How Smart Pre-Production Can Make or Break Your Video Marketing Campaign

What is Pre-Production?

Pre-production is all about preparation and planning. It takes your ideas, goals, and resources from concept to blueprint. Think of it as creating the game plan that keeps your team aligned and ensures you’re heading toward a professional, polished result. From identifying your audience to securing the right permits, every small step in this phase serves a bigger purpose. Missing it? That’s like building a house without a foundation—it’s not going to stand strong.

Define Your Goals

You’re creating a marketing campaign, but what is the ultimate objective of the video? Are you drumming up interest in a specific product or service? Are you trying to build brand awareness? Is the video about generating leads? You can’t craft an engaging message unless you know its purpose.

Target Audience

As with the purpose, you need to know who you’re trying to reach with your message. You can’t be everything to everyone and you shouldn’t try; you should tailor your content to the needs, wants, and interests of your target audience. Why do you tick their boxes?

Create a Script or Storyboard

You have your purpose, you’ve identified your target audience, and it’s time to storyboard your ideas or create a script that outlines the visuals, narrative, and content.

Choose a Location

Your shooting location has to align with the rest of the content, whether it’s on location or in a studio. While you will need to factor in potential costs for both, the primary concern should be choosing a location that fits the message and theme of your video production.

Gather Props and Costumes

Now that things are moving along, you can source costumes, props, and accessories that will enhance production value.

Assemble Your Team

You can’t shoot a video without a team of professionals to do it. While many companies try to do it on their own, it’s important to have a scriptwriter, videographer, editor, and talent. If you hire the services of a professional videography team, you’ll get a high-quality team, which means you’ll get a high-quality production.

Schedule Production

With so many working parts and people involved, you need to schedule production carefully. You have to factor in location, first of all, and then factor in everyone else’s availability for the shooting schedule you have in mind.

Secure Necessary Permits

If you’re filming on location, you may need permission or permits. It’s always important to look into what type of approval you need before heading to your shoot.