10 Things You Need to Know Before You Hire a Video Vendor (Hint: We’re Awesome)

Why Choosing the Right Video Vendor Matters

Hiring a video production company is a bit like dating. Pick the right one, and you’ll make something magical together. Pick the wrong one, and you’ll be stuck with an overpriced, awkward mess you’d rather forget.

A great video company understands your vision, aligns with your strategy, and delivers high-quality content on time and within budget. A not-so-great one? Well, let’s just say missed deadlines, confusing messaging, and lackluster results might be in your future.

So how do you make sure you swipe right on the perfect video production services partner? Here are 10 things you absolutely need to know before making your choice (spoiler alert! Black Rabbit ticks all the boxes).

1. Understand Your Objectives

Before you start, ask yourself:

Why do I need this video? Is it for brand awareness? Lead generation? A product demo?

A strong vendor will help refine your goals and develop a strategy that makes sense. They should also clarify if you need full-service production or just specific elements of the production process (e.g., script writing, location scouting, post-production).

Don't have a clear idea what you want?  Sorry, but without a video marketing strategy you might as well be shooting in the dark—literally.

2. Check Their Portfolio or Demo Reels

A solid portfolio showcases experience, creativity, and storytelling chops. Look for vendors whose style aligns with your vision and who have successfully completed previous work similar to your project.

And don’t just take their word for it—reviews on platforms like Clutch can give you real insights into their reputation and compare them with different companies in the same category.

3. Ask About Their Expertise

Not all video vendors are equal. Some specialize in snappy social media clips, while others are experts in B2B marketing or cinematic brand stories. If they don’t have relevant experience in your industry, your message might miss the mark.

Ask to see similar projects they’ve worked on or for a list their previous clients. If they fumble for an answer, that’s your cue to run.

Here's a showreel of relevant projects we made for one of our clients:

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4. Discuss Budget Upfront

We get it—talking about money is about as fun as discussing taxes. But avoiding the budget conversation upfront is a recipe for disaster.

A good vendor will be transparent about costs and suggest realistic options within your range. Beware of anyone who promises Hollywood-level production for pennies—it’s usually too good to be true.

PS: If they have pricing listed on their site, even better!

5. Evaluate Their Communication Skills

Great videos don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of seamless collaboration between you and your vendor. If they take days to respond to emails now, imagine what it’ll be like when you’re deep into production.

A reliable vendor listens to your ideas, asks smart questions, doesn't have a hard time meeting deadlines and keeps you in the loop every step of the way. If they ghost you early on, consider it a red flag.

6. Understand Their Creative and Project Management Process

From brainstorming to the final edit, every step in the video production process matters. A professional vendor should walk you through their workflow and working style. They should also emphasize the importance of pre-production—where the magic (and logistics) happen.

If their process sounds like “We’ll figure it out as we go,” brace yourself for chaos.

7. Check Their Team and Tools

A video is only as good as the people making it (and the equipment they use). Ask about the team involved—are they experienced professionals? Do they have the latest gear and editing software?

Pro tip: A skilled team with high-quality tools means fewer hiccups and a polished final product. No shaky iPhone footage here, please... Unless you have a reason to go for that Blair Witch Project vibe, of course.

8. Ask for a Timeline

Deadlines are everything. Whether it’s for a product launch, an event, or a marketing campaign video, delays can throw everything off track.

A good video production firm will provide a realistic production schedule and stick to it. If they seem vague or overly optimistic, be wary—you don’t want to be waiting weeks for a “quick edit.”

9. Review Their Revisions Policy

Video edits are inevitable. But how many rounds of revisions are included?

Clear revision policies prevent nasty surprises and unnecessary charges. Ask upfront how they handle changes, so you don’t end up paying extra money for every tweak.

10. Look for Added Value

The best vendors don’t just execute your creative ideas—they elevate them. Are they bringing fresh ideas to the table? Do they suggest creative solutions to make your video even better?

You want a video production company who acts as a partner, not just a service provider. The goal is to make your content stand out, not just blend in with the noise.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For

If you spot any of these, run. Fast.

• Unclear Pricing: If they can’t explain costs, expect surprise invoices.
• No Portfolio: A vendor without examples of past work? That’s a no-go.
• Poor Communication: Slow and imprecise responses now mean bigger headaches later.
• Overpromising: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

🎬 So Why Work with Black Rabbit?

Well, here's a real case study of how we helped an e-commerce brand Shoper.pl build awareness during the pandemic.

What the client came to us with:

Shoper asked us to create social media video content which will be building their brand awareness. What they wanted was an impressive video content for their first big content marketing campaign, with a simple and direct story suitable for social media channels and message combining entertainment with education. Easy. That's what we do, after all.

The challenge:

But then... the pandemic happened. Everything changed, creating video content become complicated. So we had to come up with a creative approach that would engage with Shoper’s customers and at the same time be hassle-free to make under new production restrictions.

What we proposed:

We don't believe in halfway solutions. That is why we always consider cost and production resources while creating concepts. Taking everything into account, we proposed to create a series of simple videos instead of one "big" advertisement. Here's what we pitched in short:

• 2 contrasting characters - an enthusiast and a pragmatic - both being "clones" of a well-recognized Polish celebrity.
• Both characters are fans of the brand, but for different reasons - specific to their personalities
• Instead of making a single video about all the features (there were a lot!), we'll make a few videos about specifics
• We settled for a minimal design making it easy to quickly create multiple video formats

And the results?

Well, we're happy to say it was a great success! A few weeks after launch, Shoper updated the media plan and moved one of the video ads we created to television.

And we knocked the KPIs out of the park. Following this campaign Shoper experienced the biggest boost of brand awareness and social media engagement in it's history.

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Some Final Thoughts

There are many factors to consider when choosing the right video production company. And it sure isn’t just about getting a video in the end—it’s about getting one that meets your expectations.

The right company understands your goals, communicates effectively, and delivers high-quality video content that truly resonates with your target audience.

Quick Recap:

✅ Define your objectives upfront.
✅ Review their video samples and industry expertise.
✅ Ensure strong communication and clear pricing.
✅ Prioritize transparency and realistic timelines.
✅ Look for creativity and added value.

And most importantly, don’t ignore the red flags!

The best video vendors do not simply produce videos. They deliver results.

They act as true partners for video marketers, blending their creativity with your strategy, in order to ensure your videos captivate the intended audience and achieve all of your business goals.

We’ll bring creativity, professionalism, and a little Black Rabbit magic to your next project. 🐰✨

Ready to create something amazing? Let’s chat!

So, now you know what to look for in a video vendor—and why cutting corners isn’t worth it. At Black Rabbit, we’re not just video producers; we’re the video team that gets it. We’ve been through it all, learned all the insights, and delivered video magic for other clients who needed more than just “good enough” video deliverables. If that sounds like what you need, let’s talk.