Here’s a fact: There are people online that will create a video for you for less than $1,000.
Sometimes, they’ll do it for as little as $100. Sounds like a great deal, right?
Here’s another fact: Those cheap videos will actually cost you more than videos from a reputable production company. How? Let’s break it down.
First of all, finding a freelancer isn’t as easy as it sounds. You have to play the role of hiring manager, sorting through animators, interviewing them, reviewing their work, and deciding if their portfolios are legitimate.
The cheap guys are typically working on their own, and are located offshore.
Language barriers, delays, and time differences all make communication difficult.
And there’s no guarantee that your money is safe, or that they’ll remain available long enough to finish your project.
But let’s say you get a good one, and actually move forward into production.
At a full service company, it takes a team of people to create a video. Script writers, project managers, creative directors, illustrators, animators, voiceover artists, sound engineers.
Freelancers only fit one of these roles. So guess who ends up doing the rest of the work? That’s right. You do.
Or you have to hire additional people to do those tasks for you. And, since freelancers are typically just animators who might not understand your concept, that means the creative side of things is left entirely up to you.
How much is an hour of your time worth? How much are a hundred hours of your time worth?
But let’s say you get an honest freelancer, you put in the extra time to get through production, and what do you end up with?
Usually a low quality production, with shoddy writing, animation errors, and stock graphics that are found all over the internet.
Putting a great video on your site can do wonders for your reputation. Putting a crappy video on your site does…the opposite.
Okay, let’s pretend that by some miracle you find a freelancer who communicates well, you work hard to ensure a great product, and you end up with a video you actually like.
Then you get sued for copyright infringement. That’s right. Freelancers are known to borrow copyrighted materials to make their work easier.
And guess who’s on the hook for their laziness? That’s right.
There are other legal questions, too. Like, can a freelancer be relied on to keep your project confidential?
Okay, for the sake of argument, let’s say your freelancer is a good communicator, finishes your project, and keeps it all above board.
Are they going to be able to help you implement and market your video?
And what happens when you need inevitably need a change to your video in two months? Will they still be around?
Hiring an offshore freelancer might seem like a great deal, but the real costs go far beyond the price tag.
Or you can choose a company with a long reputation for quality, a team of seasoned professionals to get the job done, and a satisfaction guarantee.
A company like Promoshin.com. Give us a call for your next video project.
