Questions To Ask Yourself Before Starting A Video

Your business needs a video, but where do you to start? Before you hire a media agency or start interviewing videographers, ask yourself these 10 important questions to streamline your next project.

Before we hit the record button, asking yourself these three questions will help you get the most out of your Vancouver video production experience:

1. What’s Your Timeline?

Planning an ideal schedule keeps things stress-free and your expectations realistic. If you need a video shot, edited, and approved by the end of the week, your options in the BC film market will be limited to those who can handle a "rush" deadline—usually at a premium. Giving yourself a lead time of a few weeks ensures you get the best creative energy without the crunch.

2. What’s the Investment?

Once you know your timeline, it’s time to talk numbers. We actually wrote a deep-dive on video production costs and the factors that shift the price tag, like urgency and project length. Be open with your production team about your budget from day one; it helps us figure out how to use your resources most efficiently to get that high-end "Hollywood North" look.

3. What’s the End Goal?

Videos perform best when they have a job to do! Are you looking for a cinematic brand story for your website, or a series of punchy clips for a social media marketing campaign? Knowing your goal ahead of time allows us to optimize the footage for every platform in your strategy—from YouTube to TikTok.

4. How Will You Measure Success?

ROI isn't "one size fits all." If your goal is to generate leads in the Vancouver business market, you’ll want to track click-through rates. If you’re making a viral 30-second clip, you’re looking at shares and comments. Define your win before we start filming so you can actually measure if the video did its job.

5. What’s the Approval Process?

Who gets the final say? Identifying the decision-makers early prevents "too many cooks in the kitchen." If a video has to go through four different departments for feedback, it can add weeks to the timeline. Getting everyone on the same page from day one keeps the momentum alive and the project on track.

6. How Long Should the Video Be?

You don't need a hard answer for this right away. In fact, it’s often better to let the strategy dictate the length. As a BC-based digital media partner, we know the correlation between video length and local attention spans. We can help you decide if that 20-minute deep dive is a great idea or if a punchy 60-second edit is better for your campaign.

7. Who is the Target Audience?

Success comes down to truly knowing who you're talking to. Go deeper than just "professionals" or "business owners." Why do they need you? How are you making their lives better? When you understand the emotional connection your audience has to your brand, you’ve found the secret to a video that actually converts.

8. What Are Your Creative Requirements?

Does your video need a custom script, licensed music, or a ground-up concept? The more artistic moving parts involved, the more specialists we bring onto the team. While a Vancouver business profile usually keeps it simple—think clean music, a solid outline, and professional voice-over—a high-concept commercial requires more hands on deck. Knowing this early helps us scale the team to fit your vision.

9. What’s Your Inspiration?

If you aren't sure exactly what you want, you probably know what you don’t want. Finding references—videos, ads, or even movies that capture the vibe you’re after—is incredibly helpful. Whether it’s the lighting, the pacing, or the "energy," showing us examples helps bridge the gap between an idea and the final product.

10. Are There Any "Must-Have" Details?

Is there something specific—even a small detail—that would make you truly happy with the final result? Maybe you want your dog to make a cameo, you prefer being filmed from your "good side," or you want to avoid "cheesy" corporate questions at all costs. These little details help us capture your personality and make your brand feel more relatable and trustworthy to your local BC audience.

Strategy First, Camera Second

Success in video production starts with open, strategic communication. By asking yourself these ten questions, you’ll have a crystal-clear understanding of your goals before we ever hit the record button.