Ever thought about the ways in which live video could enhance your events? A dependable marketing tool that has gained plenty of momentum over the last few years, video can be used to keep your valuable assets (the viewers) interested and informed. In 2016, 81 percent of mobile and Internet audiences viewed more live video than they did the year before. Forget about distance, time difference, and physical barriers limiting your reach, because live video has fast become the number one choice for customer engagement and idea sharing.

The Success of Live Video Depends on Footage Quality

Quality is just as important as content, however, what with 90 percent of Facebook Live viewers saying that the way in which a video is edited and its visual aspects are more important than anything else! In-person events are growing in popularity as part of a well-executed content marketing strategy, proving that video is far more than just a trend. From panel discussions and conferences to product releases and presentations, the options are endless. Even the biggest brands are adopting live video techniques to keep their followers captivated, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Preparing Live Event Footage for Final Viewing

Not everyone will be able to connect when a video is being broadcast, which is why you ought to be practicing your editing skills. Whether you used one or multiple cameras to record the event going-ons, your ability to transform the raw content into an entertaining and enlightening piece of footage all depends on your editing skills. Prior to reading any text on a web page, 60 percent of web visitors will first view any available video on that page. For this reason, you should make a habit of repurposing video content to extend the reach of your audience.

Here’s how to edit video from live events, simplified:

• Live Edits and Post-Production Edits – First things first, you must know the difference between a live edit and a post-production edit. You may need to hire another person to perform a live edit, which creates a fast-paced edited sequence of what was being filmed. A post-production edit, on the other hand, involves executing tasks once shooting has come to an end.
• Project Directory – Once you decide which type of editing style suits you, a project folder should be created. This folder will eliminate confusion, because it can be used to organize and access every single file, including photos, graphics, raw footage and sound.
• Make a Copy – Memory cards and hard drives will really come in handy when you are editing live events. Don’t underestimate just how useful a backup copy can be. Dropbox, OneDrive and the Cloud storage system are just a few examples of software that can be used for storing copies of your files.
• Clean it Up – Trimming is a big part of the editing process and if you miss out this step, your live video might be too long and a little bit messy to watch. Keep it organized by focusing on the sequence (start, beginning and end), and pay thought to your audience when you are making the edits, because they are the people you need to please!
• Video Editing Software – Your editing software is the weapon you will use to transform live video into a flawless production. Select it based on features, audio options, and how the video editing software pairs up with your other gadgets.

The power of live video cannot be ignored. Including video in your online marketing strategy is essential because while content is vital for good search engine rankings, high-quality video content has the potential to encourage positive buying decisions and compel action.