Chicago Video Production: How Charter & Co Compares to Local Agencies

Many mid-market businesses in Chicago are actively looking for the right video partner to level up their video marketing strategy. However, not all Chicago video production companies offer the same quality. From the company reputation to your own advertising goals, here's everything you need to know when comparing Chicago's top production teams.

Key Factors to Consider When Comparing Chicago Video Production Companies

When comparing Chicago-based video production companies, it's important to consider each agency's specializations, services, styles, and niches. Compare this with the types of video content and production your brand needs. For instance, many local production companies specialize in animation, but not every animation style will fit your brand identity. Larger production agencies, on the other hand, may be better suited for corporate videos or event coverage thanks to their advanced equipment, bigger crews, and extensive experience filming on a schedule. 

Additionally, take time to evaluate portfolios and research all available client feedback — both on and off the agency's website. These insights let you gauge each production company's reliability, quality, and approach to individual projects. After narrowing your options, request proposals from the agencies you're most interested in to compare costs and see how they'd tackle your unique production.

Consider the following criteria when evaluating and comparing video production companies in Chicago:

• Production quality: Examine portfolios for technical and creative excellence. Is the footage stable and in focus? Does the video's color look appealing and well-graded? Can the company adapt its style to different brands, or do all the videos look the same?

• Creative direction: Look for agencies that actively contribute to the creative process. The best production companies get involved in developing your idea, such as by suggesting ideal angles, locations, and stock music, while staying consistent with your original vision. 

• Pricing transparency: Understand how each agency structures its costs. Some use fixed pricing, while others provide estimates that may change depending on services or revisions. Requesting a proposal early ensures you can make a fair comparison. 

• Project management and communication: Research and inquire about each company's communication and management processes, including estimated project timelines and how they share project updates. Consider the type of production process your projects need to find the best long-term collaboration fit. 

Why Chicago Businesses Invest in Specialized Video Production Services

Video content has become an essential aspect of most marketing objectives, whether you're building brand recognition or selling a service. Professional video production companies in Chicago have unique experience, regional insight, and on-location advantages that can elevate your marketing strategy, especially when advertising to Chicago locals. The right experts know everything you need to know about video production, so they can handle the logistics while you focus on your vision. 

Key video marketing goals for Chicago businesses include:

• Return on investment (ROI): High-quality videos can keep viewers engaged long enough for you to deliver your message and your call to action (CTA), contributing to more conversions and sales. 

• Marketing reach: Posting a single video on TikTok or another platform might reach a few viewers, but a consistent video strategy builds an audience over time. Regularly produced content helps brands expand their reach across platforms and cultivate loyal followers.

• Brand storytelling: Client testimonials and other corporate videos give viewers a unique look inside your business, letting you highlight your strengths and success stories. This can build trust with potential customers and clients, even if they aren't ready for your products or services immediately.

Comparing the Best Chicago Video Production Companies

You have plenty of companies and agencies to choose from when planning video production in Chicago, IL, but not every production house will meet your needs. Explore the top Chicago video production companies to find the best choices for your unique business, project, and budget:

• Charter & Co: Charter & Co offers full-scale marketing video production services for small businesses and corporate-sized companies alike. The experienced production team strategizes every aspect of your video, from its storyboards to distribution, to maximize its impact with your unique target audience. Top services include scriptwriting, pre-production logistics, professional videography, video editing, color correction, sound design, motion graphics, and voiceover. 

• Bottle Rocket Media: Bottle Rocket Media covers video marketing and virtual event production, integrating search engine optimization (SEO) and other digital marketing strategies into its content. The company's primary types of content include promotional videos, explainers, corporate videos, live events, and motion graphics. 

• Richter Studios: Richter Studios has provided video, photography, and animation services in Chicago for over 25 years, earning awards for its commercials and films. This higher-cost production company stands out thanks to its innovative, creative approach to different projects, distinguishing each video and brand style from the last. 

• MatchPoint Studios: This photo and video production company specializes in capturing engaging visuals that hook and maintain viewers' attention, usually with a fast turnaround. Their top types of video content include product and service videos, client testimonials, business-to-business (B2B) ads, recruitment videos, and event highlights. 

Located in Wheaton, IL, just outside of Chicago, Charter & Co stands out among other local production companies through its extensive services, flexible pricing, and unmatched collaboration. Our full-service production process starts by listening to your precise vision for your project and researching your target audience, buyer personas, and most effective digital platforms. These insights guide us through every other production stage, keeping your finished content consistent with your vision and brand standards. 

Full-Service Capabilities: Where Charter & Co, a Chicago-Based Company, Stands Out

Many Chicago production companies and freelancers offer unique specializations, such as 3D animation, sound design, and drone photography. These options may be ideal if you're already managing most of your production in-house, but they may not help you with the rest of your production. Whether you're making your content in-house or outsourcing to a video production company, full-service production teams are often your best choices. 

Full-service production companies, such as Charter & Co, guide you through every stage of content creation, from pre-production planning to post-production editing. Even if you don't need every service for your first project, partnering with a full-service agency ensures you can work with the same team again the next time you need video marketing content. This way, you can easily maintain brand consistency from project to project without always having to teach a new company your brand standards.

Charter & Co's Process: From Strategy to Delivery

Charter & Co stands out for its reliability, consistency, and ROI results. Our Chicago video production team produces various types of content, including promotional videos, explainers, onboarding content, client testimonials, event coverage, and other types of corporate content. Our creative process maximizes each project's potential while keeping you as involved and informed as you wish.

Our expert team will walk you through every stage of your production process, including:

• Strategic planning and concept development: Our experienced production team develops your ultimate B2B video marketing strategy based on your vision, campaign goals, and audience. We'll use tailored consultations to plan your creative treatments, scripts, storyboards, and everything else we'll need before filming. Our production team's local expertise also covers filming permits and location logistics in Chicago, so you don't have to manage legal paperwork or city regulations. 

• Production and post-production: Full-service production days maximize the high-quality footage you have to work with, covering your most important shots, along with B-roll and different angles, if time permits. Our expert post-production team will then deliver a refined finished product using professional editing software, color grading, sound design, motion graphics, and dynamic animations.

• Distribution and analytics: We'll develop a comprehensive distribution plan for your unique target audience and your ideal digital platforms, strategizing the best video formats, captions, and times to post. We also provide advertising support to maximize your video content's reach, impact, and insights for future campaigns. 

How To Choose the Right Chicago Video Partner for Your Brand

Hiring a Chicago video production company leaves you with lots to consider, including your budget, your business goals, the company's reputation, and the type of content you want to develop. 

Establish a checklist when comparing Chicago video production companies to make sure your top choice meets all of your criteria, including:

• A reliable and consistent communication style

• A delivery process that meets your timeline

• A long-term collaboration fit

As one of the top Chicago video production companies for full-service projects, Charter & Co can help you with your production at any stage of the process. Contact Charter & Co today to get your project moving.