--- title: What Do I Need Before Hiring a Production Company? description: What should you prepare before hiring a video production company? Learn how goals, audience, messaging, and strategy set your project up for success. image: https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hubfs/Horizon-9-2-1.jpeg --- [![horizonlogoweb-white](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/horizonlogoweb-white.png?width=154&height=48&name=horizonlogoweb-white.png "horizonlogoweb-white")](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/) [![horizongradientfavicon](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/horizongradientfavicon.png?quality=high&width=62&height=62&name=horizongradientfavicon.png "horizongradientfavicon")](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/) - [Home](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com) - [Showcase](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/showcase) - [Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/video) - [Promotional Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/promotional-video-production) - [Testimonial Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/testimonial-video-production) - [Training Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/training-video-production-horizon-visual-media) - [Recruitment Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/recruitment-video-production) - [Blog](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest) - [Contact](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/contact) More results [Get Started](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-do-i-need-before-hiring-a-production-company#bookingform) [Get Started](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-do-i-need-before-hiring-a-production-company#bookingform) - [Home](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com) - [Showcase](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/showcase) - [Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/video) - [Promotional Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/promotional-video-production) - [Testimonial Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/testimonial-video-production) - [Training Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/training-video-production-horizon-visual-media) - [Recruitment Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/recruitment-video-production) - [Blog](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest) - [Contact](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/contact) [Buy Now](https://www.hubspot.com/) [Branding](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/tag/branding) # What Do I Need Before Hiring a Production Company? [![Dave Perlman](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_MG_0636.png?width=40&height=40&name=_MG_0636.png)](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/author/dave-perlman) by [Dave Perlman](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/author/dave-perlman) 2 min read Mar 24, 2026 8:30:00 AM One of the most helpful things you can do before hiring a video production company is come in with a bit of clarity. You don’t need a full script or a fully mapped-out plan — that’s part of the process we guide you through — but having a general sense of direction makes everything more efficient and ultimately leads to a stronger final video. Here’s what I usually recommend thinking through ahead of time. --- ## Start With Your Goals and Audience ![video production in lewiston maine, interview for androscoggin county sheriff](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Horizon-25-1.jpg?width=1000&height=667&name=Horizon-25-1.jpg)   The first thing I’ll always ask is: *what do you want this video to do and who is it for?* Are you trying to attract new customers, explain a service, [build brand awareness](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-is-brand-storytelling), or support hiring? Pair that with a general idea of your audience — who they are, what they care about, and what questions they might have — and you already have a strong foundation. When those two pieces are clear, it becomes much easier to shape a video that actually connects with the right people. --- ## Clarify Your Message and Where the Video Will Be Used ![DSC03293](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DSC03293.jpg?width=2120&height=1416&name=DSC03293.jpg)   You don’t need a script, but it helps to know the core message you want to communicate. I usually suggest keeping it simple: what do you do, who do you help, and why does it matter? From there, we can refine and build it out into something that feels natural and engaging. [It’s also important to think about where the video will live.](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/how-to-use-video-photography-in-your-marketinghttps://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/how-to-use-video-photography-in-your-marketing) A website homepage video, a social media clip, and a paid ad all require slightly different approaches. Knowing how the video will be used helps guide everything from length and pacing to overall style. --- ## You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out ![Coaching_1-39-2-1024x576](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Coaching_1-39-2-1024x576.jpeg?width=987&height=576&name=Coaching_1-39-2-1024x576.jpeg)   One thing I always like to emphasize is that you don’t need to have all the answers before reaching out. Having a general idea of your goals, audience, and message is incredibly helpful — but the real value of working with a video production company is in the collaboration. We help refine those ideas, fill in the gaps, and build a plan that makes sense for your business. Before hiring a video production company, it helps to have a sense of: - What you want the video to achieve - Who you’re trying to reach - What you want to say - Where the video will be used From there, everything else can be built together in a way that feels clear, strategic, and aligned with your goals. If you’re considering video for your business and want help shaping your ideas into something actionable, [I’m always happy to talk it through](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/contact). Share this [Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-do-i-need-before-hiring-a-production-company&text=What+Do+I+Need+Before+Hiring+a+Production+Company%3F) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-do-i-need-before-hiring-a-production-company&t=What+Do+I+Need+Before+Hiring+a+Production+Company%3F) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-do-i-need-before-hiring-a-production-company&t=What+Do+I+Need+Before+Hiring+a+Production+Company%3F) Previous story [← What Makes a Good Business Video?](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-makes-a-good-business-video) Next story [What Works in Recruitment Content? →](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/what-works-in-recruitment-content) ## You May Also Like These Related Stories [How to Create a Promotional Video for your Product or Service](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/how-to-create-a-promotional-video-for-your-product-or-service) ![Promotional Video Production Services in Action](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hubfs/6I3A9612-1.png) [Marketing](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/tag/marketing) ### How to Create a Promotional Video for your Product or Service Jul 23, 2025 9:15:00 AM 3 min read [Video Production for Social Media](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/video-production-for-social-media) ![Behind the scenes of a shoot to create videos for social media - horizon visual media commercial video production](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hubfs/Still%202025-10-06%20093949_1.1.1.jpg) [Social Media](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/tag/social-media) ### Video Production for Social Media Oct 23, 2025 1:20:38 PM 4 min read [How to Make a Promotional Video](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/how-to-make-a-promotional-video) ![](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/hubfs/Image%204-18-23%20at%202-05%20PM-1.jpeg) [Branding](https://www.horizonvisualmedia.com/latest/tag/branding) ### How to Make a Promotional Video Aug 16, 2025 10:48:46 AM 3 min read ### No Comments Yet Let us know what you think #### About the company Horizon Visual Media is a marketing company specializing in high end video production services and social media management. 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