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5 Tips to Expand Video Production Resources without an Increase in Staff
Video has become the most effective means of communication whether you work at a small business or a large corporation. Your video crew works with many destinations and so do we. Many companies are asking their video production departments of all sizes for more content, both to use internally and externally. But your cost-conscious company wants it done with the same amount of personnel already on hand. If your life were a Hollywood movie, you could give a rousing, impassioned speech resulting in funding to double your team size. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way, so you’ll need to make sure you consider ways of increasing productivity that don’t require additional personnel. Here are 5 ways to increase your video production without increasing the headcount of your department.
1. Understand your company’s five- and ten-year plans.
By understanding the direction of the company’s internal and external media plans, you can better predict how your resources will be used. Although this may not enable you to directly increase production, it will force you to consider how to adapt your workflow and distribute your current staff to meet the company’s demands now and in the future for maximum effectiveness.
2. Take time to understand the potential and limitations of your video production department.
Produce sample projects and timelines to illustrate to your bosses what you can produce and on what timeline. This illustrates prime examples of video that maximizes your human and technological capital. Then spearhead a campaign of potential projects that you and your department know that you could realistically produce. Quite often, when non-production corporate higher-ups have tangible examples of what can be done and know how quickly a project can be completed, they are more likely to choose workable options from the guide you’ve built. If such possibilities aren’t placed in front of them, they may start brainstorming on their own, thinking up wonderful but completely unachievable ideas.
3. Utilize your space appropriately.
If you’re asked to produce more with your current staff, consider finding or developing a space that works for the new demand of production rather than allowing the space to dictate what you can accomplish. If you have space, whether it is a small conference room or a corner in your basement, build an insert studio with a green screen. If you are asked to produce video interviews, this will allow you to work more efficiently. Instead of adding resources and using up more time trying to set up an interview in the interviewee’s office, you can set up on your own time and quickly perform the interview when needed. This will not only make your work more efficient since you can control the environment, but will also make you look savvy because you will use the bare minimum of the interviewee’s time.
4. Considering hiring outside vendors to supplement your internal production capabilities.
It would be unrealistic to pretend you won’t need to add any additional personnel to supplement your larger productions. If you decide to hire external vendors, there are ways to vet them to make sure they meet the quality that you have become accustomed to with your own personnel. Although external vendors come at a higher day cost than hiring a full-time employee, you only pay for their talent when you need them, they are easier to replace, you don’t have to pay insurance, and you can hire the exact specialty and experience level you may need for any type of production.
5. Buy the appropriate equipment for your needs.
If you have fully investigated your company’s five- and ten- year goals, you should try and purchase the correct equipment to future-proof your department. How can this save on a head count? If you are constantly asked to do multiple camera interviews, consider the purchase of a switcher. Or even consider upgrading to a 4K camera, even if you are still working in high definition. Say you’re shooting the wide shot for a 60 Minutes-style interview. If you shoot the interview in 4K, you have the option to take that 4K image and make 2 separate 1080p images from it without needing additional cameras or personnel. Consider making all your purchases not on trend, but with extensive research on the equipment, your needs, and the future of video production in your company.
We have shared a few best practices, if your video production department’s output has experienced increases while dealing with the same or fewer resources, please share some of your tips and struggles or success stories. You can share with us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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