The Benefits of Video Production Retainers - Save Money / Save Time / Have Better Content

So, you’ve meticulously crafted a long-term production schedule and devised a detailed content strategy. What’s the next logical step? You need to partner up with a Videographer to breathe life into your vision.  If your goal is to consistently produce a specific number of videos each month with high impact across your marketing channels, then a trustworthy Videographer will be your key ally.  This is where the concept of retainers comes into play.

A Strategic Alliance.

A retainer is a long-standing agreement between you and your chosen Videographer. A collaboration typically spanning between 6 and 12 months, this agreement transforms your selected Videographer into your virtual in-house marketing team, where they will create all of your video content, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with your key messaging and marketing objectives.

Setting up this agreement makes perfect sense if your goal is to produce a certain number of videos every month. You'll work with an individual that is intimately familiar with your brand, saving you the trouble of having to search for video production companies for every video. A retainer enhances the integration and efficiency of your marketing schedule from a strategic perspective.

The Inner workings of a retainer.

With a retainer, your selected videographer is given a predetermined length of time at a fixed rate to work on your video content requirements.  Although month-to-month options are available, retainers normally last for a minimum of six months.   This agreement's cost-effectiveness is what makes it so attractive; the smaller project cost results from the pre-agreed period, and in comparison, is a lot cheaper than employing a production company on a project-by-project basis and less than employing a single in-house Videographer or Producer - helping you prioritise your tasks and guarantees transparency on the variable costs related to producing videos.

Your videographer works directly with you during the retainer period, discussing important projects, establishing deadlines, and coordinating with your content marketing plan.  In addition to streamlining your marketing efforts, this removes the possibility of overpaying for services and offers a straightforward and effective route for producing videos.  This not only prioritises your projects but also ensures clarity in terms of variable costs associated with video production. 

The ripple effect of benefits.

The number of clear benefits of a retainer agreement ranges from priority access, time savings, cost efficiency, integration through to long-term support.

A retainer guarantees that your brand remains in the forefront of the Videographer’s focus.  As a regular client you will schedule upcoming activities in advance with no worries about project clashes, meaning you benefit from consistent attention and a hassle-free channel for your video needs.

With this consistent schedule, researching different video production companies for each project becomes a thing of the past.  Sticking with a trusted Videographer saves you valuable time, especially as there is a strong likelihood that a production company that you have took time to find and research won’t be able to accommodate your project within your specified timeframe, so with the retainer, it will ensure high-quality, on-time content creation when you need it.

Experimenting with various production companies may also lead to inconsistent quality and billing.  A retainer ensures a set cost for a set amount of content, removing having to budget projects one at a time, resulting in a more cost-effective marketing strategy.

Retainers pave the way for more uniform integrated video content that aligns seamlessly with your marketing strategy.  Consistency in branding enhances brand awareness and recognition, creating a cohesive image across various platforms.

Building a long-term relationship with a Videographer provides a continuous source of new ideas and support, offering opportunities for optimisation and experimentation with your content and a higher level of creative input, ensuring that your video content is always relevant to your target audience and is of high quality.

In summary

In this age of video marketing and social media, content is truly king - and you need to keep your audience engaged with fresh, high quality content that represents your brand.  Getting a retainer agreement is one step closer to making sure all the content you plan will be produced, and made in the same quality, without having to source video production companies, brief, liaise with and monitor them for quality and brand consistency.  

Having a Videographer on speed dial, can help you churn out content more regularly, make the procurement process more efficient, free up your time so you can concentrate on other aspects of your job, save you money and most importantly, produce better quality videos that can have exponential value for your brand.  

This cost-effective and strategic way of using video to market your business is why so many brands are choosing video marketing retainers, rather than higher costing standalone video options.