Elevating your organization to the next level can be a tricky thing in the digital era – although there are many more forms of media to get your message out there, it’s also an increasingly crowded marketspace that requires skill and creativity to stand out in.
In this article, we share some ideas as to why you should consider using animated media as part of your marketing strategy if you have not already done so, and how to get started in doing so.
Live or animated video?
Often when someone mentions video, marketing professionals automatically think of big budgets and/or lots of work, and this can often be the case with live action videos that need scripting, casting, filming, post-production, and more!
Animated video on the other hand offers a great way to bring your company visually to life, but much more simply than with live action video. The fact is that animation video companies can create plenty of video scenarios, inform and educate, and make people laugh with your brand videos– and all at a price that won’t break your budget, and won’t take ages to produce! The possibilities are endless – it’s just knowing where to start.
The importance of video
Video is increasingly more influential than the written word, and this is backed up by viewing and content consumption stats online. But making a video is no longer enough – it needs to be compelling and interesting to capture viewers’ attention in a crowded marketplace. But it can also be a slightly less salesy way to get your message across to viewers and can take advantage of creative storytelling approaches to showcase your product or service without needing to overtly “sell” it.
Choosing the right production company
This is a crucial aspect of ensuring that your video exceeds your expectations and engages your viewers. Here are 5 tips on how to select your video partner:
- Review their previous work and their style – do they bring all their clients to life, or is it a templated, clinical format?
- Get references from other clients first-hand.
- Response time is key, and if it takes the company more than 24 hours to reply to your initial inquiry then the chances are, they are already maxed and will struggle to handle your project too
- Is their pricing clear and transparent? Ensure they do not have hidden costs, or the price keeps rising as the project progresses
- Speak to them to gauge fundamentally whether you could work with them, and also to figure out their level of understanding about their topic – you need their guidance on this so you need to feel as though you’re in good hands.
Script it out
Once you have chosen your agency, jot down with them some ideas on scripts and think it through together. This will also give you confidence you can work with your chosen agency.
Also think about what the style of the video will be – animation is not just about cartoon characters or gimmicky looks. But animated video enables you to use voiceovers that reflect your brand well and are less risky than using professional actors that may not appeal to all your target audience. Animated characters can build affection with people more than real people can.
