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Charging for tutorials?

post #1 of 12
2/1/13 at 9:15am
Thread Starter 
A culinary store wants me to do some video tutorials (short, maybe 5 minutes each tops) for some of their products that they have on their online catalogue/website. Idea would be customer would browse the catalogue and click on the tutorial for whatever the product/tool might be. I have a decent video camera but know very little about editing, though I think I can teach myself the basics. I've seen lots of video tutorials and believe I can do this, thing is I have no idea what or how to charge. Also, I can benefit from doing these tutorials as self-promotion. Appreciate input and advice.
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post #2 of 12
2/1/13 at 10:27am
How much time do you think it will take you to plan, set up, and record all the tutorials? If the store will not be providing the materials, how much will the materials cost?
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post #3 of 12
2/1/13 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 

I still have to meet with them to with a proposal.  I intend to propose that they provide the materials.  I have many tools available but what I don't have, or say a particular product they want the tutorial for, then they should supply it.

 

As far as how much time I will invest....well.  I have to teach myself the video editing - I have an application for that just need to figure it out.  I'll need someone to hold the camera, I'll spend time preparing for each tutorial (some more than others), the time actually shooting it, then editing it.... 

 

The first few ones will take me longer as I learn.  So I'm throwing out a ballpark time of say 1.5 hours per tutorial for the first 3?  Then it should cut down.  Of course depending on what the demo is, I may have pre-work to do.

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post #4 of 12
2/1/13 at 10:48am
1.5 hours each sounds like a fair estimate, just make sure the pre-work is included. The next step is to figure out what your hourly wage should be. Depending on how specialized the tutorials are and where you are located you would probably be in the $15-40/hour range.

I recommend investing in a good tripod instead of having someone hold the camera.
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post #5 of 12
2/1/13 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 

Tripod is a good idea, thank you.

 

Do you think maybe I should break it down to tutorials with minimal prework are at X price and those with 1 or more hours of pre-work are XX price?

 

So maybe the base price is $35 for a 5 minute tutorial with under 1 hour pre-work

tutorials with 1 - under 2 hours pre-work $60

tutorials with 2 - under 3 hours pre-work $90

tutorials with 3 - under 4 hours pre-work $120

 

Now, since I am having to teach myself the video editing part...do I factor that in, or is that the "cost of doing business"?

 

I also plan on keeping the rights to the videos and keeping them stored in my server but giving them a link to it.

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post #6 of 12
2/1/13 at 11:50am
If I were you, I would get the complete list of tutorials they are looking for, work out the costs of each one, and put together a price for the entire package without a detailed breakdown. If they are expecting edited tutorials instead of raw footage, video editing knowledge is assumed and time spent teaching yourself how to do it would not be billable.

If you want to keep the rights you might be in for a negotiation. As for storing the video on your own server, if I were commissioning videos for my web site I would want them hosted on my site (or a CDN under my control), if the vendor insisted on hosting the videos themselves that would be a deal breaker unless the vendor had a good track record for hosting and distributing digital video. Unless you really want to get into the video hosting business (and are willing to pay for the additional bandwidth used indefinitely) you are probably better off if they host the videos.
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post #7 of 12
2/1/13 at 11:54am
Thread Starter 

Thank you for all your input, I really appreciate.  I'm going to think some things through.

I like your idea of getting down what tutorials they want and then doing a package price.

 

Thank you!

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post #8 of 12
2/1/13 at 12:08pm

I would say most videos will take pre work longer than expected.  Are you familiar with all the tools they offer?  It's possible you will have to learn it too. Don't forget lighting and a good microphone also!  You will find having to re-do a shot a couple times will happen due to your hand in the way or a dog bark or phone ring..you just never know so better to give a little more time. Definitely keep the rights and make sure to spell out all the ways they can use these (like emailing clips to their customers or whatever).

 tutorials at www.sugarartbytami.com

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 tutorials at www.sugarartbytami.com

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post #9 of 12
2/1/13 at 12:21pm
Thread Starter 

Yes, maybe 1.5 hours, specially in the beginning as I learn all the video editing, is too hopeful.

Well, lots to learn.  Just really want to get a good grip on pricing this project.  I don't want to overbid it, but I don't want to work for peanuts either.

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post #10 of 12
2/1/13 at 1:47pm

tripod is a really good idea, but you will probably still need someone to make sure the camera is actually recording what you are doing, that your hands are not getting in the way, the lighting is right, things like that, so you should include the cost of this person, at X $$ per hour. 

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post #11 of 12
2/1/13 at 4:47pm

My best advice is to do a "trial run" video before you set your price, especially if you don't have any editing experience.  From start to finish, it's often the editing process that takes the most time.  

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My Blog: www.minetterushing.com
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post #12 of 12
2/1/13 at 9:02pm

Yes, A trial run video is a great idea! There are probably all sorts of thing you will come across that you weren't anticipating, and you can use that as a learning experience to come up with a 'pre-work' list, as well as figuring out what camera angles will work, post-video clean-up time and editing, and then factor in that the more you do, the faster you will get at it. 

Good Luck!

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