A social media video production agency is a worthwhile investment if you’re looking to scale up your video strategy in the coming year. Hiring one gives you access to experts, makes video production efficient, and frees up time for your team to engage in other strategic activities.
In this article, we’ll cover what hiring a social media video agency entails and list some of the best ones we’ve come across. But it doesn’t end there.
We know agencies aren’t always the best choice. So, we’ll show you how to take video production in-house with PlayPlay plus examples of brands who have pulled this off.
What does a social media video agency do?
A social media video agency provides end-to-end video production services. This involves:
1. Strategy
This entails mapping out the how and what of your video campaign so it achieves your desired goals and objectives.
Let’s say your goal is lead generation. A social media video agency will research your audience to understand their pain points and where they hang out. It will use this knowledge to choose the best channels, video types, and content distribution frequency to achieve that goal.
2. Scripting
Scripting means translating your strategy into a written plan that guides the video execution. It involves deciding on the main message to convey, creating characters, assigning dialogue, and defining the tone and the structure of the video, among other things.
Having a script streamlines the video production process. It reduces the chances of forgetting important points or having to reshoot scenes, saving time and resources during filming or recording.
3. Video production
This is where the video comes to life. A social media video production company handles all production logistics, including choosing the location and creating the sets, renting and transporting equipment like cameras and lights, and even hiring actors if required.
On top of that, it will provide all production crew, like set directors and makeup artists. If it isn’t a live production, the agency will be in charge of translating the script into the final video using software tools or AI.
4. Editing and post-production
After the filming process, video agencies meticulously review and select the most compelling shots that align with the video's objectives. They organize selected shorts in a coherent sequence to create a strong narrative and visual appeal.
They also add special effects, graphics, background music, and enhancements during post-production to make the videos look and sound better.
5. Marketing and distribution
A video agency can advise you on the best channels to publish your video to get in front of your audience. It can partner with influencers in your niche on behalf of your brand to distribute your video to their audience — and drive clicks and conversions.
Beyond distribution, video agencies provide other marketing services like:
- Developing content calendars for future video releases
- Optimizing videos for visibility in search results
- Running paid ad campaigns to improve video campaign results.
7 social media video production companies you should know
There’s no shortage of video production agencies around. Here are a few of them that should be on your radar.
1. Digital Spark Studios
Digital Spark Studios is an East Coast video production company that has partnered with top brands like Invue, P&G, and Lexus.
It offers one-off video production services like branded videos, animation, and corporate videos. And if you’d like the company to handle your end-to-end video needs, you can opt for its full-service video production solution.
The video agency charges $10,000 for one-off projects, while retainers start at $5,000 per month, according to Capterra.
2. Moose
The first thing you’ll see on the Moose website is the tagline, “Create compelling video content for your brand that your audience will actually watch.” This shows a high awareness of their potential customers’ primary pain point and prompts you to check out the rest of the website.
Moose is a one-and-done boutique video agency providing full-on production services, including concept development, casting, logistics, and delivery. The agency has collaborated with brands like Primark, Guinness and UNICEF. It’s based in Ireland but works with clients globally.
3. Intero Digital
Intero Digital is a full-service U.S. digital marketing agency that offers a range of services, including video marketing.
It handles video campaigns, strategy, stock video footage, and end-to-end production, among other things. So far, the video agency has worked with Sitecore, Taxnotes, Tuscany Pavers, and other global brands.
One-off video production costs less than $10,000, while the monthly retainer costs $1,000 – $2,000 — making the agency a great choice for smaller brands with limited budgets.
Since 2015, Diagonal Media has worked with over 350 clients and on 1,000+ video production projects — spanning strategy, end-to-end production, and branded videos.
It works with clients at different growth stages, including independent creators, mid-sized agencies, and enterprises. It also provides live video coverage for events and produces case study films to support businesses’ market strategies.
The agency is also big on giving back to its community. It offers free video and design services to nonprofits regularly.
Social Media 55 is a North American digital marketing agency that offers add-on video production services. It has collaborated with global brands like Vivescence, Two Bears, and Nissan.
It charges between $10,000 and $50,000 per project and $2,000 – $5,000 for its monthly retainer.
6. Socially Powerful
Socially Powerful is the go-to video production agency for brands looking for creative social media videos that delight their audience and achieve their business goals.
The agency has produced social videos for brands like Hyundai, Lenovo, and Ralph Lauren. Beyond social videos, clients can also opt for a 360 social campaign that includes paid ads, influencer marketing, social commerce, and community engagement services, depending on their budget and team size.
Need to create other types of video?
How much does a social media video production agency cost?
Data from Clutch shows that most video production agencies charge between $100 to $150 per hour, with larger agencies charging $200,000 or more per project.
The exact rate depends on multiple factors like location, experience, and video complexity, among other things. For example, a New York-based agency with on-site employees will cost more than a freelance video producer. Also, live video shoots might cost more than simple illustrations.
Hiring an agency every time you need to produce video content is expensive. Plus, you'll be saddled with lots of back-and-forth communication, increasing the time spent on video production. You could spend weeks or even months on a single video.
That’s why you should consider taking video production in-house, especially if you’re building a robust video strategy. You can eliminate unnecessary communication loops, produce videos faster (and cheaper), and have full control over the project’s direction.
How to take social media video production in-house
If you prefer to keep video production in-house, here are three ways to do it:
1. DIY video production
DIY (Do It Yourself) video production involves creating videos using equipment and software you already own. You can use a smartphone camera, a webcam, or a DSLR camera to shoot your videos.
You’ll also need to invest in video editing software like Adobe Premiere Rush, iMovie, or OpenShot. These tools are easy to use and come with a variety of editing features.
