3
FACTORS
THAT
DRIVE
THE
COST
OF
ONLINE
VIDEO
PRODUCTION
AND
HOW
YOU
CAN
BUDGET
FOR
IT
In
the
past,
professional-grade
video
production
has
been
an
expensive
procedure.
Between,
shooting,
editing
and
specialized
equipment
and
expertise,
to
create
a
professional
video
was
not
only
challenging,
but
pricey.
Now
a
days
it
is
extremely
easy
to
shoot
a
variety
of
videos
from
low-cost
do-it-yourself
video
blogs
to
advanced
corporate
videos.
And
with
advancements
in
technology,
professional-grade
videography
is
more
affordable
than
ever.
Businesses
today
can
get
a
higher
quality
video
for
their
money.
Online
video
is
gaining
momentum
year
after
year
and
it
is
the
“next
big
thing”
in
marketing
strategies
for
businesses.
Posting
video
content
can
be
just
the
boost
your
business
needs
to
take
it
to
the
next
level
of
success.
HOW
MUCH
WILL
THIS
COST
ME?
Long
before
online
video
was
so
popular,
the
first
question
a
business
asked
about
online
video
production
was
“Why?”
and
“How?”
But
now
the
main
question
is
“How
much
will
it
cost?”
With
its
obvious
benefits,
uses
and
successful
platforms
such
as
YouTube,
wanting
to
know
the
cost
is
a
reasonable
question
to
ask
regarding
video
production
for
the
web.
The
answer
is,
and
always
will
be,
the
same…
“it
depends.”
In
this
post
we
will
look
at
the
reasons
behind
online
video
cost
and
how
your
business
can
budget
for
this
booming
trend.
WHAT
DRIVES
THE
COST
OF
ONLINE
VIDEO?
There
are
three
basic
factors
that
drive
video
production
costs.
Some
of
these
cost
drivers
may
seem
obvious
but
your
decisions
with
these
factors
will
ultimately
impact
the
quality
of
your
final
product
(your
video).
Time:
This
may
seem
like
a
no-brainer,
but
the
more
time
that
you
spend
in
pre-production
planning,
scripting,
location
scouting,
shooting,
special
effects
and
editing,
the
better
your
final
product
will
be.
By
adding
more
people
to
your
production
team,
this
increases
the
time
and
money
spent
on
creating
your
video.
And
more
time,
more
people,
will
equal
more
money
out
of
your
pocket.
Talent:
The
greater
the
talent
of
the
people
working
on
your
video,
the
better
it
will
be.
As
with
most
things
in
life,
the
talented
and
most
experienced
people
tend
to
cost
more.
Just
think
of
the
old
‘You
get
what
you
pay
for’
saying.
Tools:
You
can
create
your
video
on
your
smartphone
or
you
can
use
a
high-end
camera
with
a
professional
lighting
kit,
post-production
graphics
and
animation,
but
remember
that
sophisticated
tools
and
top-level
professionals
who
know
how
to
use
them
will
add
to
your
cost.
These
three
key
factors
to
online
video
production
cost
can
be
used
to
identify
five
distinct
levels
of
video
quality
and
cost.
FIVE
LEVELS
OF
ONLINE
VIDEO
QUALITY
AND
COST
#1
Amateur
The
Amateur
levels
is
the
do-it-your-self
approach
using
the
likes
of
basic
video
equipment
and
self-taught,
and
not
so
experienced,
talent.
Think
YouTube.
-Benefits:
Fast
and
inexpensive
-Risks:
Results
often
look
cheap
and
amateurish,
which
can
lessen
your
creditability
-Best
Uses:
Internal
training
and
personal
blogs
-Cost
for
a
1-2
Minute
Video:
Free
with
the
most
basic
equipment
(such
as
smartphones)
#2
Semi-Pro
Semi-Pro
requires
a
person
with
some
experience
using
more
high-level
tools
such
as
prosumer
camera
and
video
editing
software.
The
talent
level
here
is
variable
while
time
commitment
is
often
low.
Think
part-time
wedding
videographer.
-Benefits:
Better
quality
and
more
affordable
-Risks:
Quality
is
varied
and
often
boring
to
watch
-Best
Uses:
Video
blog
posts,
educational
events
and
internal
training
videos
-Cost
for
a
1-2
Minute
Video:
$1,500
-
$3,000
#3
Professional
At
the
Professional
level,
a
solid
professional
team
uses
specialized,
high-tech
tools
and
an
average
level
of
time.
