Long-term event partner, Neal Ashford from Lavender Blue Media, reminisces on the past ten years of Kent 2020 Vision LIVE and the increasing importance of video as a marketing tool – by both event organisers and their exhibitors.
In my opinion, three great brands were launched in 2005. In the USA, Facebook and YouTube were created but closer to home, Kent 2020 Vision LIVE was born.
As a supporter of Kent 2020 ever since its launch, the event provides Lavender Blue Media with an unbeatable opportunity for catching up with our local clients, meeting suppliers and networking with ambitious businesses from all over the south east of England.
With the show now celebrating its 10th anniversary, we’ve been delighted to be the official video partner throughout this period and have captured many great moments over the years. Lots of these can still be viewed on the event website (www.kent2020live.co.uk) together with our short animated promo video, featuring the popular Kenny character.
It has been a real privilege to help Kent 2020 Vision LIVE to grow and develop into the UK’s largest regional business event, bringing together over 3,000 delegates and 300 exhibitors each year for an exceptional learning and networking experience.
Over the same ten year period, a huge amount has changed in the way businesses communicate with their target audience. Both Facebook and YouTube have grown exponentially to become truly global communication platforms and online videos are rapidly becoming the medium-of-choice for delivering key information in short bite-sized chunks.
YouTube alone already has over 1 billion users and another hour of content is uploaded by subscribers every second – to be accessed by consumers via smartphones, tablets, computers and TVs on a 24/7 basis. Online video content also contributes significantly to your ranking on all of the most popular search engines.
So video is now becoming an essential marketing tool for just about every type of organisation. Even as you read this article, your customers may be searching online for videos about your products and services: hoping to engage and find out more about your business.
We live in a highly connected society, where if your customers like what you do and enjoy being associated with you, they will increasingly share your video content to their friends, colleagues and family through Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook – leading to valuable extra awareness of your products and services. What a great endorsement for your brand!
But if you still aren’t making the most of these opportunities, your potential customers may well be distributing your competitors’ videos instead, having a negative long-term impact on your sales and future growth.
The Power of Video at Live Events…
Video content is versatile and easy to repackage. Once you have an archive of content it can be cost effectively re-edited for a specific target audience. If you are exhibiting at Kent 2020 this year, using video within your marketing strategy is a brilliant method of visually enhancing your presence and attracting potential customers to your stand space.
Video stimulates interest and conversation. With an engaging film viewable on a large screen, tablet or computer, your colleagues will be able to confidently show potential customers your full range of products and services.
For some businesses it is impossible to take your portfolio of services to the event, but through video you can take the viewer to whatever location best enhances your proposition successfully.
There is still time to produce video content for this year’s Kent 2020 Vision Live event. As video sponsor, Lavender Blue Media is delighted to offer all exhibitors a 20% discount on any commissioned production services by 5th May 2015 (please quote 2020LIVE, T&C’s apply).
To find out more and to discuss which style of film would work best for you, please contact us on 01795 424252.
Now is the time for your business to join the video revolution and show your customers your story!
Visitors can also speak to Lavender Blue Media on Stand 244 when they attend this year’s Kent 2020 Vision LIVE on 13th May 2015. Registration is FREE at: www.kent2020live.co.uk.
