Kodak Moments: 15 Ways to Use Video for Events

Video content is equally loved by consumers and marketers worldwide. Live events are a great opportunity to take some snaps. So let’s talk about different ways to use video for events.

In this article, we’ll highlight the value of event promo videos, as well as how to make a promo video for an event. Yes, even if you’re not a professional videographer or have one on your team.

Why use video for event marketing?

Why not? It’s affordable and convenient to record videos, and they can become invaluable for marketing and information purposes.

Here are five reasons you should use videos before, during, and after your event:

1. It’s cheap

You can shoot high-quality footage with the phone you have in your pocket. You might want to supplement it with a clip-on microphone, but even they can be bought for as little as £15.

2. It’s fast

All you have to do is point the phone to the action and tap “Record.” Make a brief outline of the moments you want to capture before the event so you don’t forget important shots.

3. It’s easy

You don’t have to be a professional videographer to get a good result. There are loads of free video editing apps that’ll make your footage look amazing with a minimum of effort.

4. It’s effective

Here are some numbers for you:

• 51% of marketers say video has the best ROI
• Video marketers grow revenue 49% faster than those who don’t use video
• 64% of people base their buying decisions on social videos

Here’s another look at video numbers from Art + Marketing:

5. Everyone else is doing it

Given those numbers, it’s no surprise that many businesses are doing it. So should you. You can’t afford to lose out to any competing events that do use it.

How to use video for each stage of your event

There are many opportunities for you to use video both before, during, and after your event. Let’s go over a few event video ideas you can use to build hype, sell tickets, entertain, and follow up.

Before the event

Videos should be an integral part of your event marketing efforts. Place them on your website, post them on your social media profiles, and send them to your mailing list before the event.

1. “Save the date” video

Create an upbeat or interesting video to get your potential guests excited about the event. Remember to include a clear call to action so they know how to register and buy tickets.

2. Landing page video

Events like business conferences have a landing page on their website with a sales pitch for the event. Landing pages with videos can increase your conversions by 80%.

3. Entice speakers and sponsors

Many of the speakers and sponsors you want at your event will be in high demand. Use a video to entice them with testimonials, event previews, and other unique selling points for your event.

4. “How to” videos

If you’re planning a trade show, business conference, or networking event, use the opportunity to create some videos on how to get the most out of your event.

5. Contest videos

Ticket giveaway contests are incredibly popular. Consider using them as part of your event promotion and record a video of you announcing the contest to your audience.

6. Background videos

Make videos about yourself, your story, and your reasons for organising the event. A personal touch will help form a more intimate connection with your audience and build trust with them.

Tip: Have a look at these event promo video ideas for a bit of inspiration.

During the event

The day of the event itself will offer plenty of opportunities to not only show videos but record videos of key moments, too.

1. Mood videos

Depending on the theme of your event, you can utilise videos to create a certain atmosphere or mood. It could be animated backgrounds, nature shots, or highlights from past events.

2. Speaker intros

You can play an intro video to build crowd anticipation before a speaker or performer takes the stage. It can be as simple as a highlight reel of their previous engagements.

3. Presentations

Videos can also be used to complement a presentation made by yourself or a guest speaker. It doesn’t have to be the whole presentation but can work well to illustrate individual points.

4. Live streaming

Not everyone will be able to attend your event in person, but that doesn’t mean they should be left out. Use the opportunity to live stream your event so you can reach a wider audience.

5. Guest testimonials

The event is also your only shot at interviewing the actual attendees. Ask them what they like about the event and if they’d come again next time. Then use it as part of your highlight reel.

After the event

Once the festivities are over, you can show off all the content you’ve created on the day. Don’t use all of it at once. You’ll want something fresh for the next event.

1. Talks & performances

If your event featured speakers or performers, you should have recorded their talks or live performance. Cut together the best parts and send these to your attendees as reminders of a great event.

2. Guest testimonials

The interviews you did with guests on the day of the event can also make for good post-event video material. You should, again, only choose the best bits to share with everyone.

3. Highlight reel

It’s worth putting together all the best moments from the event into one highlight reel. Include talks, performances, testimonials, and general footage from the event of people having a good time. An event highlight video like this will also be useful when marketing your next event.

4. Sneak peek

If you already have another event planned, you can use this opportunity to give attendees a sneak peek of what to expect if they register for the next festival, conference, or meetup. This one also works well for the “Before the event” marketing stage.

Use an event video template

It can be a good idea to use an event video template if you’re not a videographer or have hired one. Fortunately, there are a lot of free options available on the Interwebs.

Here are a few free places to find event video templates:

• Biteable
• Envato
• PosterMyWall
• Renderforest
• Videoblocks

Lights, camera, action!

You now know how to use video for events in a way that will generate a buzz among your target audience. Ready to capture some Kodak Moments?

Let us know in the comments if you have any questions on how to make it work. Else feel free to share your wisdom if you’re already an experienced event videographer.