The coronavirus pandemic has forced many businesses to adapt their services to stay open. Companies who fear losing clients during this time have shifted their usual offerings to better reflect what clients need or might be interested in now. Video production agencies are no exception.
Since production agencies operate to some degree with interaction and human contact, they’ve been hard hit during the crisis. But increased social distance doesn’t have to mean you lose your business. Our team at CoolBox Films, a video production company in Brighton, has come up with three essential ways to adapt your video agency to the coronavirus outbreak. These three steps include:
1) Shifting your services
2) Leveraging the importance of video right now
3) Mastering remote video production
These actions will help you diversify your video agency so you can better adapt to your clients’ needs.
Shift Your Services
One of the most straightforward ways to adapt is to change what you offer. If you normally produce corporate videos of events and conferences, try to offer services for public health and safety announcements instead. There are undoubtedly government agencies and charitable organisations that could benefit from your professional production services.
Another shift could be away from live films and toward animation and VFX. Neither of these options requires you to set up a shoot and film in person – ideal solutions for social distancing. You could also promote re-purposing clients’ old material as a service. They might have unused footage that you could produce into new videos for them.
Some clients might be interested in new footage, though. If you take extensive precautions, you could also offer limited shoots during this time. Having one-person teams or only letting one to two members of the crew work on the shoot at a time allows you to get new footage while remaining safe. The Advertising Producers Association (APA) has official recommendations for carrying out shoots for UK video agencies during this time.
Pivoting your usual services will require flexibility. You might take on clients you wouldn’t normally work with. Working with independent content creators who film themselves and send you the footage for editing is one route you could go. This method would be great for creating classes or tutorials, which have spiked in popularity since the outbreak.
Leverage the Importance of Video Right Now
With everyone at home, cut off from usual human connection, videos have surged in popularity. The medium stretches across all industries and sectors – entertainment, education, business, public affairs, and more. People in quarantine are relying on video more than ever before.
As a UK video agency, you should take advantage of this opportunity. Don’t be afraid to change what you’re used to. And don’t fret so much over the production value of your videos, either. Most people are consuming videos at such a high rate that they’re more forgiving for lower quality. You should still aim for your highest quality possible, but it’s acceptable if your resources are limited.
With videos becoming so prevalent at this moment, now is also a good time to experiment with user-generated content. Encourage clients to incorporate this type of footage into their upcoming videos, since it’s easier to capture and can make a powerful statement.
Master Remote Video Production
As a UK video agency, you’ve probably gone at least partially remote. Optimising your remote production workflow will be essential for keeping your business going. Although you might already use a cloud-based file storage and management system, it’s worth revisiting and updating if need be. Pay special attention to security features and remote access with whatever system you use.
You might also consider specific software geared toward video production companies. There are remote ingest and online collaboration tools designed with video agencies in mind. Other tech to consider when going remote is editing with split screens. Editors can video conference with clients, negating the need to meet in person. For colorists, telework is trickier. Not all clients have the right monitors or equipment, so sending files and receiving feedback is the best way to work sometimes.
As with all remote working, ensuring your team has a proper Internet connection to facilitate their work is vital.
Final Thoughts on Diversifying Your UK Video Agency
Staying operational during the outbreak will require you to meet your clients where they are. They’ve also fallen on hard times during this public health crisis, so they’ll appreciate agencies that offer versatility and creativity. Position yourself as one of these agencies and you’ll hold on to some business during the lockdown.
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