We all want results now.
We all want to succeed today, not tomorrow. I understand. I am right there with you.
However, such a rush to success can lead to more failure than the success you want. Many organizations want to create a great video, but they don’t spend a couple minutes to plan out their path to success.
Setting a reasonable and realistic timeline for your next video project is crucial to ensure quality outcomes and minimize stress. Here are a few insights on how you can effectively set achievable timelines for your video projects. I’m all for setting ambitious targets, just know you’ll have to put in strategic work to get what you want.
Further, here are a few stats to consider:
- 77 percent of viewers stopped watching a video due to its poor quality
- 85 percent of people expect TV-like quality for every video they see
- 62 percent of consumers develop a negative perception of your organization if you publish a poor quality video.
Define the Project Scope
Before diving into video production, it is essential to define the project scope clearly.
Determine the purpose, key messages, target audience, and desired outcomes of your video. Design targets that you can track and follow. For example, you could aim for 1,000 videos views; 250 people to click on your landing page; 100 people to make a donation directly from your landing page. You can track each of those numbers through YouTube and custom URLs.
As for the video itself, identify the specific deliverables, such as a storyboard, shooting schedule, editing timeline, and final distribution channels. This will help you understand the complexity and scale of the project, enabling you to allocate resources and time more effectively.
Conduct a Pre-Production Assessment
It’s great to do a video. But do you know how it will come together?
Create a thorough list of the resources required for your video project. Before we filmed our skiing friends, we had an excel spreadsheet showing all the gear we had. It also showed who was providing what. This spreadsheet listed such things as:
– GoPros
– Number of GoPro batteries
– GoPro chargers and USB cords
– GoPro mounts
– Cameras
– Number of Camera batters and SD cards
Assess the availability of your team members, shooting locations, and any necessary permits or clearances. Is there a chance for inclement weather? If so, how will you handle that? And if you want to fly a drone, do you have permission to do so at the altitude you want?
This will allows you to plan accordingly.
Are You Making It Harder Than It Should Be?
Breaking down the video project into manageable phases helps you visualize your timeline.
You can divide the process into distinct stages, such as pre-production, production, and post-production. You can, of course, add items to each category: Pre-production entails research, storyboarding and pre-interviews. The production phase is filming B-roll and interviews. Post-production is editing, color correcting, sound design and transfer files.
I recommend assigning specific timelines and milestones for each phase. This allows for better organization, efficient workflow, and the ability to track your progress.
Communicate Or Fail With Confusion
Successful video projects rely on effective collaboration and communication among team members and stakeholders. Keep all parties informed from the outset, including videographers, editors, and decision-makers. If all of your team members do not understand your vision and strategy, then your project could be a mess.
Clearly communicate the project timeline, roles, and responsibilities. You should regularly check in with team members to address concerns, provide feedback, and keep the project on track.
I always stay in contact with my clients and the editors and videographers involved. I want projects to come together smoothly.
The Past Is Your Teacher
Don’t let your past results determine your future. If you’re previous videos have underperformed, it’s OK. We’ve all been there.
Reflecting on past video projects can be invaluable. You can identify what worked, what took the longest, and what you never want to happen again. Review the project’s timelines and challenges faced in previous productions, and implement changes accordingly.
For example, for our skiing video, we filmed on a snowy mountain, which was necessary. But snow does not work well with my power chair. We learned how to strategically place videographers without my being by their sides. That certainly stuck with me.
So please assess the efficiency of your workflow, identify bottlenecks and implement strategies to streamline processes. When you learn from the past, your future will be much brighter.
Reach out to me when you’re ready to smoothly and easily create a video.