Think
typical
corporate
online
videos.
-Benefits:
Professional
and
predictable
quality
that
has
creditability
-Risks:
May
not
be
exceptional
or
unique
–
e.g.
stand
out
from
the
crowd
-Best
Uses:
Case
studies,
profiles
or
recruiting
videos
-Cost
for
a
1-2
Minute
Video:
$5,000
-
$20,000
#4
Premium
Premium
includes
more
time,
top-level
talent
and
high-end
tools
and
gear
such
as
motion
graphics,
expensive
cameras
or
even
a
studio.
Use
Premium
level
to
tell
a
captivating
story
and
to
capture
viewers’
attention.
These
features
to
premium
level
can
elevate
your
video
to
something
excellent.
Think
“Wow!”
Benefits:
This
is
a
‘stand
out
piece’
that
generates
buzz.
This
is
a
kind
of
video
sets
you
apart
and
wins
awards.
-Risks:
The
bigger
the
cost
means
you
must
have
confidence
in
the
team
and
their
ability
to
produce
the
quality
video
that
you
envisioned
-Best
Uses:
Signature
pieces
such
as
overview
videos,
recruiting
videos
and
credibility-building
case
studies
-Cost
for
a
1-2
Minute
Video:
$25,000
-
$50,000
#5
Hollywood
This
is
a
top-level,
high
talent
and
a
no-compromises
approach.
Think
ultra-premium
movie
trailer
or
the
Superbowl
-Benefits:
Competitive
at
the
highest
level.
Appropriate
for
the
largest
firms
-Risks:
Cost-wise,
you
must
be
clear
and
certain
of
the
need
for
this
level
-Best
Uses:
High-end
advertising
or
compelling
signature
piece
for
a
large
firm
-Cost
for
a
1-2
Minute
Video:
$100,000
–
$1,000,000
plus
CHOOSING
THE
APPROPRIATE
BUDGET
LEVEL
FOR
YOUR
BUSINESS
Before
you
set
a
budget
for
your
online
video,
you
must
be
certain
of
what
you
want
to
accomplish
with
it
and
know
what
resources
you
have
available
to
create
it.
Do
you
want
to
build
your
brand?
Attract
new
clients
or
increase
creditability?
Recruit
new
staff
to
Cleveland?
Do
you
have
a
compelling
story
to
tell?
For
these
types
of
videos
you
typically
need
professional
or
premium
level
of
quality.
If
you
are
simply
relaying
information
to
viewers,
the
professional
level
will
do
without
forgoing
credibility.
Smaller
firms
or
independent
brands
with
limited
budgets
may
have
to
go
with
lower
level
production
values,
but
even
at
these
levels
video
can
have
a
great
impact.
Make
realistic
decisions
about
your
video
expectations.
Don’t
think
you
can
get
away
with
paying
a
semi-pro
rate
and
expect
to
get
a
professional
level
video.
It
just
isn’t
reality.
GET
WHAT
YOU
PAY
FOR
Here
are
a
few
tips
to
get
the
most
out
of
your
video
production
experience:
Be
certain
of
what
you
are
trying
to
accomplish.
Don’t
be
that
client
that
can’t
make
up
their
mind
about
what
they
want.
This
can
make
your
video
fall
short
of
your
expectations
while
also
adding
costs
and
diminishing
the
quality
of
your
video,
not
to
mention
make
you
difficult
to
work
with.
Choose
your
video
producer
or
video
production
company
carefully
and
wisely.
Look
at
their
past
work.
Have
them
show
you
samples
that
have
a
similar
budget
and
style
of
what
you
want.
Make
sure
they
understand
your
industry
and
marketing
in
general,
not
just
video
production.
Finally,
be
available
and
have
the
resources
that
the
producer
or
videographer
will
need
for
your
video.
This
can
be
anywhere
from
access
to
people,
photography,
company
logos
and
locations
to
scripts
and
rough
edits.
Most
video
producers
want
to
create
a
good,
quality
video.
If
you
help
make
it
easier
for
them,
your
business
and
your
video
will
benefit
greatly.
For
any
and
all
of
your
video
marketing
needs,
visit
us
at ultimo-media.com.