Electrify Media Productions

To make a successful video, preliminary planning and creative discovery are critical.  Here are some of the areas that will save your video project before it even starts.

Before you try to script the video, understand the audience, your goals and the ways it will be used

• What are the important things to consider about the audience?
• Why should the viewer care?  What problems do you solve for them?
• What is the overarching message? (…and supporting messages – no more than 3)
• What are your goals?  Why is this video being produced?
• How and where will it be used (Web, trade show, DVD, YouTube, etc.)?  Will it be shown in conjunction with other presentations or videos?

What is the story?

• If your internal team doesn’t have the time or resources to create a compelling visual story (we’re not talking about datasheet or copywriting experts) make sure the production company you’re considering has the chops to carry out this vital task.
• Without a story that ties all the messages and call-to-action together, your video is no better than your neighbor’s boring ski vacation slideshow – complete with music soundtrack and dazzling transitions!

Document it

• Compile your answers to the questions above into a “Program Needs Analysis”.
• It doesn’t need to be extremely formal or lengthy, but it needs to clearly communicate these key requirements.
• This document will serve as a reference that you, your production and decision-making teams can agree on and point to throughout the creative and approval process.