Video Pitch

VIDEO PITCH

Achieve Success with a Mind-Blowing Video Pitch

 

Now that you’ve chosen to move forward with video marketing to drive traffic to your firm, you may not know what the next step entails. That’s why, at 25 Customs, we have put together this simple tutorial designed to explain the process we use to create and develop successful video pitches for our valued clients.

 

 

Basic Video Stages Explained

 

Before we delve too far into the video-making process, we would like to provide you with a brief overview of the most basic elements of video making. When you understand these four basic stages, you can relax in knowing that the process is designed for success. Keep in mind, that before you begin the first stage of making your video, you will want to develop a concept designed to attract your target audience in the best way possible.

 

 

  1. Concept Development

One of the most important components to creating a successful video pitch is first to put together a plan to achieve your goal. While this may seem like a difficult task, the truth is that it is easy to accomplish when you follow a few basic steps. This process is how our team is able to create successful video campaigns for our clients time after time.

 

Know Your Audience

 

One way to understand how to pitch to your target audience is to make sure you really know who they are and what is most important to them. One way to find this out is by asking yourself the following questions during the writing of your creative brief.

 

Determine the Style You Want for Your Video

  • What is my core objective?
  • How can I reach this audience?
  • What is my call to action for the viewer?
  • What is the main message I wish to convey?
  • What are the ages, sex, income levels and primary interests of my target audience?

 

 

When you’re choosing a style for your video pitch, it’s important to realize your choice is not to be based on your own personal preferences as much as on what style best fits the idea of your pitch. Your video should affect viewers in a way that compels them to take the next step toward your proposed call to action.

 

There are a number of elements that can have a significant impact on the finished product. Things to consider are:

 

Tone – Do you want to portray a serious or more lighthearted tone?

People and Speech – Do you want to conduct an interview or hire actors?

Scripted or Unscripted – Do you want to ask questions and get honest answers or rehearse lines?

Video Quality – Do you want a raw on-location production or a polished in-studio experience?

 

Promotional Video Style Elements

 

You will also want to choose a genre for your video. Some popular options include:

 

Understand the Impact of Your Style and Image Choices

  • Company spokesperson that speaks directly to the camera about the product or service
  • Professional actors who play out scenes or explain benefits of the product or service
  • Narrated video by a professional who talks over the video to explain, inform or educate
  • Explainer videos that include a combination of narration and animations to convey the message
  • Testimonial video that includes interviews with people expressing their positive experiences

 

 

The choices you make in the style and image for your video will have a significant impact on the message you send in representing your company. When you choose the right combination of elements, you can send a clear message to your audience that does not create uncertainty or confusion about the products or services you offer.

 

Keeping in mind your budget, you will want to choose a genre and style that meets your specific needs. Before making your final decision, ask yourself the following questions:

 

Will my video be heavy on the graphics? How will this affect my budget?

 

What type of music, if any, will I use?

 

If I use graphics, what type will I need? Simple photo graphics or animated custom graphics?

 

What will suit my project and tell my story most accurately?

 

 

  1. Pre-Production

Once you determine your ideal concept and marketing strategy, you can begin setting the stage for your production. During this process, you will want to create a storyboard and script that will catch the attention of your target audience. All of this will need to be tailored to your firm’s own unique preferences and budget. This stage is a starting point to prepare for everything that follows.

 

Write the Script

 

When you begin writing your script, it’s important to think back to the many times you have probably pitched your idea to others. Think about how you explained your project to them and begin with that basic idea. Next, you will want to follow some helpful guidelines designed to help you write a quality script.

 

Before you begin writing your script, it’s important that you understand the goal. The following are a few tried-and-true methods to consider before you begin putting pencil to paper.

 

  1. Tell people what you can do for them.
  2. Show how your product or service can make someone’s life better.
  3. Convey to your audience that there is a problem and you can fix it.
  4. Keep the script down to one or two minutes. Definitely not more than three.
  5. Make sure that your target audience easily understands any humor used in your script.
  6. Appeal to the emotions of your target audience either through memories, dreams or aspirations.

 

Once you understand the above concepts, you can move forward toward writing your script. The process of writing should be as follows:

 

Assign Roles

  • Write down your basic explanation on paper.
  • Read it out loud to yourself.
  • Read it out loud to someone else.
  • Fine tune it for consistency and clarity.
  • Read it out loud again to yourself and someone else.
  • Fine tune it even further until it effectively conveys your idea.

 

 

Once you select individuals that will make up your cast and crew, you will want to assign roles based on each person’s experience and strengths. Assigned roles should include:

 

The Visionary a.k.a. Story teller

The producer a.k.a. Organizer

Technicians

Audio

Visuals that include film, graphics and editing

 

Scheduling

 

Many different things go into the coordination and scheduling of rehearsals and shoots, which is why it’s crucial to have roles assigned before getting to this point of the video making process. Scheduling can only occur after the following are complete:

 

 

  • Create and develop costumes
  • Choose and purchase or create props
  • Decide on specific locations for each segment

 

  1. Production

During production, this is where the bulk of the filming takes place. In doing this, it’s important that the filmographer understand the importance of appropriate lighting, sound, direction and talent. As long as you follow a few basic steps, you can create a successful video pitch.

 

 

  • Utilize the rule of thirds that applies to composing visual images.
  • Imagine your image as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines.
  • Imagine that important compositional elements should be placed along the intersections of these lines or the actual lines themselves.
  • Visually divide the screen into thirds and frame your shots so subjects fall at the intersections of your imaginary lines.
  • Stay visually close to your subject rather than using a zoom lens.
  • Shoot wide, except when shooting on-camera talent where you should frame for a head and shoulders shot every time.
  • Shoot more than one shot.
  • Shoot lots of B-Roll.
  • Shoot where there is plenty of natural light.

 

  1. Post-Production

The last of the basic stages of making a video pitch is the post-production stage. Essentially, this is where the bulk of the fine-tuning happens. The process typically requires you to perform the following:

 

 

  • Make sure to include a visually interesting title sequence and brief introduction.
  • Face camera away from loud background nose and always use headphones to check sound quality.
  • Choose music to fit your visual concept that does not interfere with the voice over.
  • Carefully edit your video to ensure a positive viewing experience for your target audience.

 

Look to the Experts

 

While you may find the idea of creating your own video pitch to promote your business exciting, there is a lot to handle throughout the process. That’s why, as California’s leading video production agency, we take pride in creating video for our clients that not only produces tangible results, but also includes an element of entertainment designed to catch your audience’s attention from the moment your video begins.

 

 

Take the First Step Toward Ensuring the Ultimate Success of Your Business

 

When you choose 25 Customs, we will handle all of the intricate details associated with making your video. From planning to filming to editing, we do it all. We can also increase your company’s visibility by optimizing your content to index and rank from a variety of sources like YouTube, your personal website, and even blog posts located on the web.

 

If you’re looking for a reliable resource for a highly skilled video production company in Orange County, CA, or anywhere in the United States, you have come to the right place. Call 25 Customs today to learn more about our unwavering commitment to helping you reach your business goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.