"About two minutes in, the bit with the logo" is how video feedback goes wrong. Video is harder to review than a static design, because the client has to remember what they saw and describe when it happened. Here's how to make it easier.
Review in stages, and say which stage this is
Clients often comment on the wrong things at the wrong time, such as grading notes on a rough cut. Name the stage and what it's for:
| Stage | Ask the client about | Not yet |
|---|---|---|
| Rough cut | Story, structure, length | Colour, sound mix, final graphics |
| Fine cut | Pacing, shot choices, copy | Final grade |
| Final | Errors, spelling, legal lines | New ideas |
Put this into the message with the link. It takes one sentence and saves a whole round.
Use timestamped comments
The most useful change you can make is to get comments tied to the exact moment. If your review tool doesn't do it, ask clients to note the time from the player. If it does, the client pauses the video, writes the note, and you can jump straight to that moment.
Export for review, not for delivery
A review copy needs to play smoothly in a browser on a client's laptop or phone.
- Use MP4 with H.264. It's the safest format for browsers.
- Check that it plays on a phone before you send it.
- Add burned-in timecode if your clients are likely to discuss it by phone.
- Keep the masters separate, and don't send them until sign-off.
Very large files are hard on everyone. A lighter review export is usually better, unless the client specifically needs to judge full quality.
Send only what changed, and say so
When you send a new cut, say what you changed: "We've shortened the intro and added the new end frame. 0:45 onwards is unchanged." Listing the changes keeps the client focused, and limits fresh notes on parts already agreed.
Keep decisions together
Video projects often have several voices: the marketing lead, a director, sometimes legal. Agree who pulls the feedback together, and who has the final say. Where more than one person must approve, make that explicit, so one person's "fine" isn't mistaken for final sign-off.
Sign off the exact version
Record which cut was approved, by whom, and when. "v3 approved by Sam on 12 March" settles any later question, especially once a film is running on paid media.
Doing this in PostVito
In PostVito, clients watch in the browser and pin comments to the moment, and clicking a comment jumps the video there. Uploads go up in parts and resume if your connection drops, for files up to 20 GB each. You can require several approvers, send later rounds with only the new cut, and get an approval record as a PDF.
One thing to know: PostVito doesn't convert video, so export in a web-friendly format. If your whole business is video and you need post-production tools, also look at Frame.io.