When you’re looking to hire a video production agency, it’s easy to feel unsure about where to begin. You might not know what to expect, what questions to ask, or how to evaluate pricing. With so many agencies to choose from, it’s important to know how to narrow down your options.
A good place to start is by searching for local video production companies that work in your industry and create the type of videos you’re looking for. Review their portfolios carefully and shortlist a few that stand out based on experience, quality, and client feedback.
Once you’ve shortlisted a few strong candidates, here are four key things to look for before making your decision.
1. Marketing Expertise
For most businesses, video is not just a creative tool. It’s a way to grow, connect with customers, and generate results. That’s why it’s important to work with a company that understands more than just how to shoot footage. They need to understand how to use video as part of a broader marketing strategy.
These days, anyone can create a decent-looking video using affordable equipment. You could shoot an ad on your phone, and have it do quite well. There have even been full-length films made using high quality photography cameras. So from a technical point of view the barrier to entry is quite low. But just because someone has a kit doesn’t mean they necessarily know how to tell a story. Or understand the marketing side of video production.
It may be tempting to choose the cheapest option, such as a freelance videographer or a local student, but it’s also important to understand that as far as business outcomes are concerned, you may end up disappointed. Yes, the final result might look good, but without marketing expertise it might not do anything to grow your business.
That’s why hiring a production agency with marketing know-how is so important. If you don’t have a strong marketing strategy in place, and the agency isn’t thinking about how your video supports your business goals, the final product may fall short of expectations.
What to look out for:
- Do they ask how and where the video will be used (ads, landing pages, social media)?
- Are they helping you define the call-to-action and intended outcome?
- Can they tailor the message based on where viewers are in the buying cycle?
2. Proven Results
Creating beautiful videos is important, but performance matters just as much. You want your content to reach the right people and achieve specific results, whether that’s engagement, conversions, or brand recognition.
A good agency should be able to show you the outcomes they’ve delivered for previous clients. Ask to see case studies or examples of work where they helped similar sized businesses. You should also expect them to outline realistic expectations early in the process so you understand what’s achievable within your timeline and budget.
What to look for:
- Have they worked with clients of a similar size, or the same industry?
- Do they have experience across multiple video types such as explainers, brand stories, testimonials, animated videos, and social media content?
- Do they track the results of their videos and discuss Key Performance Indicators?
3. A Growth Mindset
What to look for:
- Do they ask what your business goals are, not just what kind of video you want?
- Are they interested in the problems you’re trying to solve and the action you want viewers to take?
- Are they comfortable offering constructive feedback on your ideas?
- Do they explain why certain creative approaches might work better than others?
4. Communication
Clear communication is one of the most important parts of a successful video project. You should feel comfortable with the team managing your project and confident in how they communicate each step of the process.
Ask to speak directly with the person who will be coordinating your video production. This might be a producer or project manager. You’ll be working closely together, so it’s important that communication feels smooth from the beginning. If something feels off in early conversations, it’s unlikely to improve later.
What to look for:
- Do they walk you through each step of the production process, from planning to filming to editing and delivery?
- Are they transparent about how long each stage will take and what to expect?
- Can they break down technical terms or production details in a way that’s easy to understand?
Making The Final Decision
Choosing the right production company starts with finding a team that understands your goals, asks the right questions, and brings a clear process to the table. As with most things in business, a lot of the decision is going to come down to cost. You might be able to find something relatively affordable for what you need. You might need something significantly more than that, depending on the complexity of the project and the outcomes you’re aiming for. What matters is making sure you’re getting real value, something that delivers the results you’re looking for.
Taking a bit more time to choose the right team is worth it. If you’re looking for a partner who can support you from idea to delivery, get in touch with Scarlet Production to see how we help businesses create high-impact videos that drive growth.
