You’ve invested in video content for your business, you’re using it across your website and marketing(opens in new tab), and it’s doing its job.
But at what point does that footage need an update?
There’s no set expiration date for business videos. Some can stay relevant for years, while others need refreshing much sooner.
And usually, it’s these changes that are the best indication that it might be time for some new footage.
Signs it might be time for new footage
1. Your services have changed
If you’ve introduced something new, removed a service, or significantly changed how something works, your existing videos might not be giving people the full picture anymore.
This doesn’t necessarily mean replacing EVERYTHING.
Sometimes you simply need a new service video or a handful of updated clips to cover what’s changed.
2. Your team looks different
People are a huge part of how customers connect with businesses.
If your videos feature team members who are no longer there, or you’ve added several new faces that customers will actually be interacting with, it may be worth capturing some updated team footage.
This can be particularly important for businesses where the people are a big part of the customer experience.
3. Your physical space has changed
Renovated your office? Opened another location? Changed your storefront? Finally got rid of that wall color everyone hated? XD
If your physical environment appears throughout your marketing, older footage can quickly start to feel disconnected from what customers will actually see when they visit.
Capturing the updated space helps keep everything current.
4. Your branding has had a makeover
A rebrand can make older footage feel dated surprisingly quickly.
Logos on uniforms, signage, packaging, vehicles, printed materials, and even colors around the space can all show up in your videos.
You might still be able to use some of your older footage, but if the previous branding is visible everywhere, capturing something new can be much easier than constantly trying to work around it.
5. You’re struggling to find anything new to post
This is a big one for businesses using video regularly on social media.
You might technically have plenty of footage, but if you’ve used the same five B-roll clips in approximately 56 Reels, you’ve probably gotten your money’s worth out of them.
A fresh shoot can give you new environments, angles, people, processes, products, and everyday moments to work into your content.
6. The videos just don’t feel like your business anymore
Sometimes nothing is technically wrong with an older video. The information might still be accurate and the people might still be there, but the business has simply moved on.
Maybe your messaging has become clearer, your customer base has shifted, your work has improved, or the way you present the business has changed.
If someone watched that video today, you’d want them to get a good feel for the business as it is now, not the version of it from a few years ago.
So, how often should you review your videos?
Even if none of those changes feel particularly obvious, it’s still worth checking your video content every so often.
A good habit is to do a quick review every 6 to 12 months.
That doesn’t mean you need to book a new shoot(opens in new tab) every six months. It’s simply a chance to look through what you’re currently using and make sure it still represents your business.
Have a look through your website, social media profiles, YouTube channel, ads, email marketing, Google Business Profile, and any sales or onboarding materials where video is being used.
You may go through everything and realize it’s all perfectly usable for another year or you might find a few things that have quietly become outdated, footage you’ve been using a little too often, or parts of the business you don’t have any video of yet.
The good news is, figuring that out doesn’t need to turn into a huge content audit. Set aside 30 minutes once or twice a year and do a quick check-in.
Here's how to give your video content a quick check-in
Here are a few things to look at while you’re going through your videos:
- Check that everything is still accurate.
Look for old services, pricing, team members, locations, branding, or anything else that has changed. - See what’s missing.
Maybe you’ve launched a new service, hired new people, or added something to the customer experience that you’ve never filmed. - Notice what you’re using over and over again.
If the same few clips are appearing across all of your content, it might be time to add some variety to your footage library. - Keep a list of what would be useful to film next.
You don’t have to book a shoot immediately. Just start keeping track of the footage you wish you had so you already have a useful starting point when you do film again. - Keep what’s still working.
Updating your video content doesn’t mean starting from scratch. If something still looks good and represents your business accurately, keep using it.
Let your video content grow with your business
There’s no need to replace a video simply because it’s a couple of years old.
If it still looks good, the information is accurate, and it represents your business well, it can keep doing its job.
But businesses naturally change. New people join, services evolve, spaces get updated, and your marketing needs change too. Checking your videos every so often helps you catch those changes and gives you a much clearer idea of what would actually be useful to film next.
And if you do realize your video library could use a refresh, we can help you plan what’s worth capturing so your next shoot gives you footage your business can keep using.
What Happens to Your Unused Footage After a Video Shoot?
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