Investor Days are, without a doubt, the most important communication platforms for publicly traded companies. However, the experience looks very different today than it did 10 years ago. Companies now take a Virtual / Hybrid Event approach. These events merge a live presentation with a virtual or hybrid audience. Furthermore, teams can stream them live across the world for potential investors to watch. Quality investor relations video production is key to making these events impactful and memorable.
Each company and client will have their own unique approach to how to build a Virtual / Hybrid event. Here are the most popular events we’ve experienced:
- Recording live from a conference room or auditorium, with a live audience and supplemental animation or live action films. Teams then stream this online.
- Pre-record to live Q&A: teams capture everything on a set, not in front of a live audience. They edit it with supplemental animation or live action films. They then stream it live at a set time, followed by a live Q&A.
Here’s is an example of a virtual Investor Day with a live broadcast we did for Wex, Inc.:
Companies should adapt these events to their unique needs, logistics, and budget. In the example above, Wex found that adding video production to their event was tremendously helpful. It allowed them to show the new products and services they were launching in the market. Without the visual presentation, their investors and analysts might not have grasped the concept so easily. As a result, video helped them tell their story with greater impact and much greater control.
This shift to Virtual / Hybrid events is something your competition is already doing and doing very well. Polished, cinematic visual storytelling is not something reserved for Hollywood anymore.
You can find it in commercials, social media posts, and event presentations. It is no secret why video production is so impactful. Our behaviors have changed over the last 10 years. We now consume massive amounts of video content every day. Video has become the primary way we learn about the world around us. This is not the future of storytelling. It is what is happening right now.
With video production and other creative services added to your event, you gain the ability to tell your story in a far more engaging way than traditional slideshows allow.
Videos work because they are one of the most effective storytelling styles.
The story is key. Storytelling is how we all best connect with each other. Each company and each executive has their own important story. That story informs the trajectory of the business. Companies work hard to write their stories through innovation and strategic decision-making. However, those stories still need crafting and distilling to truly show investors what matters most. They need to present that story in the most efficient and memorable way possible.
For example, imagine showing the complex designs of a new suite of products through a compelling animated film. Indiscernible diagrams and technical language instantly become accessible. They reach not only niche investors but also a broader base of potential investors. Take a look at how we animated one of Wex’s new products:
You can also go out into the world and capture the spaces and people that make your company great. This gives your audience a cinematic film about your company. You can then weave these narratives and films into the presentation, creating an engaging and entertaining final product.
The key hallmark of the Investor Day experience is the chance to receive updates and forward guidance from the leadership of the company. This illustrates the confidence of the executives and the mastery of their business objectives.
Your event does not have to be a live, unpredictable keynote experience anymore. With a pre-recorded approach, you leave nothing up to chance. You can use multiple cameras to capture cinematic compositions of key leadership.
Executives can do as many takes as they need. Teams can then edit the final result for a flawless performance. Leadership can also collaborate with a director or performance coach to execute their scripts perfectly and confidently.
Additionally, you can use this same setup to stream a live Q&A session. The same cameras, directing team, and on-set experience make executives feel comfortable and in control. This relieves pressure on the leadership team and allows everyone to successfully tell the story they have worked so hard to write.
Take a look at Brink’s Investor Day Live Broadcast Q&A:
With investor relations video production, you control every aspect of the Investor Day experience. It can be high quality, consistent, and natural.
Moving an Investor Day presentation to a pre-recorded model allows for a key shift in the way the executive leadership team can connect with the audience.
Instead of crafting a narrative to suit a large auditorium or conference room, you can tell the story one on one. It makes leadership feel like they are talking directly to each audience member watching on their computer or phone. They can truly connect with the audience and reach them on a more emotional level. In turn, this builds an additional layer of familiarity and trust, which is key for a successful presentation.
Creating the script for the entire presentation is key to a successful event, not only in its impact on investors but in its successful execution.
Scriptwriting matters because you tell the story of the company’s past and progress through the script. That foundation is crucial for creating messaging that connects with investors.
The script also becomes the plan for the entire event:
- Where will the event and filming be?
- How many executives will participate?
- What new products or updates do we need to feature and what is the best way to do that? Animation, live action film, interviews?
- Will there be a Q&A portion?
Planning for a Virtual or Hybrid Investor Day does take thorough planning for a high-quality outcome.
Start early, write the script, and collaborate with your IR team. Plan the event as early as possible. Ideally, start the process 9 to 12 months out from launch day. Lock scripts 4 to 5 months ahead of time.
If anything changes in the months leading up to the event, you can edit and adapt content in the videos and performances. The earlier you start the process, the more creative, detailed, and thoughtful your Hybrid Investor Day can be.
Helpful hint: Hold off on setting your Investor Day event date until you consult with your IR Advisor and your production partner. Both have lead times you must consider.
One of the most valuable things about all the assets and pieces of content you create for the presentation is that they live on forever. Moreover, you can repurpose them across every channel of communication.
- The keynote presentations can live on a website for future viewing and the animations you create for your new product can get shared on social media and through email marketing.
- And because you took the time to create them with quality and care, they will stay relevant and useful for years to come.
Conclusion: The Impact of Investor Relations Video Production
Video production is a powerful tool for investor communication. It helps you tell your story in a way that investors will connect with. The best way to speak effectively to a passionate group of investors is to harness the same methods they use to consume information and entertainment. Video production is by no means a new art form. However, integrating it effectively into Investor Day presentations is absolutely the future. Your competitors are already creating cinematic and memorable video content. Therefore, you should be too. Investing in professional investor relations video production is a strategic move that will differentiate your Investor Day and strengthen your brand.