The Annual Report Video was presented in our most recent blog. We introduced it because we believe it is the hottest new trend in corporate video products. Put simply, the trend is to utilize a video production to augment or replace the classic Annual Report.
We reported, “We need no longer restrain Annual Report within the pages of dry data. The video experts at Bullhorn Media can show you how to boost your brand, your company goals and your message with your annual report by using an Annual Report Video.” In that previous blog, we also explained how Bullhorn Media works with your company to create the Video Annual Report. Although this blog has its own title and stands on its own, the previous blog is actually part 1. To acquaint you with the process of creating the report, we hope you will take a moment to read and review that blog before this one. And now, welcome to Part 2 on the Annual Report Video.
How to Gather Script Material for Your Video Annual Report
The Biggest Idea in Annual Report Video Could Be Your Company’s Story.
Every company has a story. In fact, they have several stories, that go beyond the facts and figures of a strictly financial report.
So we want you to gather the stories into an authentic narrative that will be memorable to your stakeholders and other interested parties.
Thus we made the point, that your annual report video was a major project. It is “a once-a-year piece of content that’s mandatory for many organizations. And it is a powerful tool for many more. While it can be tedious to assemble, it’s incredibly important. “ This “single piece of communication presents a wealth of information about your organization to many different audiences.”
So, beyond choosing a theme, you must collect your pertinent Annual Report financial facts, figures, and materials. And you must develop a script.
Establishing a theme for your Annual Report Video
Some of the trendiest themes for this type of basic video have been very successful. Remember the theme for your video, must encapsulate your financial year, of course. But it must go beyond the basic facts and figures. According to Community Organizer 2.0, the trend to use video as–or in addition to– an annual report is right in alignment with today’s popular fascination with social media. Debra Askanse, an experienced digital engagement strategist, writes,“Video is a natural medium for storytelling and that’s what the annual report should be.” Let’s take a look at some successful trends and types of approaches you can use to create your script.
Trend 1: Sharing the mission
The Casual Dress Code of This Company Demonstrates Part of Their Corporate Culture.
When you created your brand’s website, you might have put quite a bit of work into creating a mission, a vision, and a picture of company values. These things are at the heart of everything your company does. Thus they can form the main narrative (the Script) of your annual report. We found a nice example of this in the video annual report of PRB, (Population Reference Bureau Annual Report. We were surprised at how the CEO made facts and statistics part of a story in his voice-over of the various activities of the company.
Trend 2: Introducing the Leaders and Management of your Company Through Your Annual Report Video
We highly suggest you use part of your Annual Report video to present your owners, executives, and other team members. Take your photos or video clips of interviews with them, to your out-sourced videography company to be blended into an Annual Report. (hopefully, that’s Bullhorn Media.) Likewise, you could utilize recordings of executive speeches or scripted financial information for voice-over use.
This type of introduction can help you show off the sweat-equity in your company. Put a human face (or, faces) on your corporation. “In addition to the standard communications from higher-ups, you can give a face to the people whose sweat, tears, and hard work make the company what it is.”
Trend 3: Spot-lighting the Company Culture with Your Annual Report Video
Culture is crucial to the development of your brand. Did you know that often the “corporate culture is implied, not expressly defined, and develops organically over time?” However, a basic idea of this concept has been pretty well established by the experts at Investopedia. “They state that “company culture comes from the cumulative traits of the people that the company hires.”
And they added some critical details. “A company’s culture will be reflected in its dress code, business hours, office setup, employee benefits…Plus a few more broad policies, such as “… turnover, hiring decisions, treatment of clients, client satisfaction and every other aspect of operations.” Read more about corporate culture at this reliable online resource.
In short, your company culture involves your group behaviors, like:
- Business beliefs and behaviors,
- company-wide value systems and ethics,
- management strategies, and accepted employee communication,
- work environment and attitude.
With Good Scripting, You Can Integrate Stories about Any or All of the Above List in an Annual Report Video
Use one of your associates (your brand voice) to present the stories related to the above bullet-ed traits. Or use one of our professionals. The professionals at Bullhorn Media can help you to focus on your culture in a creative way. For example, you can utilize voice-overs to illustrate data while the video shows clips of your company events.
Examples could include the group’s participation in an annual 10-K run, your formal holiday dinner or your company cook-out. Find out more about trends in developing a Corporate Culture at this reliable online resource.
Trend 4: Building Trust in Business Practices
No matter what, we realize you will be divulging financial data in your report. That’s the point of an Annual Report, isn’t it? However, when you show how you are utilizing money, with hard work and financial acuity, both shareholders and stakeholders will be impressed with your honesty and integrity. The newest term for this is “transparency.” And the world is impressed with financial disclosures. Bullhorn can help you disclose your data in the video with stylish, visual narrative, that goes far beyond cold numbers on a white page.
More Trends for Maximizing the Effect of the Annual Report Video
The Annual Report Can: a Source of Great Victory, a Unifying Project.
Trend Number 5: Using the Annual Report Video for Instilling Trust
Your company might use the Annual Report to instill trust in your business practices. If you do so, our high-quality production values will support you
Trend Number 6: Optimizing Success in the Annual Report Video.
Some companies use the video as a visual celebration of their success. Their videos depict a victorious narrative and great bottom line figures to prove it. Thus, a good corporate Annual Report Video can visually demonstrate to “stakeholders that their investments are worthwhile…” Such a video can also persuade the public to support you. With the Annual Report video, you could also dish out a healthy serving of encouragement to your own employees.
Trend Number 7: Laying the Groundwork for your Future With Your Annual Report Video
Whether we are talking about an old-style paper annual report or a cutting-edge new annual report video, there is an important trend emerging within the financial function it accomplishes. Traditionally, the financial function of the Annual Report Video simply proved the company kept accurate books. However, today rather than only guarding against the financial risk, the role of the report has expanded to include directions for the future.
The Changing Role of the Annual Report
Now stakeholders almost expect an annual report to include insights into the future and “direction for decision-making across the company’s functional and market-facing areas…”
The Annual Report Video Reassures to Your Stake-Holders and Employees.
Thus the annual report and/or the annual report Video is fast developing into a prime instrument in creating a corporate strategy. “An annual report is a summary of a year.” We might add that this video can also lay the foundation for the next year. And the experts add, it assists you in “Moving into that future with hope.”
The Annual Report Video and Your Company Goals
Likewise the annual report tape engenders enthusiasm for your company culture. And it can inspire renewed commitment to your company mission and values.” Thus this one product just might be is essential to your success in the next year. At Bullhorn Media, we believe there could be no better vehicle for these types of goals than video.
At Bullhorn Media, we welcome the chance to discuss how to achieve your company goals. We invite you. Call for an appointment at Bullhorn Media to see how enjoyable the creation of your Annual Report can be. You can make it happen for your company, with the support of our first-class Annual Report Video production.
We are here to help your company achieve success. Once we understand your goals, we will know how to tell your Annual Report Video stories visually and how to best present your data with impact.