Cost of designing a website commercial

This is the same old question that business owners go round and round about. To either their partners or significant others.

Lets put it into perspective, shall we?

The average business owner spends anywhere from 199.00 to 1999.00 on their websites alone. Some even higher pending on the interactiveness of One’s website. This is for designing alone and nothing more, the rest of the Content the Owner usually and most likely must provide. Spell checked to boot! Along with providing JPG’s or GIF’s and Logo’s too.
Of course the business owner never factors their time in, as a part of a cost basis when hiring someone to create their website pages.
Then after the page or site has been created the builder will ask: “Did you want to rank on the net?” Of course that is the idea, right! Well dig deep, cause that could cost anywhere from 85.00 a month of ‘tweaking key words’ to a flat fee of 250 and up.
Email campaigns that start at 75.00 bucks a month to ?? The sky is the limit. I could go on and on about Server subscriptions and Email accounts etc….
The point I am making here is that often I get a request for what sounds like a small quick job and am asked; “How much for a real quick video?” To me, that is very open ended and I find myself having to delve further via prying back and forth with emails, till I find out they want 2 Hot models with full model release to use any and every which way they desire.
I also then must provide the set or background as their store is a virtual one and have nothing set up, nor can I use anything other then my own resources and maybe a t-shirt or prop or two sent by mail from the customer.
After I have painted out the above scenario and the cost of said Website. The prospective buyer needs to take into consideration, that what you think is a 1 minute video; took at least 8 hours of ciphering your vision. Along with countless hours of hiring and interviewing models at a discounted price along with one that will show up and is available for follow-ups or re shoots.

Moving onto the set-up of One’s video commercial.

The Set needs to be done in a way that looks as the Customer envisioned. Along with being properly lit and set for sound either with a boom mic or personal mic. If the website video calls for a two shot camera angle…Such as a shot reflecting the outside of ones store and then moving inside for the speal, pitch or informational spot. That would require two Sets and the lights done twice. Usually though, an outside set is more of, “Where is the sun at?”

If someone requests a green screen or Keying, where a model presents, then the background is filled in via ‘fake or picture background’-Think weather girl. One must either provide a non copy-write background or buy one. Those range from 35.00 for a background to 150.00, even more if I have to buy a set or compilation to get the one the Customer desires.

Lets not forget the Model who is working independent contractor and gets spotty work. I have experience in this and am good at with working with Newbies and can usually get a deal and pass it on. A deal is around 150. for a half day or about 3 hours of time for one Model.
A model with a portfolio and experience will cost way more then that, if one calls a Modeling Agency. So consider the “running an ad” work one must do, to fit your needs of finding a ‘cheap model’.
By the way….Along with that, A Green screen needs to be properly lit and that can take about 3 hours chasing shadows out per scene as well as any Props one might want such as desk, or ??

Now comes the shooting of One’s Video commercial, getting the lines just right and paying attention to details. Hopefully, we get it on the First or Second pass. Hopefully the information wanted is NOT the Gettysburg address and needs to be memorized to look natural.
After all that happens, it’s now time to further use one’s creative skills, then edit it all together with Transitions and any Graphics; be they motion or still. From creating the Fly in text messages, to fitting right on screen and finally adding music and or sound effects to give it that finished feel. The cost is, Hours for minutes of finished product. Not 1 hour to 1 minute mind you, sometimes 2 or 3 hours to 1 minute of edited video for your commercial, pending on details.

Adding Graphics for the Company Logo or having to clean it up, because their Sister’s Husbands second cousin went to school and made one for them. Instead of paying 250. for a new one that they would use for the life of the company.

Then the Owner who it seems, always changes their minds in respect to a story board or content, or gets an idea from a significant other or partner that has no idea the detail or work with what they are asking for; asks, if I could just ‘POP’ that in for another piece and omit the other piece. Forget the time for the set for that, or the fact I will need to reset another set for that request. Then Smooth that out for yet another preview and of course see if there are any subtle changes desired? Like, Font or Font Color etc…

Now you tell me… Go ahead use the Comment board. If you are Organic or a real person not a spam bot, use the words I think a commercial should cost in the text so I will publish it. Please also elaborate on why you think that too. I am curious to think why someone would think they could get a properly executed video for their business website for 200. Yet willing to pay thousands for a static web page, that just lays there like an electric magazine; who usually had to supply the content and pics themselves.
Whereas One will spend 250. for a 1 month online ad exposure or using an email campaign. Yet, bulk at spending 1500 for a video commercial they use for an average of 18 months before shooting another updated one.

Netcommercial prices start at, for now-399.00 Down from 449.00 Screamer ad price as things are tight all over. That is for a 1 minute commercial like the one on my home page. Jpg’s-Flyin Text-Voice Over with Music and Logos tied in with sound effects.
How much should “you” spend on a commercial? Think about this, it is first impressions that last the longest.

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