Basics
When you’re a business owner in the early stages of trying to make your name in the world, it can be difficult to get started. You know you need advertisements, of course. You also know that you need to create a “voice” and brand identity.
Someone may have pointed you to a company that creates videos so you can make an advertisement. While that might be exactly what you need, it could also lead to confusion if you haven’t yet established a brand identity.
I’m going to break down the differences between both, but first I’ll give you the lowdown: An ad agency (or “creative/marketing agency”) is who you should hire if you’re trying to gain more clients/customers and don’t necessarily know where to start. A video production company is who you should hire if you know that you want a video.
Often times, a client will hire an ad agency… the Agency will strategize how to best market (aka “advertise”) that brand. The Agency may discover that your company gets most of its customers through billboards or targeted Facebook ads rather than television commercials. Or vice versa. If the Agency decides that a TV commercial or video will be useful to your marketing campaign, they will often sub-contract a video production company. The Agency will usually write the script and develop the tone and message of the product, while the video production company will execute the vision. If you’re a business owner and you JUST want a video to put on your website, then you can go straight to a video production company like Dreamcity Cinema in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
That’s it in a nutshell. While both ad agencies and video production companies play essential roles in getting your business more clientele, they differ in their primary focus and the range of services they offer. Here are some key distinctions between the two:
Ad Agency:
Strategic Approach: Ad agencies typically take a strategic approach to marketing. They work closely with clients to develop comprehensive advertising campaigns that encompass various mediums, including print, television, radio, digital, and social media.
Full-Service Offerings: Ad agencies offer a wide range of services beyond video production, including market research, brand strategy, creative concept development, copywriting, graphic design, media planning and buying, campaign management, and analytics. They provide end-to-end solutions for advertising and marketing needs.
Integrated Marketing: Ad agencies specialize in creating cohesive, multi-channel marketing campaigns. They ensure consistency across different mediums and platforms to deliver a unified brand message and maximize the impact of advertising efforts.
Client Relationships: Ad agencies often work on a retainer basis with long-term clients. They establish ongoing relationships, providing strategic guidance, campaign management, and continuous support throughout the client’s marketing initiatives.
Video Production Company:
Video-Centric Focus: Video production companies primarily specialize in creating high-quality videos. They have expertise in all aspects of video production, including concept development, scripting, pre-production, filming, post-production, and editing.
Technical Expertise: Video production companies possess extensive technical knowledge and skills related to cameras, lighting, sound, cinematography, and post-production editing. They focus on delivering visually appealing and engaging video content.
Project-Based Approach: Video production companies often work on a project basis, collaborating with clients to produce specific video content, such as commercials, corporate videos, promotional videos, training videos, event coverage, or documentaries. They are adept at executing the production process efficiently and effectively.
Specialized Services: While video production is their primary focus, some video production companies may offer additional services like animation, motion graphics, visual effects, and video marketing consultation (we offer ALL of these services). However, their offerings are typically more focused on video production rather than comprehensive marketing strategies.
That's it!
In summary, ad agencies provide comprehensive marketing and advertising solutions, including strategic planning and execution across various mediums, while video production companies specialize in creating high-quality videos and may offer additional video-centric services. Depending on your specific needs, either option can be valuable in achieving your marketing goals.
If you’d like free consultation with Cedar Rapids based video production company DreamCity Cinema, contact us today – even if you don’t know what you need, we can help
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