Video marketing is one of the single most valuable channels you can use. In 2022, 86% of marketers said video helped them generate more leads -- and 92% (!) of them think video is a very important part of their strategy.
If you want to do video marketing well, though, you also have to make sure you choose a video marketing agency that's right for your business goals, budget, and timeline.
Doing that is harder than it looks, particularly if the number of video marketing agency options seems overwhelming (it probably does.)
Here's how to narrow down the list and choose a video marketing agency that will deliver exactly what you need.
Assess Your Needs
Before you start looking for a video marketing agency, it's important to have an idea of what you need from them. While this list will depend on your particular business goals, here are spme questions to ask yourself:
• What platforms do you want to target?
• Do you need help with production, or just post-production, delivery, and optimization?
• How much money can you spend?
• Are there any special features you need (like localization, multilingual support, etc.)?
• What's your timeline for getting the project completed?
Once you have a good idea of what you need, it's time to start evaluating potential video marketing agencies.
Research Potential Agencies
Next, it's time to do some research into potential video marketing agencies. Start by making a list of those that seem like a good fit at first. Chances are that, without in-depth research, it's hard to tell who has the skills and expertise you really need.
To get more information on each agency, read through their website to learn more about them and what services they offer. Look for:
- Case studies of past work to showcase how successful their campaigns have been in reaching their clients' goals.
- Testimonials from past and current clients that speak to their quality of work.
- Off-site reviews (on other sites, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Reviews, etc.). This step is important to make sure you're not being fed with a selection of reviews, case studies, and testimonials that have been cherry-picked to make the agency look good.
Once you've researched each potential agency, narrow down your candidate list to two or three agencies that look like they could work for you.
Evaluate Candidates
At this point, it's time to get more granular and start talking with representatives from the different agencies.
Setting up a phone call or video conference is the best way to get to know the people you'll be working with and how well they understand your business goals. Ideally, your video marketing agency should:
- Be excellent communicators (you don’t want to be in the dark on what happens with your video ads)
- Provide you with accurate, in-depth reports on the performance of your video ads
- Have a clear paper trail of who is responsible for what, which helps them work efficiently and with a clear goal in mind
Be sure to ask questions about their experience in your industry, the process for creating videos, team structure, turnaround time, customer service policies, tracked KPIs, and pricing information. You should also request a portfolio of recent work.
Review their answers and assess who could provide the best service for you, taking into account factors like budget, timeline, and industry experience, as well as the service packages they offer. Ideally, your video marketing agency should provide you with multiple services, including video production, post-production, optimization, and delivery.
Negotiate and Sign
Once you've assessed all the options and evaluated the potential agencies, it's time to make your choice. Based on the information you have gathered, choose the agency that is the best fit for your business goals.
Once you have selected an agency, it's time to start negotiations. Make sure you get a written agreement (including pricing information and any additional services they offer), so there are no surprises along the way.
Be sure to ask questions about any clauses in the contract before you sign on the dotted line. This will help ensure that you don't have any disagreements or misunderstandings once the project begins.
7 Red Flags to look for When Choosing a Video Marketing Agency
Unfortunately, not all video marketing agencies live up to the promises they make during the negotiation phase. To avoid wasting your time, energy, and money, look for the following red flags:
- The agency is unable to provide past work or references.
- They insist on upfront payment without providing any guarantees.
- They lack the specialized services you need (e.g. in YouTube Ads, creating videos for multiple channels and purposes, etc.)
- Their portfolio isn't up-to-date with recent work that's relevant to your industry.
- They make unrealistic promises
- They don't track the right KPIs (or track vanity metrics only.)
- Their customer service is lacking (e.g. slow response times, refusal to answer questions, etc.).
By using the guidelines outlined in this article and doing your due diligence when selecting a video marketing agency, you should be able to find an experienced, reliable provider that fits within your budget and can help you reach your business goals.Looking for a video marketing agency specializing in YouTube Ads? You got it. Contact Yugo Media and get started today! We offer a full range of video marketing services and will work closely with you to create the perfect online video strategy for your business. Get in touch now and let’s get started!
