The Ultimate Video Post-Production Checklist

Do you have everything you need to produce an exceptional video? With so many moving parts, it’s easy to lose track of something vital. A video post-production checklist will help you make sure you have all the details worked out. At the end of this blog, you can download a simplified video post-production checklist to help keep your project on track.

Editing

Story is the most vital element of your video. It’s what captures viewer attention and makes them keep watching. Make sure that your editing and post-production team are crystal clear on the story you’re trying to tell. Give them the tools they need including:

shot list
storyboard

Pro tip: A shot list is a list of shots that you particularly like and want to see included in the final edit. When creating your shot list, remember that story should always come first. It’s better to remove an amazing shot than to let it detract from your story.

Audio

If you’re creating an animation, you’ll likely add all audio in post-production. For live-action, audio may be recorded during the shoot or added in post. Either way, make sure that the quality of the audio matches the quality of your shooting. Add in music, sound effects and voice-overs that help tell the story, but don’t overdo it. Audio should support the overall story, not detract from it.

Music
Voiceover
Sound effects

Pro tip: Music and voiceover can add richness to your video, but don’t rely on it too heavily. Videos are often watched without sound, especially on social media sites. According to Digiday 85% of Facebook video views happen with the sound off. So include those amazing sound effects, but make sure the story still works without them.

Branding

You may have included some branding elements in the video itself,, for example, by using an animated mascot or dressing the presenter in brand colors. However, after your video is shot, you still have opportunities to add even more branding. At bare minimum you should make sure that your video includes the following:

Logo
Splash screen
Contact information

Pro tip: It’s possible to go overboard with branding. Include some branding elements, but don’t let them detract from the story your trying to tell.

CTA

It’s easy for viewers to finish watching your video and immediately scroll to the next thing in their feed or click away to a different part of your site. That’s why your CTA is the second most important element in your video. Your video should always include a call to action. Tell them specifically what you want them to do. For example: Buy now, follow us, read more, call today.

Whatever you’re asking them to do, make sure you give them an easy way to do it. Make sure you include your web address or other relevant contact information in the video so viewers can easily take the action you suggest.

Many video sharing platforms, including YouTube, allow you to embed a CTA directly into the video. If you have access to this technology, use it. Don’t rely just on the write-up on your social media or website. It’s possible that your video alone will be shared. Make sure the relevant information is visible.

Pro Tip: Your CTA should be a single, simple action. Giving people options might seem like a good idea on the surface, but when you provide too many options, most people will take the simplest action of all: doing nothing.

Legal

Double and triple-check that you’ve met all legal requirements for your video. Get legal releases or contracts signed by anyone featured in the video. Also, make sure that you have evidence to support any claims you make. Show your raw footage to your legal department or a lawyer specializing in marketing to catch any issues before they cause problems.

Spokesperson releases
Music releases
Other media releases
Evidence to prove your claims

Pro tip: Pay special attention to legal matters if you’re working in a regulated industry, for example, pharmaceuticals or medical devices. These industries have strict guidelines about the claims you can make and what disclaimers you need to include.

Quality Checks

When you think your video is done, share it with members of the team and maybe even with a few select end users. Ask them to look for quality issues. Is the story easy to follow? Is the video engaging? Is it too long or too short? Does the music complement the voiceover or detract from it? Does the quality of the sound match the quality of the video? Does the video convey a clear message? Now is the time to spot issues, before your video is widely distributed.

Coherence
Engaging
Length
Consistent quality

Pro Tip: If you do find quality issues, do your best to give targeted feedback to your team. Saying the video doesn’t “feel right” isn’t very useful feedback. You’re much better off saying, “the music doesn’t match the overall tone of the story we’re trying to convey. It’s too cheerful when we’re presenting the solution to a serious problem.” This type of targeted feedback gets better results.

Formatting

Export your video in the correct format or formats. Different social media and hosting platforms have different criteria for video formatting. Make sure your file type and other meet platform requirements so that your video appears at the highest possible quality.

Get your video ready for distribution. Download the video post-production checklist here.