The first question most clients and prospects ask me when it comes to any marketing service is:
How much does it cost?
It’s understandable. You are running a law firm and you want to know if something is worth your time to even find out about. Not only that, but it’s almost impossible to find the cost of ANYTHING on most marketing agencies’ websites. They want you to schedule a “chat” to find out the price.
I don’t like that. It seems unethical to make someone schedule a meeting so they can hear you pitch just to find out the price…especially if it’s out of a person’s price range – now you have wasted the time of not one, but two people!
These days, short-form video content has become an essential tool for attorneys looking to stand out. Whether you’re scrolling through LinkedIn, Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts, chances are you consume multiple attention-grabbing clips daily. It’s not just for entertainment; many business leaders leverage this medium to build authority and engage their audiences.
If you’re a law firm leader, you’ve likely thought about jumping on this trend.
Imagine how short-form video could showcase your expertise, elevate your firm’s profile, get you more referrals, secure more speaking opportunities, and ultimately generate more leads and clients.
However, while the idea is exciting, the reality of producing high-quality video content can feel daunting. It requires time, consistent effort, and, of course, an investment.
So, how much does it cost to outsource professional short-form video content?
In this article, we’ll break down all the options for you, helping you decide if it’s the right move for your firm.
Why Are Marketing Agencies Hiding the Cost Of This Service For Law Firms?
The most common and frankly maddening answer I’m guessing that you hear when you ask about cost is:
It depends…
I get it – it’s like trying to get the exact cost of a suit.
Are you buying something off the rack, opting for tailored adjustments, or commissioning a bespoke, made-to-measure piece?
The price answer depends on the materials, the craftsmanship, and the final fit. And, of course, no one wants to promise a price for a tailored service only for you to balk when it doesn’t include all the extras you expected.
This is especially true with short-form video creation, where there are a lot of options. But as attorneys, you know the value of managing expectations and delivering clarity.
So, before we dive into actual numbers (yes, we will actually share numbers—brace yourself), let’s break down why the cost of short-form video can vary so widely.
Why Does the Cost Vary So Much?
1. Not All Services Are Created Equal
Just like the difference between a paralegal’s work and a senior partner’s expertise, the quality and scope of short-form video services vary. Are you looking for basic editing or an all-inclusive package with scripting, filming, and branding? The price reflects the level of service.
2. What’s Included?
One agency might simply edit a few video clips you supply. Another might script, shoot, and produce a polished video series for LinkedIn, complete with captions, graphics, and legal branding. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples—or briefs to briefs, as the case may be.
3. Your Input vs. Their Input
Are you handing over all the creative direction, or are you involved every step of the way? The more the agency takes on, the higher the cost—but also, the less time you spend managing the process. For busy law firms, outsourcing more can be worth the investment.
What You’re Really Paying For When It Comes To Video For Your Law Firm
At the end of the day, the cost of short-form video for your firm isn’t just about the video itself. It’s about positioning your firm as approachable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy to potential clients. A great video can pay for itself many times over by attracting the right clients to your firm.
But if you’re here, you’re not just looking for explanations—you want numbers. And we’re not going to leave you hanging. Let’s dive into what you can expect to invest in short-form video creation.
Ready to uncover the details? Keep reading—we’re about to break it all down.
How Much Does Short Form Video Cost For A Law Firm
Instead of “It depends”, I’ll give you a range…You can start at $100 and go the whole way up to $25,000+…keep reading to get exact costs and the services those costs include, I promise it’s worth it.
So, why the huge disparity?
It’s mainly the fact that there are so many ways to create video packages as well as the type of editing that goes along with it.
One of the main costs is who you hire and how much work they are taking on.
A secondary cost is the equipment, if you choose to do the video yourself.
Finally, the overall number of videos that you receive can impact the price as well. Are you getting two videos or are you getting twenty-five videos?
So, let’s look at the ways to create video for your firm and the actual costs that you should see.
MARKETING SIDE NOTE
Remember – short-form video (or any content) isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about driving leads and generating revenue. The true value lies in doing it effectively.
As we explore the costs involved, also consider the potential consequences of not maximizing its impact. Investing in quality content now could save you from missed opportunities down the line.
Do It Yourself – The First Way To Create Short-Form Video For Your Law Firm
The first option is to just create the videos yourself. Most people have a phone that can create 4k masterpieces. You can use your phone with a free/cheap video editing software like Canva or Cap Cut and you’re ready to get started. (In fact, we have a blog about how you can film a video on your smartphone and turn it into 2 weeks of content.)
This is the cheapest option as you probably already have a phone and you’d just need to invest in a few additional things, like a tripod, lights, a decent microphone and editing software. You’d also need to have a location to film your videos, which could be your office, a corner of your house or a rented space. Whatever option you choose, be sure that the background looks nice and complements your video.
The costs for this can vary, but you’re probably looking at a cost of $100-$500. If you are going to rent a space specifically to shoot, the cost probably will be around $800-$1000.
However, this is the option that will also take the most TIME. You will have to do everything yourself, which includes recording, editing and posting. Not only will you be responsible for handling the technical tasks, you’ll also need to plan your content strategy and ensure the videos you create are impactful for your business.
Fair warning—this process can be quite time-consuming…Based on previous clients, producing about 30 short-form videos could require around 100 hours of work. This includes planning, keyword research, editing, recording and everything else needed to make your videos successful.
30 short-form videos should cover you for approximately 3 months, if you post videos 2-3 times per week.
So the real question is, what is your time worth to you?
