{"id":294796,"date":"2023-06-30T10:47:48","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T09:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/?p=294796"},"modified":"2024-06-12T15:56:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T14:56:33","slug":"video-retainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/video-retainer\/","title":{"rendered":"Video Production Retainers: Pros and Cons"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Last updated on 30th June 2023<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially true in the world of video production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it’s possible to make a video here and there, real success comes from consistently producing high quality content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And true consistency is about having the skills you need, available to call on, month after month: writers, illustrators, animators, videographers and video editors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But building an internal production team – and setting up all the associated processes – can be difficult and time-consuming: taking you away from your main focus, running and growing your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s where video production retainers come in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of video production retainers and discover whether they\u2019re the right option for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>The importance (and challenge) of video consistency<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the world becomes increasingly digital, video has become one of the most important and effective ways for businesses to communicate with their customers and teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From product demos<\/a> and explainer videos<\/a> to social media content<\/a> and internal training videos<\/a>, video production has become a critical component of many businesses’ marketing and communications strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, producing high-quality video content on a consistent basis can be a challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only does it require a significant investment of time and resources, but it also requires a high level of specialist skill and expertise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What is a video retainer?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Video production retainers are a creative partnership agreement between a client and a video production company to provide a set amount of work each month for a fixed fee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This gives the client a consistent source of video content without having to go through the hassle of finding and vetting a new production company (or team of freelancers) for each project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retainers can be an excellent solution for companies that have ongoing video needs but, frankly, don\u2019t want to commit to hiring people on a permanent basis or integrating video production into their own team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a company that produces a lot of social media content may find it more cost-effective to work with a production company on a retainer basis rather than paying for each individual project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, a company that wants to produce a range of demo videos<\/a> to demonstrate key software features, may find it more efficient to have a retainer in place to ensure consistent quality and messaging across all videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Video retainers: the benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest benefits of a retainer is the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a team of professionals on call whenever you need them, <\/strong>often with priority treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be especially valuable for companies that have strict deadlines or need to produce videos on short notice. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a retainer in place, the production process can be streamlined, and the client can be sure that all videos will have a consistent look and feel. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This actually improves over time as the video company gets a better feel for your brand and requirements – shortening feedback loops and reducing revision rounds<\/strong> to make the whole process increasingly smooth and efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another advantage of a retainer is that it can help businesses to better manage their budgets. <\/strong>With a fixed fee for a set amount of work, clients can plan and budget for video production expenses more effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retainers are particularly useful for smaller businesses that don\u2019t have the resources to hire a full-time video production crew<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Video retainers: the drawbacks<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However, there are also some potential downsides to video retainers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one, they can be expensive<\/strong>. Depending on the scope of the work, a retainer can cost thousands of dollars per month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, clients may end up paying for work they don’t actually need.<\/strong> For example, if a client has a sudden decrease in video needs, they may still be required to pay for the same amount of work each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re, by definition, committing to a fixed amount of video <\/strong>– if those needs change, you might find yourself in a difficult situation of either paying for content you don\u2019t need, or actually paying for nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose the wrong partner you might face communication challenges<\/strong> – struggling to get your vision across. (Although this is the same for any video project, and actually tends to get easier when working on a retainer basis.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there\u2019s no denying that you do build up a level of dependence on your production partner. If anything happens to that partner, you\u2019ll feel the impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Video<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Is a video production retainer the right move for you?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before considering a retainer, buyers should think carefully about their video needs and whether a retainer is the best solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to have something of a video content strategy: a clear idea of the type and amount of video content needed each month, as well as a realistic budget for production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also need to research potential production partners carefully to make sure they have the skills and experience to produce high-quality videos at the scale you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Choosing a partner<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to choosing a retainer partner, there are a few things to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, you’ll want to find a company that has a track record of producing top-notch videos. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a peek at their portfolio and client testimonials<\/strong> to make sure they’re up to the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another crucial factor is communication<\/strong>. Working with a production company on a retainer basis means you’ll be collaborating closely, so you’ll want to choose a partner that’s responsive, transparent, and easy to work with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And hey, it’s always a plus if they assign a dedicated video project manager to your account to keep things on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, it’s also important to consider the production company’s capabilities. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do they specialise in certain types of videos<\/a>, or can they handle a wide range of content?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll want to find a partner with a diverse skill set <\/strong>that can tackle any video project you throw their way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last but not least, pricing and turnaround times<\/strong> are key considerations when choosing a retainer partner. Look for a company with clear and transparent pricing, and fixed rates for each type of video. This way, you can budget effectively and avoid any unpleasant surprises down the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don’t forget to check their turnaround times to make sure they can deliver the goods on schedule and up to standard!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Thanks for reading!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Video production retainers can be a great solution for companies that need to produce a steady stream of video content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By working with a production company on a retainer basis, you can access a team of experts dedicated to your brand and can help you produce high-quality videos quickly and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are some potential downsides to working with a production partner on a retainer basis, such as higher costs and potential communication issues, the benefits generally outweigh the drawbacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re considering a video production retainer, be sure to keep in mind factors such as the company’s track record, communication style, capabilities, pricing, and turnaround times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you’re looking for a partner that can offer a full-service internal team, fixed pricing, fixed turnarounds, unlimited revisions, great communication, market-leading experience, and a diverse skill set, Wyzowl<\/a> may be the perfect choice for your video production needs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact us<\/a> today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your video production goals!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Video production retainers can be a great solution for companies that need to produce a steady stream of video content.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":294797,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[56],"class_list":["post-294796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attract","tag-type-animated-videos"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wyzowl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Video-Production-Retainers.png?fit=1000%2C500&quality=80&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=294796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294796\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=294796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=294796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyzowl.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=294796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}