Are you a freelance video artist? Then you know that some clients will insist they don’t need you. They think they can do it themselves because equipment is cheaper and more accessible than ever. But they’re not considering the variables that affect production quality, like skill and equipment overhead. So, what can you do to keep yourself in the game? Here are some talking points to discuss with clients who want to keep their production in-house:
1. The quality of their marketing video reflects directly on their customer’s perception of their product or service. If they cut corners to make a cheap video, it will appear to their customer that they offer a cheap, low-quality product. Remind them that ugly video is not only ineffective, but it can also be harmful to sales.
2. They won’t do it cheaper by keeping it in-house. They may think they’re saving money by having an employee do it, but they’re not accounting for lost productivity and the cost associated with that. Producing a video is not as simple as pointing a camera and turning it on. There are a lot of pieces to production they’re likely not even aware of. By letting you source and provide the equipment, they don’t have to bear the burden of owning those depreciating assets.
3. They will not get a good ROI on equipment. Unless they’re really going to invest in a production team that can consistently do work using said equipment, it will be under-utilized and likely forgotten. Instead of throwing money at something that won’t give them any return on their investment, they should throw it at you.
The bottom line is that they will invest in video production with you if they can trust that they can get a better product and a better value from you. It will benefit them to transfer the burden of production to you and allow them to concentrate on what they do best. So, don’t be afraid to have these conversations with clients who want to keep their production in-house. And if you have any tips for making the most out of a career in freelance video, please share them in the comments below!
Other Articles
