The Legend of Lost Knowledge: The Rescuing Video Library

Wouldn’t it be great to be Sinbad – with a magnificent ship, a courageous crew, thrilling adventures, and valuable treasures from distant lands? Well, here’s a secret: When dealing with congresses, you are already an explorer like Sinbad! Hidden within your reach is a Video Library, a treasure trove of knowledge just waiting to be unearthed.

Every professional society hosts a flagship event – and with it, an invaluable treasure: high-quality congress content. But how can this treasure not only be uncovered, but also preserved and utilised effectively in the long run? That’s precisely what this blog post is about. Plus, at the end, you’ll find a handy checklist available for download.

Annual Congresses:
A Goldmine of Content for Your Video Library

Every professional society, regardless of the field, organises at least one annual congress. Do you as well? Some even host multiple events per year. But let’s focus on the key one: your flagship event, where leading experts present their latest findings and deliver impactful talks. This crucial congress content shouldn’t just be showcased once to a live audience; it should remain accessible for the long term.

Today, on-demand access to presentations is a must – attendees expect nothing less.

Organisers and tech teams work hard to ensure everything looks and sounds flawless. But the real value is unlocked when all these presentations are recorded, professionally curated, and made available online at any time. That’s what makes the difference!

Congress attendees – whether in person or online – gain access to a carefully curated library of lectures. They can rewatch sessions, share insights with colleagues, download transcripts, or even cite them in their own research. That alone is a strong concept. But let’s be honest – it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Your content deserves more than just being archived. Distributing video content has never been easier. With a smart strategy, you can maximise the value of your precious material.

Content Gets Outdated? Share It Before It’s Too Late

Fields evolve rapidly. Some insights may become outdated. But does that mean video recordings of presentations lose their value? Absolutely not. The key is timely publication. Share content while it’s fresh. And remember – older content can still serve as an educational or marketing tool if it remains valuable. Let’s not be overly critical about recency. Just because a talk isn’t brand new doesn’t mean it has lost its worth. If it’s relevant and insightful, it still deserves an audience.

Smart Multi-Channel Strategies

Marketing experts love their jargon – multichannel, cross-channel, omnichannel. At the core, it’s about one simple idea: making your content accessible to as many relevant people as possible. For professional societies, the key “channels” include:

• Congress Website – Promotes the event and provides essential participation details

• Congress App – Replaces traditional programme booklets and fosters attendee interaction

• Society’s Corporate Website – The central communication hub for the society

• Newsletters & Social Media – Essential for engaging and retaining members

• Video Platforms – A media library for video content

• E-Learning Platforms – Courses and knowledge repositories for research and professional development

The larger a society, the more integrated its channels tend to be. For instance, an e-learning section might be embedded within the corporate website, or congress videos might be accessible alongside event registration. However, integration can be costly and complex, leading many societies to rely on standalone solutions. This results in more platforms than necessary due to technical limitations rather than content strategy – particularly in e-learning and registration areas.

Maximising Impact with Minimal Effort

Leveraging recorded congress presentations across various platforms for e-learning or event marketing is a “low-hanging fruit” strategy – easy to implement and highly valuable. Here’s how to make the most of your content:

Sponsorship Potential

Why not allow industry partners to distribute selected presentations on their websites? Communication often presents a challenge – product managers speak to marketing teams, who then engage web teams. Simplifying this process is crucial. Pre-packaged video content that can be effortlessly integrated helps break down these barriers. Options include:

• A dedicated microsite with select free content that partners can easily link to.

• Individual presentations that can be embedded like YouTube or Vimeo videos.

• Content packages – collections of lectures that partners can integrate just as easily as a single video.

• Library widgets with customised media libraries (e.g., for sponsored symposia) that require minimal effort to embed.

The trick? Reduce communication hurdles by separating video and web content management. The congress organiser selects videos directly in the video management system, where they are instantly published. The web or marketing team doesn’t need to intervene – keeping everything efficient and hassle-free.

E-Learning: A Big Opportunity for Video Libraries

Many professional societies run an online academy – an e-learning platform offering courses, certifications, and structured learning paths. However, such platforms often require significant content creation efforts. Why not integrate congress lectures directly? A simple approach: “Watch Professor X’s talk and answer these three questions.” This makes e-learning easy to implement. Another possibility: embedding thematic tracks from past congresses into the online academy.

Professional Video Libraries: The “Netflix” for Experts

A growing trend among societies is developing dedicated video libraries – often with creative names like “X-flix” or “X-tube.” Simply uploading annual congress recordings into a structured, searchable video archive creates an invaluable resource for research, education, and community engagement.

Marketing That Sells the Event

Your annual congress is your flagship event – often a crucial revenue stream. Effective promotion is key. But here’s the problem: your audience isn’t interested in gimmicky advertisements. They want high-quality, top-tier content. Nothing convinces potential attendees better than a preview of what’s in store. Use top presentations from past years as promotional material. Show prospective visitors the content quality they can expect at your congress.

Year-Round Content Marketing with a Video Library

Once a congress ends, most societies focus on the next event. But why go silent for months? Content doesn’t have to stop. A well-structured plan ensures a steady flow of relevant material – from individual lectures and thematic packages to speaker highlights. This keeps the community engaged and strengthens the organisation’s thought leadership.

More engaged users mean a more attractive platform for companies looking to publish their own webinars and content, creating added value for the community while opening new revenue streams.

Community Building Beyond a Congress App

Many congresses offer event apps. The next step? A year-round community app. Instead of a one-time installation that becomes obsolete post-event, a cross-platform app can keep members connected all year round. Just like your website, synchronised content across platforms ensures fresh, valuable insights remain available.

Video Content Is Pure Marketing Gold

Congress material isn’t just educational – it’s one of the most powerful marketing tools available. High-quality content not only supports a society’s mission but also attracts new members. A vibrant, regularly updated platform strengthens the professional community, fosters exchange, and enhances the organisation’s relevance.

And the best part? Content repurposing is easy and highly efficient. So my advice: Be the explorer who brings it back to life and shares its riches with the world.