How to be Productive in Your Video Business
When you look at the most successful video production businesses in your market, they likely share a few common traits. They have clear processes for getting things done, they are always refining their approach, and they consistently put out content, whether through social media, new offers, or marketing campaigns.
This is the essence of business—growth, change, development, trying new things, and avoiding stagnation.
Let’s explore the process of taking ideas and turning them into real-world action in your video production business.
The Importance of Taking Action
There’s value in thinking, planning, and strategising. But nothing compares to actually taking action and implementing ideas in your business. You’ve probably noticed this when looking at other production companies—some always seem to be innovating, putting out new content, making new offers, and staying top of mind.
These businesses aren’t necessarily smarter or more talented. They just have a system for execution. They’ve built habits that help them consistently move forward.
I want to share the process I use to get things done in my business. If some of these strategies resonate with you, feel free to implement them. Or, you may already have your own system that works. There’s no single right way—what matters is finding an approach that works for you.
Step 1: Capturing Ideas
The first step in execution is capturing ideas effectively.
Inspiration can strike at any moment—while watching a video, reading an article, or talking with a client. If you don’t have a way to record these ideas quickly, they’ll disappear as fast as they came.
Some people use apps like Notion or Evernote for note-taking. Personally, I prefer using the Notes app on my iPhone because it’s simple and easily accessible. Siri integration also makes it easy to capture ideas through voice commands.
The Key to Capturing Ideas
Write it down immediately – If you hear a great business insight, capture it on the spot. Don’t trust yourself to remember it later.
Use categories – Have folders for different types of ideas, such as marketing, client outreach, or new services.
Don’t overanalyze – At this stage, you’re just collecting ideas, not evaluating them.
Step 2: Evaluating and Organising Ideas
Once you have a list of ideas, the next step is to go through them and decide which ones are worth pursuing. Not every idea is valuable—some will be game-changers, while others won’t align with your business goals.
How to Sort and Prioritise Your Ideas
Separate high-impact ideas from “nice-to-haves.” Some ideas will make an immediate difference in your business. Others can wait.
Use the “Someday Maybe” list. If an idea is good but not a priority right now, move it to a list of things to revisit in the future.
Filter based on feasibility. Consider whether an idea is realistic based on your current resources and workload.
A useful way to evaluate ideas is the 80/20 principle - which 20% of ideas will deliver 80% of the results?
Step 3: Turning Ideas Into Actionable Plans
Once you’ve identified the high-impact ideas, it’s time to break them down into actionable steps.
How to Develop an Action Plan
Define the goal – What’s the end result you’re aiming for?
Break it down – Identify the steps needed to achieve this goal.
Assign a timeline – Set deadlines to maintain momentum.
Decide who is responsible – If you have a team, delegate tasks accordingly.
It’s easy to get stuck at this stage, thinking everything needs to be perfect before starting. But perfect doesn’t exist. It’s better to launch something at 80% readiness and refine it later than to never start at all.
Step 4: Scheduling and Execution
Execution is where most people struggle.
Some business owners create rigid schedules, blocking out every hour of their day. While this works for some, I’ve found that over-scheduling can be overwhelming and counterproductive. Instead, I use a more flexible approach:
How to Structure Your Workday for Maximum Productivity
Set 2–3 high-impact tasks per day. Avoid long to-do lists. Focus on completing a few key things that move your business forward.
Work in time blocks. Allocate a block of time to a task, but don’t over-schedule every minute of your day.
Leverage different energy levels. Work on creative tasks when you feel most creative, and handle administrative tasks when your energy is lower.
Step 5: Working in Sprints for Big Projects
Some business goals require more effort than a single day’s work—such as launching a new service, revamping your website, or creating a case study video series.
For these, I recommend working in sprints—short, focused bursts of work dedicated to a specific project.
How to Use Sprints Effectively
Choose a 1–3 week period. Set a clear timeframe for the sprint.
Block out distractions. Dedicate this time to working on the project outside of normal client work.
Work on it daily. Even if just for an hour or two, consistency builds momentum.
By working in sprints, you avoid dragging projects out indefinitely and maintain focus until completion.
Step 6: Refining and Iterating
Once you’ve implemented an idea, you’re not done. The most successful businesses are constantly refining their processes, learning from mistakes, and making adjustments.
How to Continuously Improve Your Business
Review your results. Did the new marketing campaign bring in leads? Did your new system make workflows more efficient?
Adjust as needed. If something isn’t working, tweak your approach rather than abandoning it completely.
Seek feedback. Whether from clients, team members, or peers, outside perspectives can highlight blind spots.
Business is about evolution. The companies that grow and thrive are the ones that keep refining and improving their processes.
Final Thoughts: Taking Action in Your Video Production Business
The difference between successful production companies and those that struggle isn’t talent—it’s execution. The businesses that consistently grow are the ones that take action, refine their processes, and implement new ideas regularly.
Key Takeaways:
Capture ideas immediately so you don’t lose them.
Sort and prioritize ideas based on impact.
Break ideas down into actionable steps.
Focus on executing 2–3 high-impact tasks per day.
Use sprints for bigger projects to maintain momentum.
Continuously refine and iterate on what’s working.
The best way to move forward is to take the first step today. What’s one thing from this post that you can implement right now?
If you found this helpful, I’d love for you to share it with a fellow video producer. And if you’re looking for more strategies to grow your video production business, learn more at ryanspanger.com.