Animated web videos have manifold and all-pervasive benefits for businesses, and you too might be considering getting one for your company.
But before you do, there are plenty of decisions that you need to make and points that you need to consider.
Here are ten tips that will go a long way in helping you get that perfect animated video.
1. Company v. freelance – The first decision you will have to make is whether to hire freelancer/s or an established company. Both choices have their own advantages and disadvantages.
While going the freelance way allows for more flexibility in terms of budget and process, with an established company you are guaranteed delivery within a certain deadline and can judge their competence better, based on their work folio.
My two cents? Go the organizational way, unless you are severely restricted by budget constraints.
2. Play the field – Even while going the organizational route, there are a wide array of options in terms of companies that produce animated videos.
To find the perfect fit, you need to have a look at all of them. Look at their websites, their portfolios, their testimonials, their pricing and compare all of these before you take the final decision.
3. Fix a budget – Once you have decided on the company to move forward with, there are plenty of things you need to clearly communicate to them.
The first and foremost of these is, of course, the budget. The cost for animation varies from company to company and depends on a variety of factors like duration and animation style which you’ll have to choose.
It is important that you set an upper limit for the budget that the animation company cannot exceed under any circumstances.
4. Know your duration – It might be difficult for you to gauge it, however, you need to communicate the estimated duration of your video to the production company.
Since you know what information your video must communicate, a useful tip to estimate the required duration is to write down your points in the form of a rough script. A standard 60 second video has around 150 to 180 words in the voice over script.
5. Choose a style – There are many different styles of animation out there. You need to choose which style will best tell your story to your target customers.
Even if you do not recognize the different styles of animation, it is always recommended to refer the link of a video that has the closest resemblance to your vision for your video.
See Broadcast2world's portfolio to get an idea about different styles. Do due diligence; spend a lot of time to go through delivered videos so that you are very about sure what you want.
6. Understand their process – All animated companies have different ways of functioning and standard procedures for production.
Make sure you understand every part of your chosen company’s process including the number of revisions allowed. Make sure you then use these revisions wisely.
7. Set clear lines of communication – It is imperative that there are clear lines of communication between you and the creative team so that you can provide your feedback clearly and precisely.
8. Set a deadline – You need to set a definite deadline, not only for the final video but for all stages of production in order to ensure a timely delivery of your video.
9. Give a proper brief – The most important part of your communication with the creative team is the brief that you provide. Try to cover everything – from the reasons for which you need the video to your specific business model and your target customers.
10. Be assertive yet open-minded – Essentially, you need to be assertive while putting your point across. However, considering the company you hire is professionally competent and much more experienced in these matters, it is also important to consider their views with an open mind.
They could often offer a fresh perspective over your ideas and portray your business in a light that just might be what you need.
Following these tips and doing the necessary legwork upfront could eventually save a lot of your time, energy and money, and also help you get the video that tells your story perfectly.