Caveat Emptor – Lawyers, beware of your video production company

Website design By BotEap.comI recently came across three videos of three different attorneys, all in the same city, produced by the same video company. These three lawyers compete with each other for clients. How can I know? Because, like me, they also practice personal injury and medical malpractice law here in New York.

Website design By BotEap.comSo what’s with the title of this article?

Website design By BotEap.comI had the opportunity to watch each of his videos. Why did I watch them? Because from the thumbnail image they all looked the same. The background was exactly the same. The pose that each lawyer had in the miniature was the same and the lighting was exactly the same. Unbelievably, the headline on each of the videos was exactly the same! By the way, these three lawyers are not in the same law firm. So I hit ‘play’ and listened.

Website design By BotEap.comThe first video was fine. (I don’t want to divulge the topic, as you could google it and know exactly which video production company I’m referring to.) Then I went to the second attorney’s video and hit play. I could not believe it. He was saying virtually the exact same thing as lawyer #1. Same headline, same topic, same background, same interview pose and same lighting. The only thing different was that he was a different lawyer.

Website design By BotEap.comThe next video to play was attorney #3.

Website design By BotEap.comMY GOD! That is not a phrase I would ever say, nor would I ever repeat, but when I heard attorney #3 I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Same content as Lawyers #1 and #2 with some minor modifications; the same background; Same lighting and same interview position. This was impressive.

Website design By BotEap.comHow could a video company produce a video for three different lawyers all asking the exact same question and each giving pretty much the same answer? Could this be a hassle free template that all lawyers get regardless of what they paid? Do you like a way to create a cookie cutter style video?

Website design By BotEap.comVideo quality was excellent, no complaint there. But the same question and the same answers for each of these competing lawyers? Give me a break. I bet you anything this video company didn’t tell these lawyers that they would create the exact same videos for their competitors. This is why it is so important that when you hire a video production company to create your attorney videos, you should ask if these videos are custom created for you and only you. Even if there are competing lawyers using the same video company, ask your video producer to make sure you are different.

Website design By BotEap.comIf, instead, your producer asks YOU how you are different from your competitors, I suggest it’s time to find another video producer. Your producer should be able to help you distinguish yourself from others.

Website design By BotEap.comThe next time you’re fascinated by a particular web video company, my advice to you is Caveat Emptor.