When to Produce DIY Corporate Video, and When to Hire a Professional

As my wife would agree, I have zero handy skills around the house. Our running joke is that I’m going to set up bleachers and sell tickets and popcorn for the next time I try to fix something. That said… I’ve actually managed to change a faucet, replace a side mirror for my car, fix a garage door and knock out a few other minor accomplishments (major for me), thanks to the never-ending supply of tutorials on the mighty YouTube. I have to admit, there’s something rewarding about do-it-yourself projects. In fact, I try to do as much myself in my business as possible. That’s just the way it is when you own a business, and I love it.

When it comes to corporate video production, there are cases to be made for the DIY video route. I know that might seem counterintuitive coming from the owner of a video production company, but, in my opinion, there are times when it makes sense:

When First Impressions Don't Necessarily Matter

When I’m looking for help fixing my sink, I really don’t care about the lighting that Jimmy’s Plumbing is using in his YouTube video. If you think your customers wouldn’t really care about the technical nuances of the video in your content marketing and they just want the information, then who am I to tell you how to do it?

When the Only Option Is DIY

I remember from my TV news days when one of my colleagues put together a great story about a local athlete participating in a competition in Ireland. At the time, Skype was just starting to get popular, and the reporter recorded a call to the athlete overseas. Yes, the video clarity was terrible by today’s standards, but it’s an interview from Ireland. Similarly in your business, if you can get a phone video of your machines in action while visiting a customer in Europe (assuming they’re okay with it), that’s awesome – and could be extremely helpful in future sales. Plus, the video that comes out of phones these days is pretty incredible in the right situations.

If That’s the Look You’re Going For

A great way to build a diverse set of content is to ask people – either customers or employees scattered around the world – to contribute a video message with their phones. It would be very inefficient and cost-prohibitive to get a professional crew in every location. Plus, people today are used to grainy and shaky videos and almost are drawn to the sincerity.

If The Video Is Simple

Shooting a quick video message (30-60 seconds) can be a great tool to populate your social media feeds – especially when they show something or bring you to an event. In many cases, the DIY approach – even when it looks like a video selfie – is perfect for what you’re doing. Of course, there are plenty of cases in which it’s counterproductive to take it on yourself:

When First Impressions Matter

For a lot of companies – especially B2B – the first impression a potential customer has is with the company’s website. If you have a video front and center, what will its look and feel tell your potential customers about you? At the risk of sounding arrogant, video is a craft that looks easy but can look amateur very quickly. In my humble opinion, I think people generally accept DIY-looking videos on social media, but when the video is coming directly from the company as the main marketing piece, the expectation is broadcast quality. That means involving a corporate video company. While today’s phones are incredible, so much of the video comes down to lighting, composition, and audio – not to mention quality editing. Even more important, is the story you’re trying to tell, which is a skill that can take years to master.

When the Video Is Complicated

Recording and uploading a message is pretty easy, but when you start talking about working in supporting video, the amateur look will start to show through quickly. Many times, it takes a while to get the hang of pacing your shots in editing. In this case, turning to a video production company, like Gillespie Productions, that knows how to make a corporate video might be an option.

When You Value Time

There are some people who have no formal video training but can produce a decent product. What often isn’t told, though, is the amount of time it takes to finish the project. Shooting the video is one thing. Editing a high-quality product – even for seasoned professionals – is a very time-consuming and tedious process. ‍‍The obvious question for business owners is if they want to break away employees to produce the video in-house or have someone come in to take the project from start to finish so their workers can stay focused on what they do best.

If you’d prefer to avoid the DIY route for your next video, don't think about how to find a videographer - visit our contact page for our contact information.