As an attorney, if you bill at the 2024 average of $341/hour, those videos could be costing you over $30k because you are losing out on the ability to bill clients.
Choosing to handle video creation yourself often makes sense for those firms that are just beginning, have limited funds, but can dedicate significant time to creating content and navigating the associated learning process.
However, if spending approximately 100 hours (equivalent to 2.5 full workweeks) could be more profitable by focusing on client work and generating revenue, outsourcing might be a more strategic option.
You should also think about how you want your firm to be represented. Ask yourself if you can produce high-quality content that aligns with the image you want to project. If not, it may be worth seeking professional assistance to ensure your content reflects your expertise and professionalism.
You Shoot The Video, Someone Else Edits It, You Post It – The Second Way To Create Short-Form Video For Your Law Firm
Taking the video editing off your plate is the second way to create video content for your firm. This option really eliminates having to learn any new software, so it’s much less time-consuming. Also, the difference between a professional editor and a DIY edit can really make an impact.
The cheapest option would be to find a video editor on a site like Fiverr, where video editing can range from $35 – $500+ per video. If you went on the low end and chose a $50/video editor, this would still cost you a minimum of $1500 for the 30 videos that you would need for 3 months of posting.
Working with someone on Fiverr that is on the low end of the cost spectrum will still have some challenges and take a bit of time. You’ll still have to give feedback and describe your video vision to get the edits done to your liking.
Will Using A Professional Video Editor Really Make My Content Stand Out?
Yes!
While AI is increasingly adept at handling straightforward editing tasks like removing sounds, filler words, and long pauses, it’s not a replacement for a person (yet). It can also adjust colors and minimize background noise with ease. Many video editors now integrate AI into their workflow to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance efficiency.
However, professional video editors can take your video to another level with their capabilities.
They can add:
- Captions
- B-roll
- Animation effects
- Additional images
- Pop ups
- And more!
These additions are what really make a video stand out from the rest.
Once the videos are edited, they will be sent back to you for publishing and posting. You will then need to publish them on a platform like YouTube or Vimeo and schedule them as posts to your social media.
The question in this scenario is – is this time tradeoff worth it?
By spending $1500 for editing, it may allow you to save about half of the 100 hours that we discussed before. So, you may be spending about 50 hours to create, shoot and post the content as well as working with the video editor to achieve your video vision. If this is time that you could be billing a client, this still could have an opportunity cost of over $15k.
This option could work for a firm that is ready to take their content to the next level, and has someone that is available to take on the publishing and posting duties.
This middle option where you delegate part of the work can be an excellent strategy for reclaiming your time and elevating the quality of the content you produce. It serves as a balanced middle ground between handling everything yourself and fully outsourcing the process.
Everything is Done For You, Just Show Up For The Video Shoot – The Third Way To Create Short-Form Video For Your Law Firm
This option has everything taken care of for you, except for appearing in the video…AI has come far, but I don’t know that the tech is that good quite yet 😊
Imagine having all your marketing for the next 3 months done and it only required 4-6 hours of your time.
Obviously, this is the most expensive option, and prices can vary here from $3000/month to $25,000+. The sky really is the limit when it comes to this option.
However, you are getting access to an agency that will typically have:
- Video Editors
- Writers
- SEO experts
- Designers
- Directors
This is why the price is so high; you can offload almost all the work.
Additionally, you’re tapping into the expertise of professionals who know what works because they have done it before and know how to maximize the return on your investment in video content.
IFTS Offers A Content Creation Package That Offers Short-Form Video AND MORE – So What Does It Cost?
You won’t see a wishy-washy answer from us!
We believe in transparency about the cost of our video content, so you can easily incorporate it into your budget and determine if it’s the best fit for your needs.
We have two options that you can choose from that cover content for 3 months:
- Done For You [On Location] $13,000 plus tax
- Done For You [Remote Setup] $9,000 plus tax
Either option has a payment plan that allows you to pay over the three months. So, the “DFY On Location” package will be $4334/month and the “DFY Remote Setup” package will be $3000/month with no additional fees for paying over time.
What Does Each Package Include?
Everything you need to market your business online over the next 3 months! Your marketing for an entire quarter is done in less than one day for you.
For both packages, you get:
- Keyword research report for your area of practice
- Video planning and strategy
- Content creation schedule
- 3 Planning meetings
- 30 edited videos
- 30 videos turned into articles for your website (to boost your SEO)
- Multiple intro and outros so the videos can be reused
- Image social posts with facts from your videos
- Videos uploaded to YouTube with optimized descriptions and headings
- Video and image posts scheduled to appear on your social media, like Facebook, LinkedIn. Google Business Profile, Instagram etc.
For the “DFY On Location” package:
- We’ll come to your office, set everything up and film you in one day
For the “DFY Remote Setup” package:
- We will help you set up filming remotely and direct the entire session
- Prior to filming day, we will do a “set up meeting”, where we will discuss anything needed for filming that you may not have.
These packages help you get the most exposure possible by using the content in multiple ways on multiple platforms.
As a bonus, we also include our review request software system at no additional cost. It can help your firm double the number of reviews you receive per month.
Want Some Help Creating Content For Your Law Firm’s Online Presence?
How was that for a full walkthrough with prices included?
By now, you should have a clear understanding of what goes into the pricing when discussing video content for your law firm. The price range can vary greatly, but it mainly depends on the level of service that you are looking for.
If you are looking for expert guidance throughout the entire process, our content creation package could be the perfect solution for you!
Fill out this form to get started and set up an introductory meeting.
