Every day, billions of hours of video content are consumed across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and so many. Yet many companies waste significant budgets on brand videos that fail to deliver. The most common mistakes companies make when producing a brand video aren’t technical—they’re strategic.
Whether you’re a marketing manager preparing your first video budget or a procurement officer comparing production houses, understanding these pitfalls can save you both money and reputation.
What Makes a Brand Video Effective?
A brand video is more than just beautiful footage with your logo slapped on at the end. It’s a strategic tool designed to communicate your company’s value proposition, build trust with your target audience, and drive specific business outcomes—whether that’s awareness, lead generation, or conversion.
The challenge? Most companies approach video production the same way they did five years ago, ignoring how viewer behavior and platform algorithms have fundamentally changed.
Avoid These 5 Mistakes Companies Make When Producing a Brand Video
Mistake 1: Making Videos Too Long Without a Clear Message
The Problem
One of the most frequent brand video production mistakes is trying to pack too much information into a single video. Companies often want to showcase every product feature, share their entire history, and include testimonials from five different clients—all in one piece of content.
According to our recent marketing research, engagement drops significantly after the 2-minute mark, with only 37% of viewers completing the video. When you lose 63% of your audience before your key message, your video has failed its purpose.
The Fix
Follow the “one video, one message” rule. Introducing a new product? Focus solely on the problem it solves and how it works. Save the company history for a separate video.
Ideal length targets:
- Social media: 60-90 seconds
- Website: 2-3 minutes maximum
- Complex topics: Create a series, not one marathon
Real Example: During our Jakarta fintech project, we split a planned 5-minute overview into three focused videos: platform explanation, client testimonials, and team spotlight. Result? 3x higher completion rates across all pieces.
These brand video production mistakes aren’t just technical errors—they’re strategic failures that undermine your message before viewers press play.
Mistake 2: Skipping Pre-Production and Strategic Planning
The Problem
Many companies rush straight to production without a solid creative brief. They book a crew, schedule interviews, and hope everything comes together in the edit. This approach leads to expensive reshoots, unusable footage, and videos that miss the mark entirely.
According to ProductionHUB, 60% of production issues stem from inadequate pre-production planning. Without clear KPIs, target personas, or distribution strategies, you’re essentially shooting in the dark.
The Fix
Invest 15-20% of your total budget into pre-production. This includes:
- Creative Brief Development: Define your target audience, key message, and desired action
- Scriptwriting & Storyboarding: Visualize every scene before you spend money on a crew
- Technical Planning: Shot lists, location scouting, talent selection
- KPI Definition: Are you measuring brand awareness, lead generation, or conversion?
One corporate video production tip that often gets overlooked: hold a pre-production workshop with your chosen vendor. Align on vision, messaging, and expectations before anyone picks up a camera. This single meeting can prevent weeks of revision cycles later.
Mistake 3: Choosing Your Video Partner Based Only on Price
The Problem
When procurement officers compare quotes, the temptation is strong to go with the lowest bidder. But here’s the reality: an inexperienced production house means you’re paying for their learning curve with your brand’s reputation.
The false economy of cheap video production reveals itself in poor storytelling, weak interviewing skills, and technical issues that require expensive fixes. A $5,000 video that generates zero ROI is more costly than a $15,000 video that converts.
The Fix
Evaluate production partners on three criteria:
- Relevant Portfolio: Do they have case studies in your industry? Can they demonstrate experience with similar brand storytelling challenges?
- Detailed Budget Breakdown: A professional vendor will itemize pre-production, production days, post-production, and deliverables. Watch for red flags like vague “coordination fees” or inflated music licensing costs.
- Client References: Ask for contacts from their last three projects. A confident production house will gladly connect you with satisfied clients.
When reviewing options, look beyond demo reels. Ask about processes, revision handling, and backup plans if shoot days get disrupted.
Understanding typical corporate video budget ranges in Indonesia helps evaluate whether quotes are realistic or suspiciously low. Working with an experienced corporate production house ensures you’re paying for expertise, not someone’s learning curve.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Multi-Platform Optimization and Content Repurposing
The Problem
Most companies produce one video in 16:9 format and call it done. They upload the same horizontal video to YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and their website, wondering why engagement is low on mobile-first platforms.
The Fix
Plan for multi-format delivery from day one:
- 16:9 (Horizontal): YouTube, website embeds, presentations
- 9:16 (Vertical): Instagram Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn Stories
- 1:1 (Square): Feed posts across all platforms
Always add captions or subtitles burned directly into the video.
But here’s where innovative companies really maximize their investment: repurposing. That one-day brand video shoot should yield:
- 1 hero video (60-90 seconds)
- 5-10 micro-clips (5-15 seconds each) for social teasers
- Behind-the-scenes content for employer branding
- High-quality still photography for your website and LinkedIn
This approach transforms a single production day into 3-6 months of content. That’s how you justify production budgets to CFOs.
Mistake 5: Weak or Missing Call-to-Action and Branding
The Problem
You’ve invested in a beautiful brand storytelling video with stunning visuals and emotional music. It gets great views. And then… nothing happens—no inquiries, no downloads, no conversions.
The issue? Your video didn’t tell viewers what to do next. Generic endings like “Learn More” or a simple logo fade-out leave audiences unsure about the next step. Without a clear, specific call to action, your video is entertainment, not marketing.
The Fix
Every brand video needs two CTAs:
- Verbal CTA: Your on-camera talent or voiceover should explicitly state the action: “Visit our website to schedule a consultation” or “Download our free implementation guide.”
- Visual CTA: On-screen text, QR codes, or tracking URLs that persist for the final 5-10 seconds of the video. Make it impossible to miss.
For Indonesian audiences specifically, consider WhatsApp CTAs. “Chat with our team on WhatsApp” often outperforms traditional form fills because it feels more immediate and personal.
Equally important: branding consistency. Your video should reinforce your brand identity through:
- Logo placement (subtle but present)
- Color palette matching your brand guidelines
- Typography consistent with your website
- Tone of voice that aligns with other marketing materials
When we produced a testimonial video series for a B2B software company, we included a 10-second end card with three clear options: “Request a Demo,” “View Pricing,” or “Talk to Sales”—each with a clickable annotation. Conversion rates jumped 40% compared to their previous videos that faded to black.
Conclusion
The mistakes companies make when producing a brand video all share a common root: treating video as a one-off expense rather than a strategic asset. Effective brand videos require clear messaging, thorough planning, experienced production partners, multi-platform distribution strategies, and strong calls to action.
Before you greenlight your next video project, run through this checklist:
- Is our key message clear and focused?
- Have we invested adequate time in pre-production?
- Did we evaluate production partners beyond price?
- Are we planning multiple formats and repurposing?
- Does our video include specific, actionable CTAs?
When you avoid these five common pitfalls, your brand video transforms from an expense into an investment—one that drives measurable ROI, builds genuine audience connection, and stands out in an oversaturated digital landscape.
Ready to produce a brand video that actually delivers ROI? SNXP Studio has helped dozens of companies in Jakarta and Bali create strategic videos with thorough planning, multi-format distribution, and powerful CTAs. We don’t just make beautiful videos—we build measurable marketing assets. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your brief, timeline, and budget tailored to your business needs.
