The Business of Video Production

Ryan Spanger

Strategy, marketing, sales, delivery and mindset for videographers. 'The Business of Video Production' podcast by Ryan Spanger shares his lessons from over 20 years of running a successful video production company. Through the series we'll explore topics important to a production company owner such as how to: Identify and reach the right prospects. Achieve a consistent flow of work (no more feast or famine). Charge what you’re worth – with confidence. Step back from shouldering all the responsibility for production so you can focus on building your business. https://www.ryanspanger.com

  1. 3d ago

    More Leads and Clients 2: Leverage

    This is part two of my three-part series, How to Get More Leads and Clients. In part one, we focused on lead generation. In this episode, we're moving to the next stage of the process: leverage. Most video production business owners think the value of a project ends when the invoice gets paid. The job gets delivered, the client is happy, and everyone moves on to the next thing. But there's an important step that video production company owners often neglect. In this episode, I share one of the biggest lessons I've learned in more than 20 years of running a production company, and why the value of a project is often much greater than most people realise. There's a good chance you're sitting on opportunities, proof, and assets that could be helping you win more work, and you're not fully using them. That's what we're exploring in this episode. Learn more about coaching for video production business owners: https://www.ryanspanger.com/coaching

    20 min

  2. Jun 1

    How to Get More Leads and Clients for Your Video Business

    Have you ever found yourself repeatedly checking your inbox, hoping a client will get back to you? Or staring at a quote you’ve sent, knowing that if this one project goes ahead, you’ll be fine for another month? Most video production business owners know what it’s like to have too much riding on a handful of opportunities. In this episode, I unpack the framework I’ve used over the past 20 years to create a more reliable flow of leads and clients for my own production company. We’ll look at why so many businesses get stuck bouncing between referrals, networking, social media, SEO, cold outreach, and the latest marketing trend, without ever building a system they can rely on. I’ll walk you through the first stage of the framework: Acquisition. You’ll learn where leads actually come from, how to choose a lead generation strategy that suits you, and why becoming excellent at one channel is often far more effective than spreading yourself across five. The goal isn’t to guarantee a constant stream of work. It’s to move away from relying on luck, random marketing activities, and the occasional referral, and towards a system that gives you more control over your pipeline, more confidence in your sales conversations, and less uncertainty about where the next project is coming from. This is Part 1 of a new series on getting more leads and clients for your video production company. In the coming episodes, we’ll explore Leverage and Retention, and how these three pieces work together to help you build stronger client relationships and a more predictable business. And if you’d like support putting this into practice, this is exactly the kind of work I do with my coaching clients. You can find out more at ryanspanger.com/coaching.

    34 min

  3. May 25

    Videographer to Business Operator Part II

    What actually creates momentum in a video production business? Why do some people take coaching, ideas, and strategies and genuinely run with them… while others stay stuck in the same patterns for years? On this episode, I continue my conversation with coaching client Nic Mongillo from Toronto, Canada. Last week we spoke about the practical side of growing a video business: systems, team, structure, leadership, and moving beyond being a solo operator. This week we go deeper into the mindset and behavioural side of growth. We unpack some of the qualities that have helped Nic build momentum over the past year, including: • Being genuinely coachable • Taking feedback without defensiveness • Staying consistent even when motivation drops • Learning to handle discomfort and uncertainty • Embracing repetition and the long game • Taking ideas and adapting them into your own style • Building self-trust through action • Moving from consuming information to implementing it One of the things I respect most about Nic is that he didn’t try to copy me or become a clone of my approach. He used the coaching and frameworks as a foundation, then built his own way of communicating, selling, leading, and running his business. This episode is really about the gap between knowing and doing. And how growth often comes from repeatedly leaning into situations that feel uncomfortable until they eventually become normal. If you’re trying to grow your production company, improve your sales process, become more disciplined, or simply develop more resilience as a business owner, I think there’s a lot in this conversation that will resonate. And if you’d like help building a more focused, profitable, and sustainable video business, you can⁠ learn more about my coaching program⁠.

    22 min

  4. May 18

    New Episode: Videographer to Business Operator Part 1

    What does it take to go from being a one-person operator to running a business with good systems and a team? On this episode, we welcome back one of my coaching clients, Nic Mongillo, from Toronto, Canada. Nic first appeared on the podcast back on episode 58. We recorded that episode together 9 months ago. And I called it “How to go Pro with your video business.” And if you haven't listened to it, I really recommend checking it out. This is the next part of the journey. I’ve been coaching Nic for a year and a half now. And I can’t wait for him to share the transformation his business has experienced since the last episode. There’s so much that I think you’ll be able to pick up from what he shares and apply it to your own business. If you'd like to learn more about me, check out my website

