5 Tips for Developing a Successful Partnership with a Video Production Company as a Freelancer
By Stanley Meytin
Being a freelancer comes with all kinds of perks. It’s empowering, because it enables you to be your own boss, make your own hours, and choose the projects that you want to work on.
However, it isn’t all sunshine and roses. Working for yourself comes with plenty of challenges too. One of which is finding freelance projects to work on.
Every freelancer has struggled with a decrease in work, which means putting your nose to the grindstone to find new clients. Although you can source them directly, there’s a better option if you’re a freelancer—working with a video production company.
Working directly with a video production company can come with many benefits that include:
- You no longer have to pitch to individual clients. The video production company can do that for you, enabling work to flow your way effortlessly.
- It can provide you with a stable, predictable income. Even small video production companies have a steady stream of clients, which means there’s usually something for you to work on.
- It can make life a little more predictable. Knowing which projects you’re working on and the rhythm of how work is assigned enables you to see what your days will look like a week or more in advance.
- It provides you with credentials and a title that you can use on professional materials, like your resume.
Like the idea of working with a video production company? Don’t just contact a handful of companies willy-nilly! You’ll just end up being disappointed. Instead, follow these tips to increase your chances of becoming the next freelancer on the team.
1. Do Your Research to Decide Who You Want to Work With
As a freelancer, it’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling desperate for work. But, even if work is a little slow, you should be discerning about who you work with. That ensures you spend your days on meaningful work, and it ensures your clients receive the best work from you.
Do plenty of research to decide exactly who you want to work with before reaching out. Search online for video production companies, learn more about their company culture, and what kinds of clients they work with. Make a short list of the ones you would be honored to work with, and cross off the ones that don’t fit the bill.
2. Know the Right Way to Reach Out as a Freelancer
Once you have narrowed down which video production companies you want to reach out to, you have to know the right ways to reach out.
Every freelancer should reach out directly though personal email, if at all possible. It shows that you did your research, and you know exactly who to contact. The days of using “To Whom it May Concern” are long gone.
Finding direct email addresses can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Instead, look for other ways to reach out. LinkedIn is a great place to send messages. It’s also the most professional social media option because it’s made just for businesses and employees.
If at all possible, avoid sending messages through the generic online form on the video production company’s website. If it is your only option, make sure you at least know who to address the message to so it makes its way to the correct recipient.
You should also avoid using other social media channels, like Facebook, to connect, as they are more about making personal connections than professional ones. Instead, try calling the company directly. You’ll make a greater impact than simply sending a message on Facebook.
3. Know What to Say
Once you’ve located the best way to reach the right person at the video production company you’re interested in working with, you have to know what to say.
First impressions are everything, especially if you’re a freelancer. That means you have to make a big impact from the very first instant you connect.
A few tips for doing that in an email or a personal message include:
- Introducing yourself briefly, while highlighting your experience and expertise.
- Making it personal by outlining exactly why you’re interested in working with their company.
- Discussing specific ways you can provide value to them and their customers.
- Giving examples to demonstrate how you would be an asset to their business.
- Suggesting a test project that you would be willing to complete for free or at a discounted rate.
Knowing what to do also means knowing what not to do. Never send mass emails, even if you’re sending the email to employees within the same company, but especially if you’re sending a similar email to multiple video production companies. Always send each email individually for a personalized touch.
Don’t be afraid to check in a couple of times, even if you don’t hear back. You never know if the person you’re trying to get in contact with is on vacation, or if your email accidentally got deleted.
4. Clarify Expectations Early On
Because you’re a freelancer, you know how quickly work can come and go. Landing a job with a video production company is worth celebrating, but if you want to keep them around as a client that values your work, you have to make sure you establish expectations early on.
Your rates shouldn’t be a secret. Make sure costs are clear from the very beginning so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.
Discuss deadlines, your creative process, and whether you provide edits or changes free of charge. You should also be clear about what kinds of freelance projects you’re willing to work on. The clearer you can be upfront, the less likely it is that there will be unpleasant surprises as you work together, which makes for a more positive working relationship.
5. Touch Base Frequently
A good working relationship is built on trust. When you’ve built that foundation, it’s easy for a freelancer to do their thing while the video production company does their thing. That’s good and bad.
It’s good because it provides you with plenty of autonomy, but it can also result in serious problems. You may end up operating under assumptions that turn out to be untrue.
It’s important to touch base frequently to make sure you’re providing work that meets their expectations. It also shows them that you’re serious about providing the best services possible by brainstorming solutions to problems or looking for ways to improve the process.
It’s recommended that a freelancer touches base at least once a quarter, but it’s more important to set up a check-in schedule that works for both parties. Whether that’s reviewing projects once a week or scheduling a formal review twice a year, just make sure you have a system that ensures you’re providing the best services possible.
Are you interested in taking on freelance projects with True Film Production? We would love to work with a freelancer just like you! Connect with us the way that’s most convenient for you, and we’ll tell you more about what it takes to be a member of the True Film Production team.
