editor and a writer to populate your video team. Now you’ve got to keep three creatives happy and busy— do you have the capacity (not to mention the budget) to do that?

Question #2: What does your budget look like?

Video is quickly becoming a necessity if you want to stay ahead of your competition. You need high-quality video that speaks directly to your audience. Unfortunately, that’s not cheap. 

If you’re thinking you can save a few dollars by producing your video in-house, you might need to think again. Professional equipment alone is wildly expensive. Sure, you can shoot video content with your iPhone, but you get what you pay for. The last thing you want is to leave viewers with the impression that you created your video on the cheap.

Then you’ll need to hire a video team. Having additional full-time employees on your roster is a big expense; beyond their salary, you’ll have to consider the costs that go along with more employees. Insurance, vacation, office space— all of these can eat into your budget.

Also, you want to hire the best video talent you can find, which is going to be pricey. As video becomes more popular, the folks who can create great video content are going to be in demand. And that demand will result in higher salaries than ever.

In other words? It can quickly get expensive to produce a video in-house.

Question #3: Do you have the storytelling skills to create a great video?

Making effective video content isn’t about pointing a camera at your subject and pressing record; it’s about delivering your brand’s message in an interesting, engaging manner that will elicit emotion from your audience.

Beyond that, you need to know what type of video works best on the various platforms you use to present it— the video that’s effective on YouTube might not be successful on TikTok, and what works on Facebook won’t work on Instagram.

Combining the creative with the practical is integral among the skills of a talented video team. They can make content that’s incredibly moving AND tailored for a specific platform.

Question #4: Can you stay abreast of the ever-changing video landscape?

Video is constantly being updated. Whether it’s the tools used to create video, or the format used for the content, video is always changing.

Will you be able to stay on top of the latest trends in video? As technology advances, video techniques change. A great video team will be able to roll with these updates, stay ahead of the trends, and even become influencers by purchasing the latest equipment or adapting their storytelling to suit new platforms and audiences.

Working with professionals is by far the best way to ensure that you create lifelong fans, not just customers.

Question #5: Can you handle multiple video projects at once?

If you’re a busy company, it’s likely that you’ll have several different projects going simultaneously. While one video is in the editing stage, you’ll have one in the planning stage, one in production and another in distribution.

If you’ve got a small team managing all of this, it’s likely that something will fall through the cracks— or worse, the quality of your projects will suffer.

A professional video company will be able to handle multiple projects. They’ll have the staff required to give each project the attention it requires, ensuring that you get quality as well as quantity.

Are you ready to see what a premiere video production company can do for you? NextThought Studios can help.

 Click here to discuss your video needs today!