DIY video production is a great way to save money and have complete control over your video production process. However, the quality of your videos may not be as high as those produced by a professional agency.
2. Hire a video producer
If you want to keep video production in-house but lack the expertise or equipment, you can hire a video professional on your team.
A video producer is responsible for managing all aspects of video production, from the initial concept to the final product. They can help you with scripting, filming, editing, and post-production.
Hiring a video professional will increase your employee overhead cost, as you’ll have to pay a salary plus other benefits. So, only choose this option if you want to go all-in on video content and produce multiple videos every month.
Video creation and editing software like PlayPlay offers an alternative to traditional video production methods. These platforms provide you with a library of templates, images, and sounds that you can use to create videos quickly and easily.
PlayPlay, for example, lets you create videos from AI prompts or edit any of the templates available to suit your needs. You can also add visual elements like your logo and colors to your video for brand recognition.
Do you want to discover our best tips on social media video?
How to create social media videos with PlayPlay
PlayPlay gives you three options for creating social media videos.
If you prefer full creative control, you can create your video with PlayPlay from scratch. Otherwise, edit one of our fully customizable templates or use our AI Video Assistant, which will turn your prompts into professional social videos in minutes. Whatever option you choose, we made PlayPlay so simple to use that you won’t need any advanced or previous video creation or editing skills to use it.
For this article, we’ll use PlayPlay’s AI Video Assistant.
Step 1: Sign up for a free PlayPlay account.
Step 2: Select “AI video assistant” on the creation dashboard.
Step 3: Enter your prompt into the AI chatbox.
Step 4: Click “create video” and the AI will generate a creative social video in seconds.
Step 5: Add extra finishing touches to your video by editing the video’s elements. You can change text and color and add your brand elements like logo, color, and typography to the video.
Top tip: If you have already uploaded your brand elements into PlayPlay’s branding feature, the AI assistant will automatically brand your video and any video after this.
Step 6: That’s it! Your social media video is good to go. Share it with your team for review with our share link feedback feature, or upload it in a few clicks to your social accounts. It’s that simple!
Examples of videos created with PlayPlay
From webinar promotions to CSR engagement, let’s take a quick look at professional videos for social media marketing created with PlayPlay.
1. Fyte’s job ad video
This video uses simple storytelling to pass its message across to the target. There’s no dialogue. Instead, the text is written on the screen.
The video deploys quick transitions to keep the audience’s attention from the beginning to the end. The background music adds to the video’s upbeat tone and style.
2. Equans CRS engagement video
This is a simple yet powerful video highlighting Equans commitment to climate change. The video spells out Equans’ core climate change achievements, like long-term facility equipment to reduce carbon emissions.
Each footage matches the video’s tone and overall narrative direction.
3. PlayPlay feature update video
Of course, we drink our own medicine at PlayPlay!
This is a simple first-person video walking the audience through PlayPlay's latest feature updates. The narrator, a video expert at PlayPlay, addresses the audience in a fun, light-hearted tone like he's in the same room with them.
The video switches between the narrator and actual feature walkthroughs (recorded PlayPlay screens). For each feature highlighted, there’s a corresponding walkthrough showing the audience what it looks like in real-time. This is a great way to combine the showing and telling techniques.
The video ends with PlayPlay’s logo and colors for brand recognition.
Is it worth hiring a social media video agency?
The truth is: It depends. Investing in a social media video agency makes sense if:
- You have a large budget: Hiring a video agency is a considerable investment — with some of them costing $200,000 or more. This might not be a problem if you have a large marketing spend. But it isn’t a wise investment for businesses with smaller budgets.
- No in-house expertise: Producing a professional video that moves the needle for your business is hard work. If no one on your team has these skills, you might consider outsourcing video production to a third-party expert — instead of hiring someone or stretching your team bandwidth to accommodate video production.
But remember! With tools like PlayPlay at your fingerprint, video creation for short-form social media can be achieved easily and at little cost. It just depends on how complex you plan your next video to be!
- Large video campaign: It makes sense to hire a video agency for a large campaign. That way, you eliminate trial and error, speed up execution, and get first-hand guidance from the experts.
The last thing you want is to invest thousands of dollars in your campaign only to start over because you shot the video on the wrong camera.
So when is it a good idea to handle video production yourself? Let’s look at some telltale signs:
- You have a high volume of video content needs: If your business requires a lot of video content on an ongoing basis, bringing production in-house can save you money and time in the long run compared to outsourcing every project.
You have a dedicated team or staff member who can oversee video production: Managing video production requires someone with experience and knowledge of the production process. If you have someone on your team who can manage the process, it may be a good time to bring production in-house. Often, your marketing and communications teams will be more than capable if you provide them with the right tools to handle the complexity of video editing like PlayPlay!
- You have the budget for equipment and software: Investing in camera and lighting equipment, editing software, and other tools can add up, but it’s likely to make more financial sense to purchase these items rather than paying for them on a project-by-project basis if you plan to create videos regularly.
- You want more control over the creative process: When you bring video production in-house, you have more control over the creative process and can ensure that the final product aligns with your brand's vision, campaign goals, and messaging.
Combine in-house and third-party video production for the best results
Social media video agencies and video software like PlayPlay can come together to power your video strategy.
The agency can handle large-scale video projects like rebrands and company introductions. They can also help with administrative tasks like content planning, distribution, and sourcing influencers for video collaboration.
PlayPlay, on the other hand, is a tool for day-to-day video creation. You can use it to produce professional videos on demand for company announcements, feature releases, social content, and so much more!
Try PlayPlay for free, and let us know what you think.
Jaymi Onorato
Demand Generation Manager, North America
Jaymi is a growth-focused B2B marketing leader driving demand generation for North America at PlayPlay. Jaymi advocates for inclusivity in tech and women in leadership.
