Highlight reels: 5 reasons you need a video of your gala

Have you ever pulled together a video of your gala to use as a marketing tool for your auction the following year?

If not, here are two examples you might wish to model.

Over ten years ago I started working with a private Lutheran school in Milwaukee, WI.  They have diligently created a gala highlight reel every year.  The video is posted on YouTube and a link is emailed to supporters.

A nonprofit client in California creates a similar video.

Watch both below to see two good examples of highlight reels.

St. Marcus Highlight Reel

Serving Seniors Highlight Reel

Here are five reasons your auction gala highlights reel can recap and relive the excitement of your event.

1. Posting the video gives you yet another reason to reach out and thank supporters. “The video is done,” you will email, “you helped us raise $600k while looking like Hollywood stars!”
2. Guests who attended will watch the video to see if they are in it.
3. Supporters who didn’t attend may view it to see what they missed, especially if you point out certain elements to watch in the video.
4. Depending on how you shot the video, you can use it to encourage sponsorship support the following year. If you make a point to include sponsors in some fashion, you can use that as a recruitment tool for new sponsors next year. “Look at how well we treat our sponsors,” is the message you’ll send.  (Tip: In my Sold Out Event Sponsorships course in the store, you’ll see real-life auction-related videos that more directly promote sponsors.)
5. You can use the video next year, hyping guests to attend your event. “Here’s some of what we did last year,” you might say, “Expect more fabulous stuff this year.”  Or, “Forgot what you wore? Review the video to jog your memory.”)

Of course, it’s much better to market your auction BEFORE your event than after it.

To that end, check out this course I taught last year, called Marketing Your Auction.  Learn more and shop in the store.