How a Video Agency Can Be an Extension of Your Team

When you hire a vendor of any kind, the expectation is that you will receive a quality product or service that will bring you value. Additionally, you expect efficiency and timeliness. The vendor is, after all, an expert of their craft.

But furthermore, you expect relief – that release of responsibility that whatever the need is, it is no longer on your plate. And for lack of a better cliché, that feeling can be priceless.

Recently I hired contractors to repair and patch a water-damaged part of my dining room ceiling. While I do not possess the skills to do the patchwork, I could have saved a little money by painting the ceiling myself once the repair work was completed. I debated this option, but when it came down to it, sacrificing an entire weekend to paint a ceiling (that may or may not turn out perfectly) was not worth it. These guys are professionals and can knock it out in a few hours. The decision was made to have them do it and I instantly felt better.

But what about the risk of letting go of your control when hiring a vendor?

Hiring a vendor does provide some instant relief, but if you’ve been burned in the past, you could be hesitant to invest in a new company. When it comes to hiring a video company, the landscape can be quite diverse – from small boutiques to large production companies to full service agencies. Ultimately, the responsibility and outcome still lies on you, so you shouldn’t make your choice lightly.

It is for this reason that we try to approach our client relationships as a partnership. As video content creators, if we can be viewed as an extension of your marketing team, then the communication is stronger and the creative development is collaborative.

If you’re not sure whether outsourcing video or producing content in-house is best for you, first read this article. If you are ready to find your video partner, here are some tips on how an agency or production company can be an extension of your team:

1. A Video Agency Can Help Develop Your Story – Finding a video partner that places emphasis on content and messaging can help you tell your story in a more effective way. When we have buy-in on the creative and script, not only do we feel more connected to the project but we feel more ownership, too. Also, sometimes you are too close to your own content to see things from different perspectives. We don’t simply want to be your technical crew – we truly want to help your audience connect with your message. Your success is our success.
2. A Video Agency Can Help Develop Your Strategy - A video agency can provide fresh content ideas and new approaches to video marketing opportunities. It’s our job to stay current on trends and understand what moves audiences to engage. (For example, our recommendations for increasing engagement by using video on social media  is different for websites or live events.)  Our suggestions might also be more efficient or cost effective long-term. Thinking back to the contractors for my home repair, I had previously planned to make certain upgrades in the next phase of my remodel. Taking their advice as experts though, they helped me to look at things differently and regroup my priorities in a more efficient approach. When we think of video strategy, we want to work with you to achieve your objective in the best possible way.

3. A Partnership Helps to Extend Your Resources – Starting an internal video department can be time consuming and costly (…not exactly that relief feeling you were looking for.) Knowing that you have resources readily available helps you to move forward quickly when the opportunity arises. Furthermore, an extended “video department” that solely does video can keep you up-to-date on trends and techniques to tell your story in new ways.  

4. A Long-term Relationship Strengthens Trust – For many of our clients we feel as if we are brand ambassadors. We want to represent you in the best light and help you meet objectives. As our relationship develops and strengthens, we are able to anticipate needs and deliver more efficiently.

5. Transparency and Communication are Better when the Relationship is a Partnership - When we are viewed as a vendor, information is often selectively shared one-way. If we feel trusted and are “in-the-know,” we are equipped to make the strongest recommendations. We can also better anticipate needs and feel that collective pride when working towards the same end goals. So add us to your Slack channel and Google Drive etc., schedule regular meetings, and keep us in the loop for the best results.

Poor client/vendor relationships often lead to back-and-forth cycles and headaches to “get it right.” If you want relief and that sense of trust that a job will be done right, find a video partner who values your story and objectives. But also, realizing that you both want the same outcomes can help foster a stronger relationship, beneficial to both parties. When it comes down to it, we all want to be successful in our jobs and grow our businesses.

Are you interested in partnering with a video agency? That’s where Spotted Yeti Media can help. Contact us today to setup a meeting. We’ll help you discover how video can help to “show the world you exist.”