WheatonArts 2024 Season Kickoff
The Bridgeton Beacon

Media Production Planning

Introduction

In today's digital age, reaching your target audience requires an engaging and multimedia approach. Non-profit organizations play a vital role in society, and effective communication is key to achieving your mission. Podcasts and videos are powerful mediums that can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Before diving into pricing details, let's explore the essential components of podcast and video production and marketing.

1. Pre-production Costs

Pre-production lays the foundation for your podcast or video content. It includes brainstorming, concept development, research, and scriptwriting. Quality pre-production ensures your content aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience.

Pre-production Services:

  • Concept Development
  • Scriptwriting
  • Research and Content Planning
  • Storyboarding (for video)
  • Guest Booking (for podcasts)

The pricing for pre-production services typically ranges depending on the complexity of your project and the level of research required.

2. Basic Production

Basic production involves recording your podcast or video content. This phase requires skilled professionals who can handle equipment, lighting, sound, and on-screen presence effectively.

Basic Production Services:

  • Recording (Audio/Video)
  • Camera Operation (for video)
  • Lighting and Sound Setup
  • Host/Presenter (if required)
  • Location Setup (if on-site recording)
  • Processing/Production of smartphone/correspondent video

The cost for basic production services varies based on the duration and complexity of your content.  

3. Intermediate Production

Intermediate production takes your content to the next level. It involves more advanced equipment, editing, and post-production work. Your content will benefit from enhanced visuals, sound quality, and overall professionalism.

Intermediate Production Services:

  • Advanced Camera Equipment
  • Multi-camera Setup (for video)
  • Professional Lighting
  • Sound Engineering
  • Green Screen (for video)
  • Advanced Editing

Intermediate production services typically depend on the complexity of the production and the equipment required.

4. Advanced Production

Advanced production is the pinnacle of podcast and video quality. It involves cutting-edge technology, top-notch talent, and a highly skilled production team. Your content will stand out and leave a lasting impression.

Advanced Production Services:

  • 4K or Higher Resolution (for video)
  • Special Effects
  • Advanced Animation (for video)
  • Professional Voice-over
  • Custom Music Composition
  • Custom Graphics and Branding

Advanced production services come at a premium, and the investment yields exceptional quality and impact.

5. Post-production Costs

Post-production is where the magic happens. Skilled editors refine and polish your content, ensuring it meets professional standards. This phase includes editing, sound mixing, color correction, and adding final touches.

Post-production Services:

  • Editing
  • Sound Mixing
  • Color Correction (for video)
  • Graphics and Animation Integration
  • Quality Control

Post-production pricing varies depending on the length and complexity of your content.  

6. Marketing Costs

Creating compelling content is only part of the equation; marketing is the other essential component. Effective marketing ensures your podcast or video reaches your target audience and drives engagement.

Marketing Services:

  • Social Media Promotion
  • Email Marketing Campaigns
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Online Advertising
  • Analytics and Audience Insights

The cost of marketing services varies depending on the scope of your campaign and the platforms used. 

Effective podcast and video production, combined with strategic marketing, can amplify the impact of your non-profit organization. As you consider your budget, remember that quality content production and marketing are investments in your mission's success.

Choose the level of production that aligns with your goals, and don't underestimate the power of effective marketing. Together, we can make your message heard and drive meaningful change.

 

 

**Content Production Strategy and Budget**

In anticipation of varying quarterly funding and content opportunities, our pricing strategy emphasizes the efficiency of long-form recordings over a multitude of shorter productions. It's worth noting that converting seven smartphone clips, recorded on-site, into a four-minute video can be more labor-intensive than producing a two-hour long feature recording. 

Let's explore the difference in potential media output:

- A long-form feature video typically generates a robust 30-50 pieces of media.
- In contrast, a shorter video yields 6-20 pieces of media.

We offer a range of production options:

1. **Remotely Recorded Long-Form Interviews on SJ History**
   - Includes 3 interviews, totaling 3-6 hours of recording.
   - Estimated media output: 1-3 long-form video episodes (1-3 hours each), 5-6 highlight segments (3-12 minutes each), and 20-35 vertical video shorts (less than 1 minute).

OR

2. **Remotely Recorded Long-Form Four-Participant Roundtable on SJ History**
   - Single roundtable discussion lasting 2-3 hours.
   - Estimated media output: 1-3 long-form video episodes (1-3 hours each), 5-6 highlight segments (3-12 minutes each), and 20-35 vertical video shorts (less than 1 minute).

OR

3. **On-Site Business/Attraction/Landmark Smartphone Videos**
   - 4-6 smartphone videos, each running 2-10 minutes.
   - Potential media output: 4-6 video highlight segments (3-12 minutes each) and 6-12 vertical video shorts (less than 1 minute).

Most likely, a combination of long-form podcasts and on-site smartphone video production options will best suit your content needs. The estimated budget of $2,000 ensures the minimum content required to sustain your growth.

**Website Enhancement for Greater Visibility**

In today's landscape, harnessing advanced publishing technologies and AI-driven editorial processes is key to the Bridgeton Beacon's mission. Our objective is to create and maintain a dynamic platform for news, local interest stories, history, art, and commerce content. Ultimately, we aim for inclusion in major news feeds like Google News, Yahoo News, and Bing News.

**Website Systems & Technology**

- Develop content category research and newsfeed retrieval automations.
- Establish a robust taxonomy, SEO strategy, and publishing plan.
- Recruit a dedicated volunteer editorial staff.
- Conduct writer/editor orientation on Beacon article development and the editorial dashboard.
- Integrate an affiliate program with relevant content partners (e.g., Amazon for books, eBay for memorabilia).
- Offer monthly management, editorial, and programming support, available in flexible ala carte installments.

**Inclusion in Major News Feeds**

To secure a spot in Google News, Bing News, and Yahoo News feeds, adherence to specific content and technical criteria is paramount. Here's a brief overview of the key requirements:

1. **High-Quality, Original Content:** Consistently publish original, high-quality news articles, adhering to journalistic standards and avoiding duplication.

2. **Content Categories:** Include a portion of your website content in news categories like sports, weather, or entertainment.

3. **Frequent Updates:** Maintain a regular publishing schedule with fresh content updates multiple times a day.

4. **Authoritative and Credible Content:** Display author bylines and establish author authority through clear author bios.

5. **Professional Design:** Ensure a clean, professional, and user-friendly website design.

6. **About and Contact Pages:** Provide clear "About Us" and "Contact Us" pages with accurate information.

7. **Site Structure and URLs:** Implement a logical site structure with descriptive URLs and structured data markup (schema.org).

8. **Responsive Design:** Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive.

9. **Ethical Practices:** Avoid deceptive practices such as clickbait and maintain HTTPS security.

10. **Sitemaps:** Create and submit news article sitemaps to search engines.

11. **No Plagiarism:** Never copy content from other sources without proper attribution.

12. **Follow Guidelines:** Continuously adhere to search engine guidelines for news publishers.

By investing in both content production and website enhancements, the Bridgeton Beacon aims to secure its presence in major news feeds, thereby reaching a broader audience and ensuring its continued growth and success.