02 May 5 Ways To Use a Single Commercial Shoot for Multiple Distribution Options

Traditionally, video commercials used to appear on television or through the radio as audio-based ads. The major advancements in technology have rapidly increased the number of ways to distribute a commercial to the public. When you plan out a commercial for a company or product, you should keep these distribution options in mind while you work.

Instead of shooting separate commercials for every video format, you can shoot a single commercial, make some tweaks, and then utilize the same commercial across multiple platforms. Learn how a full-service production company can help you plan, edit, and output your various commercial needs.

The final products will help you reach multiple platforms without spreading your budget too thin.

1. Traditional Television Commercials

A traditional television commercial will typically remain your go-to option for production. Set to a standard 15 to 30 seconds, the television commercial can act as a blueprint for your basic commercial format. The master creation of the television commercial can lead to ways to trim down other commercials and edit different aspects of a commercial option.

The 30-second format of a television commercial gives you the opportunity to promote a product or service while you can find a lot to showcase within the narrative structure. Traditional television commercials will not just air on traditional live TV. You also have the option to showcase those commercials on a number of streaming platforms.

The commercials can air before shows or during set commercial breaks on platforms that support ad-based tiers for users.

2. Long-Form Website Commercial

In some cases, you may want to expand a commercial to include more details, longer cuts, and additional content. When you book a single commercial shoot, you could shoot some alternate takes and extended takes to capture footage. Once the shoot completes, a professional editing team can provide you with long-form alternatives that have no time constraints.

If you have your own website for the product, then you can host the video on the website and users can watch the longer-form videos. Product pages on retail sites may allow you to upload longer videos as well. The longer videos give you a chance to expand on specific features and help increase sales.

3. Vertical-Based Social Media Commercials

Social media ads are often viewed on a phone and can help you gain more eyes as you spread ads through different interfaces. Take advantage of the phone experience with an ad that runs vertically. Professional editors can edit your ad to ensure the vertical format looks proper and vital information is not cut out of the commercial.

Motion graphic editors can add effects and text to make the commercial easy to view. For example, if people scroll through social media without sound, you can still make the commercial stand out with proper text features and branding.

4. Quick Clip Reels and Stories

Similar to vertical-based social media ads are quick clip reels. The quick clips could be useful for a 10-second ad on a video streaming service or through ads on social media. Instead of the whole commercial, the content could get edited down to five or 10-second clips. The narrative of a commercial can still remain, along with key shots of a product.

In some of the quick clip reels, you could include links to a direct product page or to the full-length version of the commercial. The short clips make it easy for people to share online and help spread word about your product. With such a short amount of time, an editor will edit a commercial down to feature some of the key highlights.

For example, if you feature a celebrity in your commercial, then you will want to feature their role in your production to help draw instant attention and recognition to the video.

5. Movie Theater Commercials

While a lot of commercial production now focuses on the small screen, you can create a commercial that caters directly to the big screen audience. A movie theater commercial will air before the showing of a movie and can attract many viewers to the screen. Editors can create a version of the commercial that caters to the widescreen format.

For example, highly detailed close-up shots of the product can make a big impact on the big screen. You also have the option to embed a QR code within the commercial. A QR code allows movie patrons to scan the code while they sit in their seats and load up more information like your official website.

You could also take advantage of the movie format to showcase different commercial elements. You could use movie themes or on-screen graphics to connect to the movie theaters and add a special touch to the commercials.

For more information on commercial production, contact us at Big Shoulders Digital Video Productions. We have a full production suite, including green screen rooms, editing suites, and a full of staff of filmmakers ready to help your every need.