    22 min

  5. May 11

    Revisit: How to up Your LinkedIn Content Game

    Most video producers know they should be posting more on LinkedIn. They’ve got great work, smart ideas, and interesting stories from the field, but for some reason, they hold back. Maybe it feels awkward. Maybe they don’t know what to say. Or maybe they’ve posted before and nothing happened. In this episode of The Business of Video Production Podcast, Ryan Spanger breaks down how to build a content strategy for LinkedIn that feels natural, human, and effective. He shares five simple types of posts that video producers can rotate through, and explains how to make each one engaging and real. You’ll learn how to stay top-of-mind with clients, build authority, and show up consistently without overthinking it. Ryan also talks about how to think about LinkedIn as part of your business infrastructure, why your personal page matters more than your company page, and how the rise of AI has made authentic human voice more valuable than ever. If you’ve been overthinking what to post, or worrying about sounding “salesy” or fake, this episode will help you find your rhythm. You’ll learn how to: Post with confidence, without over-polishing Build awareness instead of chasing likes Use the “five content buckets” to create variety Stay consistent so clients remember you when it matters To see examples of Ryan’s behind-the-scenes content or learn more about his coaching for video production business owners, visit ⁠ryanspanger.com/coaching⁠. Or ⁠connect on LinkedIn⁠.

    23 min

  6. May 4

    Revisit: The 80/20 Rule for the Video Production Business

    Are you working harder than ever, but still not getting the results you want? You’re editing, quoting, filming, following up... replying to client emails at 10pm. You’re grinding. But it still feels like something’s off. In this episode, I want to show you a different way of thinking. One that’s helped me, and many of my coaching clients, escape the cycle of overwork and under-earning. It’s called the 80/20 Rule. We’ll unpack the surprising origin of the Pareto Principle, why most video producers stay stuck in the 80%, and what it actually means to be in the 20: the group of businesses that earn more, stress less, and operate with clarity and calm. You’ll learn how to: Focus on the right clients, and drop the ones draining your energy Offer services that are profitable and easy to deliver Cut through the noise in your marketing And reclaim your time for the work that really moves the needle This isn’t about working more. It’s about working better. So if you’re ready to stop chasing and start building, hit play. For coaching and support to build a calm, profitable video business, visit ⁠ryanspanger.com

    20 min

  7. Apr 27

    Revisit: Sales for Non-Salesy Production Company Owners

    If you're not a natural salesperson, if you dislike high-pressure sales tactics, and if the idea of "closing the deal" makes you uncomfortable, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Business of Video Production Podcast, I break down how videographers and video producers can sell authentically: without tricks, hacks, or pushy techniques. I share my journey from struggling with sales to developing a natural, effective approach that feels right. You'll learn: Why being a "non-salesy" person can actually be an advantage. How to attract the right clients so sales conversations flow naturally. The key to positioning yourself so clients are already half-convinced before you even speak. Why traditional sales tactics are becoming less effective, and what to do instead. If you’ve ever felt like sales isn’t your strength, this episode will help you build confidence and sell in a way that’s true to you. Visit my website:⁠ https://www.ryanspanger.com/blog/sales-for-video-producers

    21 min

  8. Apr 20

    The Iron Man Model: Complete Framework for Video Production Company Owners

    A year ago, I released the Iron Man Model as a six-part series. I’ve been thinking about that series again recently and decided to bring the whole model back together in one place as a single episode. Partly because it was originally broken up, and it’s much easier to take it in as a complete framework. But also because, over the past year, it has become more relevant. There’s more uncertainty in the market. Clients are expecting more while keeping a closer eye on budgets. And AI has moved from something people were curious about to something that is actively shaping how work gets done. This episode is the full version, start to finish. If you heard it the first time around, it gives you a chance to revisit it with a bit more experience behind you. And if you’re new to it, this will give you the full framework in one go. At its core, the Iron Man Model is about running a video production company in a way that is lean, efficient, and able to adapt to what’s actually happening in the market. Inside this episode, I walk through the five pillars that make up the model: Why AI can be your thinking partner, not just a tool for automation How smart delegation helps you stay focused on high-value work Setting up marketing systems that work while you are busy with clients Innovating your workflow, services, and offers to stay ahead of the curve And the most important part of all: your own personal transformation A big theme that runs through all of it is the idea of travelling light. There’s a natural tendency in this industry to keep adding more over time. More gear, more people, more layers of complexity. But the businesses that will succeed best now and into the future are the ones that have simplified and become more focused. If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll recognise a lot of this, but you might hear it differently now. And if you’re coming to it fresh, this will give you the full picture in one place. If you want help applying this to your own business, you can find more about my coaching at ryanspanger.com/coaching.

    2h 17m
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About

Strategy, marketing, sales, delivery and mindset for videographers. 'The Business of Video Production' podcast by Ryan Spanger shares his lessons from over 20 years of running a successful video production company. Through the series we'll explore topics important to a production company owner such as how to: Identify and reach the right prospects. Achieve a consistent flow of work (no more feast or famine). Charge what you’re worth – with confidence. Step back from shouldering all the responsibility for production so you can focus on building your business. https://www.ryanspanger.com

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