By Mitch Rice
Not all videos are created for the same purpose.
Corporate video builds trust from the inside out. Commercial videos grab attention and sell big. Knowing the difference between these two can save you time, money, and a whole lot of guesswork.
Corporate Video Production vs. Commercial Video Production: At a Glance
| Feature | Corporate Video | Commercial Video |
| Audience | Employees, clients, stakeholders | General public, potential customers |
| Purpose | Inform, train, engage | Promote, advertise, sell |
| Style & Tone | Professional, clear, factual | Creative, catchy, persuasive |
| Budget | Lower to mid-range | Mid to high-range |
| Distribution | Internal channels | Public platforms |
Let’s solve your dilemma about choosing between commercial and corporate content.
What is Corporate Video Production?
Corporate video production is more for business people. It includes employees. The purpose of the ideo content is for businesses to use internally. They do target external communication, but not for advertising to the general public.
Key Features:
- Focused on informing, training, or engaging employees, stakeholders, or clients
- Usually not promotional or salesy in tone
- Helps build a stronger internal company culture or brand identity
Common Types of Corporate Videos:
| Training videos |
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| Internal communication videos |
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| Company culture videos |
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| Client or employee testimonials |
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| Event or conference recaps |
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What is Commercial Video Production?
Commercial video production is salesy videos. Basically, it will promote products, services, or brands. These videos target only mass audiences. The goal here is to drive sales or brand awareness.
Key Features:
- Sales-driven and persuasive in tone
- Usually high-energy and short-form
- Distributed across multiple platforms
- Shows on TV, YouTube, social media, etc.
Common Formats of Commercial Videos:
| TV commercials |
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| YouTube ads |
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| Social media ads |
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| Product demos or explainer ads |
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Key Differences Between Corporate and Commercial Video Production
The main difference between corporate and commercial video production is all about what they’re really for. They target different audiences, have different goals, and their purposes are not the same.
To understand it all, here are the key differences between Corporate and Commercial Video Production.
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Audience and Purpose
Corporate Video
- Audience: Internal teams, stakeholders, existing clients, job seekers
- Purpose: Educate, inform, train, or build internal culture
- Example: A CEO’s message to employees, an onboarding video, or an HR policy update
Commercial Video
- Audience: General public, potential customers, target market
- Purpose: Promote a product or service, build brand awareness, and drive sales
- Example: A catchy YouTube ad for a new app or a TV spot for a shampoo brand
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Production Style and Tone
Corporate Video
- Style: Professional, informative, sometimes documentary-style
- Tone: Calm, transparent, trustworthy, and often more formal
- Often features employees, office settings, and real scenarios
Commercial Video
- Style: High-energy, creative, visually engaging
- Tone: Persuasive, emotional, or entertaining, depending on the brand voice
- Often includes actors, scripted scenes, and visual effects
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Budget and Distribution Channels
Corporate Video
- Budget: Usually lower to mid-range (depends on scale and complexity)
- Distribution: Internal platforms (intranet, emails), websites, training portals, or presentations
Commercial Video
- Budget: Can be high, especially for TV and digital campaigns
- Distribution: Public platforms like TV, YouTube, social media, or OTT apps
Corporate Video Production vs. Commercial Production: Which One Do You Need?
Still confused? Here are the things that will help you to decide.
When to Choose Corporate Video Production
Go for this when your goal is to communicate within your organization or with existing clients. Not for sale to the public.
Use it if you want to:
- Train or onboard new employees
- Explain complex company policies or workflows
- Share company updates from leadership
- Build internal brand culture
- Document an internal event or achievement
Industry-Specific Examples:
- Tech: Create a product training video for internal developers or IT teams
- Healthcare: Film a safety protocol training video for hospital staff
- Real Estate: Produce an internal sales strategy presentation or team motivational video.
When Commercial Video Production is Ideal
Choose this when you’re looking to promote a product, service, or your brand to the public. It’s about visibility, appeal, and conversion.
Use it if you want to:
- Launch a new product or service
- Run an ad campaign on TV or social media
- Reach new customers and expand market presence
- Drive traffic to your website or physical store
Industry-Specific Examples:
- Tech: Promote a new mobile app through a YouTube ad campaign
- Healthcare: Advertise a new wellness program or telehealth service on local TV
- Real Estate: Run a Facebook ad showcasing a luxury apartment launch.
Top 5 Video Production Companies in the USA
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LocalEyes
[Source: LocalEyes Video Production]
Headquarters in the USA: Colorado, California, Washington, Oregon, Georgia.
Notable Clients: GUCCI, Coca-Cola, SurveyMonkey, Microsoft
Project Handled: 3900+
Best For: Overall, for every kind of video
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Sandwich
[Source: Sandwich]
Headquarters in the USA: California
Notable Clients: Shopify, Slack, TikTok
Project Handled: 700+
Best For: Use bright colors and creative images.
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Lemonlight
[Source: Lemonlight]
Headquarters in the USA: California
Notable Clients: Rolex, Dyson, Amazon
Project Handled: 25,000+
Best For: Creative storytelling and new ideas.
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Superside
[Source: Superside]
Headquarters in the USA: Colorado, New York, Wisconsin
Notable Clients: Google, Meta, Reddit
Project Handled: 97,154+
Best For: Motion graphics and technology
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Wyzowl
[Source: Wyzowl]
Headquarters in the USA: New York
Notable Clients: Kodak, Deloitte, LG.
Project Handled: 4000+
Best For: Animated explainer video
Additionally: SEO Benefits of Each Type of Video Production
Here is how both types support your SEO strategy:
| SEO Benefit | Corporate Videos | Commercial Videos |
| User Engagement | Higher on-site time, lower bounce | Higher CTR on ads & landing pages |
| Brand Trust | Builds internal/external credibility | Builds public trust and brand recall |
| Search Visibility | Boosts site structure & usability | Improves rankings via YouTube & snippets |
| Backlinks & Shares | Limited unless public-facing | High potential with shareable ad content |
| Conversion Support | Employee recruitment, stakeholder trust | Product sales, lead generation |
Frequently Asked Questions: Corporate Video Production vs. Commercial Production
What is the difference between corporate and commercial video?
Corporate videos are for internal communication or business relationships. On the other hand, commercial videos are promotional to sell products or services.
What type of video is an example of a corporate video?
An employee onboarding or training video is a classic example of corporate video.
How do you make a good corporate video?
Focus on clarity, purpose, and promotional tone. Use a clean script, a real employee testimonial to build trust.
What makes a good commercial video?
A good commercial video is one that has a compelling story, showcases product values, and ends with a strong call to action, all in an engaging style.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.