Reading Time: 5 minutes
By Stanley Meytin
Being a freelancer comes with all kinds of perks. It’s empowering, because it enables you to be your own boss, make your own hours, and choose the projects that you want to work on.
However, it isn’t all sunshine and roses. Working for yourself comes with plenty of challenges too. One of which is finding freelance projects to work on.
Every freelancer has struggled with a decrease in work, which means putting your nose to the grindstone to find new clients. Although you can source them directly, there’s a better option if you’re a freelancer—working with a video production company.
Working directly with a video production company can come with many benefits that include:
- You no longer have to pitch to individual clients. The video production company can do that for you, enabling work to flow your way effortlessly.
- It can provide you with a stable, predictable income. Even small video production companies have a steady stream of clients, which means there’s usually something for you to work on.
- It can make life a little more predictable. Knowing which projects you’re working on and the rhythm of how work is assigned enables you to see what your days will look like a week or more in advance.
- It provides you with credentials and a title that you can use on professional materials, like your resume.
Like the idea of working with a video production company? Don’t just contact a handful of companies willy-nilly! You’ll just end up being disappointed. Instead, follow these tips to increase your chances of becoming the next freelancer on the team.
1. Do Your Research to Decide Who You Want to Work With
As a freelancer, it’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling desperate for work. But, even if work is a little slow, you should be discerning about who you work with. That ensures you spend your days on meaningful work, and it ensures your clients receive the best work from you.
Do plenty of research to decide exactly who you want to work with before reaching out. Search online for video production companies, learn more about their company culture, and what kinds of clients they work with. Make a short list of the ones you would be honored to work with, and cross off the ones that don’t fit the bill.
2. Know the Right Way to Reach Out as a Freelancer
Once you have narrowed down which video production companies you want to reach out to, you have to know the right ways to reach out.
Every freelancer should reach out directly though personal email, if at all possible. It shows that you did your research, and you know exactly who to contact. The days of using “To Whom it May Concern” are long gone.
Finding direct email addresses can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Instead, look for other ways to reach out. LinkedIn is a great place to send messages. It’s also the most professional social media option because it’s made just for businesses and employees.
If at all possible, avoid sending messages through the generic online form on the video production company’s website. If it is your only option, make sure you at least know who to address the message to so it makes its way to the correct recipient.
You should also avoid using other social media channels, like Facebook, to connect, as they are more about making personal connections than professional ones. Instead, try calling the company directly. You’ll make a greater impact than simply sending a message on Facebook.
3. Know What to Say
Once you’ve located the best way to reach the right person at the video production company you’re interested in working with, you have to know what to say.
First impressions are everything, especially if you’re a freelancer. That means you have to make a big impact from the very first instant you connect.
A few tips for doing that in an email or a personal message include:
- Introducing yourself briefly, while highlighting your experience and expertise.
- Making it personal by outlining exactly why you’re interested in working with their company.
- Discussing specific ways you can provide value to them and their customers.
- Giving examples to demonstrate how you would be an asset to their business.
- Suggesting a test project that you would be willing to complete for free or at a discounted rate.
Knowing what to do also means knowing what not to do. Never send mass emails, even if you’re sending the email to employees within the same company, but especially if you’re sending a similar email to multiple video production companies. Always send each email individually for a personalized touch.
Don’t be afraid to check in a couple of times, even if you don’t hear back. You never know if the person you’re trying to get in contact with is on vacation, or if your email accidentally got deleted.
4. Clarify Expectations Early On
Because you’re a freelancer, you know how quickly work can come and go. Landing a job with a video production company is worth celebrating, but if you want to keep them around as a client that values your work, you have to make sure you establish expectations early on.
Your rates shouldn’t be a secret. Make sure costs are clear from the very beginning so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.
Discuss deadlines, your creative process, and whether you provide edits or changes free of charge. You should also be clear about what kinds of freelance projects you’re willing to work on. The clearer you can be upfront, the less likely it is that there will be unpleasant surprises as you work together, which makes for a more positive working relationship.
5. Touch Base Frequently
A good working relationship is built on trust. When you’ve built that foundation, it’s easy for a freelancer to do their thing while the video production company does their thing. That’s good and bad.
It’s good because it provides you with plenty of autonomy, but it can also result in serious problems. You may end up operating under assumptions that turn out to be untrue.
It’s important to touch base frequently to make sure you’re providing work that meets their expectations. It also shows them that you’re serious about providing the best services possible by brainstorming solutions to problems or looking for ways to improve the process.
It’s recommended that a freelancer touches base at least once a quarter, but it’s more important to set up a check-in schedule that works for both parties. Whether that’s reviewing projects once a week or scheduling a formal review twice a year, just make sure you have a system that ensures you’re providing the best services possible.
Are you interested in taking on freelance projects with True Film Production? We would love to work with a freelancer just like you! Connect with us the way that’s most convenient for you, and we’ll tell you more about what it takes to be a member of the True Film Production team.
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