The Business of Video Production

Ryan Spanger
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

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. 1d ago

    How to Get More Referrals Without Feeling Awkward

    Most of your video production work comes from word of mouth. In some ways that's good. But do you know where the next job is coming from? When I talk to video business owners, referrals are often their biggest source of work. Happy clients recommend them, new projects come in, and things tick along. Until they don’t. In this episode, I explore how to make referrals a little more predictable, and how to ask for an introduction without making it feel awkward or transactional. I cover: What makes clients want to recommend you, beyond the quality of your videos. Why asking for an “introduction” can feel more natural than asking for a “referral”. The words you can use to ask a happy client who else you should meet. Finding opportunities with other teams inside an organisation you already work with. Why offering a commission can sometimes get in the way. Who to approach, and why the best time to ask is often when you don’t need the work. If you’ve been doing good work and hoping people will spread the word, this episode will help you take a more deliberate approach. Start with the relationships you already have, make a list, and have a few honest conversations.

  2. Sep 28

    Which Services Should Your Video Business Offer?

    Should Your Video Business Specialise or Offer More Services? Are you building the video business you actually want, or just taking whatever comes your way? Saying yes to everything can help you get started. But at some point, you need to decide what you want to be known for, who you want to work with and what you’re prepared to turn down. In this episode of the Business of Video Production Podcast, I explore how to make those decisions, drawing on my own journey from taking any video work I could find to building a more focused production company. We look at: Why starting broad can help you discover the work you’re best suited to. How to specialise around a type of client or problem, rather than one type of video. The difference between adding a complementary service and starting a separate business. What to consider before bringing a new service in-house or contracting it out. A useful question to ask before expanding: would your ideal client naturally expect you to be good at it? There’s no single formula that suits every production company. This episode will help you think through what belongs in your business, what doesn’t, and how to keep refining those decisions as your clients’ needs and your own priorities change.

  3. Sep 21

    Monk Mode: How I Got a Year’s Worth of Work Done in a Month

    Busy with client work, but never getting around to improving your own business? In this episode, I share how a month of focused work helped me tackle the changes I’d been putting off, and how you could make time for yours. After a short break from the podcast, I’m back to talk about going into “monk mode”: setting aside a defined period to cut distractions and give important projects your full attention. Over the past month, I’ve made substantial changes to my production and marketing systems, addressed weaknesses in my business and completed work that had been sitting on my list for too long. With the help of AI, I feel like I’ve done a year’s worth of work in a month. I talk through: • How I balance small, consistent daily actions with occasional focused sprints.• How I make room for uninterrupted work around the demands of running a production company.• What travelling through Laos taught me about the rhythm of work.• How AI helped me tackle projects that previously felt too complex or time-consuming.• How to identify the changes that would make the biggest difference in your business. If there’s something you know your business needs, whether it’s a better website, updated proposals or a more consistent way to bring in work, this episode will help you think about how to give it the attention it deserves. Join me for Monk Mode: I’m supporting video business owners through a month of focused work on their businesses. We start with a one-to-one call to identify your priorities, which I turn into a written action plan. You then work through it with weekly group calls and support from me through Slack between sessions. Ask for all the details at ryanspanger.com/contact.

  4. Sep 14

    Worth Repeating: Personal Branding for Videographers

    Your personal brand is essentially what you stand for as an individual, and the value that you bring. It’s basically the public identity that you create for yourself. It’s a way of showing that you’re trustworthy and credible. In my opinion, it’s something that’s often neglected by video production owners. Who often prefer to invest more time and energy in crafting a company brand. One that’s often painted as being unrealistically larger than it actually is. And missing out on the benefits that building their personal brand could bring. So this is an opportunity to check in with yourself and see where you’re at with personal branding. If you'd like to learn more about me and what I do, check out my website.

  5. Sep 7

    Worth Repeating: How to Coach Yourself

    Whether you realise it or not, you're always being coached—by someone else or by yourself. Coaching is the key to unlocking higher performance, overcoming blind spots, and pushing beyond your limits. But what if you don’t have a coach? How do you guide yourself to success, stay accountable, and consistently improve? In this episode of The Business of Video Production Podcast, we break down the art of self-coaching. You’ll learn: ✔ How to remove negative judgment and build a strong inner dialogue ✔ How to tap into ambition, motivation, and even "dark side" energy to push forward ✔ The difference between setting goals vs. making non-negotiable commitments ✔ How to implement relentlessly and reflect like a seasoned coach Whether you’re navigating your business alone or looking to strengthen your self-discipline, this episode will give you the tools to lead yourself to success. Your challenge: By the end of this episode, set one clear, non-negotiable goal for this week. If you’re interested in how I help video production business owners grow and scale, visit ⁠ryanspanger.com

  6. Aug 31

    Worth Repeating: Why You Don’t Have the Production Company You Want Yet (and how to fix it)

    Do you have the production company that you want yet, and if not, do you know what's standing in the way of you getting it? What are the things that you need to work on to help you get the results that you need? I've worked with many production companies over the years, and what I've found is that there's often a few very particular things standing in their way. So as you're listening to the podcast, I wonder if these six things resonate with you and are helpful for you to work on, or at least think about on this episode of the Business of Video Production podcast.

  7. Aug 24

    Worth Repeating: Where Your Video Production Company is Wasting Money

    Your business could be spending money unnecessarily, while overlooking opportunities to invest those funds more effectively. In this episode from the archives, I explain how to audit your business expenses using the process I follow in my own video production company. You’ll learn how to identify unnecessary costs and redirect that money into areas that can support growth and generate a stronger return. If you don’t review your expenses regularly, you may be surprised by how much you can save and how much better that money could be working for your business. Let’s talk about optimising your company’s expenses on The Business of Video Production Podcast. Visit Ryan Spanger

  8. Aug 17

    How to Make Clients Feel Confident Hiring You

    Some contractors leave you feeling exhausted before the job has even started. Others make you want to hire them within minutes. The difference isn’t necessarily skill or experience. It’s how they make the problem feel. In this episode, I share two very different experiences I had while hiring contractors, and what they revealed about the quality clients value most. I also explain how one video business owner changed his approach to a major opportunity, stepped into a leadership role and won the biggest project he had ever quoted. Clients don’t just want expertise. They want to feel that you understand the problem, know what to do and can make it go away. Find out more about my video business coaching at https://ryanspanger.com

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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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