The Video Pre-Production Checklist: 7 Main Steps in Video Planning

Video planning is all about ensuring that the end product is the best quality video possible that achieves your goal and appeals to the right people. At Gillespie Productions, we go to great lengths to ensure that our time is deeply familiar with your business, products, and services — and we do this to ensure that the videos we create generate new business and improve your brand awareness.

If you’re planning on producing your own video, there is a video production checklist that you must become familiar with. Follow this video production process and you’ll ensure you create great quality videos that attract attention and keep people watching.

#1. Set the Business Objectives

First on your video shoot checklist is considering what your business objectives are. What do you want to achieve from the videos you are creating? And what steps can you take to ensure that you achieve those goals?

Every video pre-production checklist starts with these questions, as it allows you to determine what steps you need to take next. If it’s a marketing video, think about the products or services you’re selling and how to make sure your video appeals to the right audience. If it’s a training video, think about what concepts you want your audience to understand at the end of the video.

#2. Define Your Audience

Now, define your audience. When you think about who, specifically, will be watching your video, it makes it easier for you to decide the style and format of the videos you produce.

If you’re selling a product that’s fun and designed for a younger audience, your video should adopt a more casual, friendly, and exciting style. If your audience is corporate and serious, your video should reflect that professionalism.

Without defining your audience while planning a video shoot, you may fall into the trap of trying to create a video that works for everyone – and in turn, creating a video that is really for no one.

#3. Establish the Budget

Next on your video checklist is establishing a budget. This process should involve analyzing the resources you currently have, considering how much you can reasonably spend on the project based on the returns you expect from the video, and thinking about the cost of the camera and recording equipment if you don’t already own it.

When people ask us how to plan a video project, we always stress the importance of budgeting. Your video project plan succeeds when it accounts for the cost of everything, reducing costly, last-minute expenses.

#4. Plan the Distribution Ahead

Not only should you consider your audience, but you should also think about how your audience will watch your content. Thankfully, most videos are just as easily watched on mobile devices as they are on laptops and computers – but there are some specific considerations.

For instance, if you are sharing your video on social media, you may wish to consider including subtitles. With hearing-impaired users, and many other social media users watching videos without sound, this gives you a chance to capture an audience that might have swiped past your video if they didn’t know what was being said.

#5. Choose a Video Type

Now consider the type of video you intend to create. Are you selling a product or service? Are you looking to educate consumers about a specific issue? Giving consumers advice? Or training your staff?

Depending on your video’s objectives you’ll need to adopt different styles. That may mean creating a tutorial video that records a computer screen, a marketing video that focuses heavily on up-close shots of your product being used, or recording a presentation designed to help your staff remember important concepts that relate to their work.

#6. Define the Video Length

You’ll also need to consider your video length, and make a decision based on the audience watching the video, the kind of video you’re recording, and the goals of your video.

Social media marketing videos should be quick and punchy, while more in-depth videos may also be useful for landing pages. Think about what your audience is trying to get out of a video and then think about how long they may be willing to stay engaged with a video to get what they need from it.

If a video runs too long, viewers may tune out – but in cases where viewers want more, a video that’s too short will leave them unhappy and unconvinced.

#7. Planning & Scheduling

And finally, there’s the planning and scheduling. There’s a very important list of things you need to do to ensure that you don’t encounter last-minute problems – whether it’s an issue with the location of your shoot, or a problem with your equipment that requires expensive purchases to keep the filming going.

Remember you must:

• Choose the right location: Finding the right location is key. Be sure that the location you intend to use will be available on the time and day you need it, and do what you can to avoid disruptions.
• Obtain permits if necessary: Sometimes you need a permit for shooting, whether it’s permission to film on somebody else’s grounds, a permit for parking access, or even special insurance.
• Find the right crew: For a professional video, you’re going to need a reliable crew. Your crew should be familiar with all your plans, so make sure everyone is on the same page. Be sure to find experts who understand video recording, too.
• Prepare your equipment: Have the equipment ready, packed away safely, and with batteries fully charged. Bring back-up batteries and charging equipment just in case, and if possible, bring spare cameras and recording equipment just in case one of your devices malfunctions.
• Find a presenter: If your video has a presenter, be sure to choose someone who represents and understands your brand well, and who you know will arrive on time on shoot day.
• Consider the weather: If you’re filming outside, be sure to stay on top of the weather reports. If it looks like the weather won’t be favorable on the day of the shoot, be sure to have a backup day ready that your entire team will be available on. You may also consider shooting at a different time of day.
• Make a schedule: Finally, be sure to establish a schedule that helps you and the team know exactly what needs to be done and at what time.

Leave It to Wisconsin’s Video Experts

There’s one way to make video production easier, and that’s to hire a team of seasoned professionals from Gillespie Productions. We take the time to learn about and understand your business, your goals, and your products. By becoming an extension of your team, we handle all your video projects from start to finish, giving you the time to focus on running your business.

A trusted Wisconsin video production company, Gillespie Productions helps you grow your brand and produce broadcast-quality videos. For more information and a free quote, call the team today!