Planning Your 2026 Video Strategy: What to Do Now

It’s January — the perfect time to take a deep breath, grab a cuppa, and map out your video content strategy for the year ahead. Starting now means smoother shoots, smarter use of existing footage, and budgets that stay under control. Here’s how to make the most of your first few weeks in 2026.

1. Audit & Refresh Existing Footage

Looking back can save you time and money. Before booking new shoots, take stock of what you already have: interviews, B-roll, or event coverage from last year. Much of it can be repurposed or refreshed:

• Cutdowns for social. Turn long films into punchy clips for LinkedIn, YouTube, or internal comms. Short, engaging clips capture attention and are perfect for social platforms where viewers scroll quickly. Taking just a few minutes to create these can widen your reach without extra filming.

• Update messaging. A new voiceover or subtitles can give old footage a fresh feel. Sometimes, a simple tweak in messaging can align your video with current goals or themes. This is especially useful if your priorities or audiences have shifted since the original shoot.

• Organise your library. Gather footage from suppliers, categorise it, and store it accessibly so you don’t waste time hunting for clips. A well-organised library means faster editing and easier access for everyone involved. This step is crucial to prevent unnecessary shoots and save money.

2. Define Key Messages & Map Your Calendar

Knowing what you want to say—and when—keeps your year on track. Clarity here ensures your content is purposeful.

• Identify your audiences. Consider who you’re communicating with: internal teams, potential hires, or customers. Tailor your content to each group. When your message resonates, it leaves a lasting impact, whether you’re recruiting talent or showcasing your brand.

• Map key messages. What should viewers know, feel, or do after watching? Define this for each video. Clarity in your goals helps in crafting messages that truly hit the mark. It’s not just about information but inspiring action.

• Multi-purpose content. Your people are busy people, so make the most of the time you have to film with them. Plan shoots that serve more than one purpose—internal updates can be repurposed for social, interviews can feed multiple campaigns, etc. This approach maximizes your resources, is time efficient and keeps content fresh and engaging across different platforms.

• Plan backwards from deadlines. Map campaigns, launches, and seasonal content, and work out when you’ll need to start filming. A clear calendar ensures shoots are focused, contributors are ready, and budgets are preserved.

3. Build a Review & Approval Plan

Planning isn’t just about filming—it’s about getting content signed off efficiently.

• Map approvals. Identify who needs to review each piece and when. Knowing this in advance prevents bottlenecks and keeps everyone aligned. Clear roles mean faster decisions and smoother progress.

• Plan for holidays and busy periods. Avoid bottlenecks by knowing availability. Anticipate when key people might be away and adjust timelines accordingly. This foresight keeps projects on track and reduces stress.

• Streamline formats. Decide in advance whether feedback will come via links, PDFs, or internal portals. Consistent formats make it easier for everyone to know what to expect, speeding up review processes.

Having an approval plan keeps projects moving, prevents last-minute stress, and ensures your content goes live on time.

4. Set Metrics & Define Success

Before you press record, know what success looks like. Clear goals lead to impactful content.

• Pick your KPIs. Views, engagement, leads, internal adoption, or qualitative feedback—choose what matters most to your objectives. KPIs guide your efforts and highlight what’s working, offering a clear picture of your video’s impact.

• Align content with outcomes. Each video should have a purpose—don’t shoot for the sake of it. Purpose-driven content ensures every piece contributes to your overall goals, minimizing wasted effort.

• Plan measurement now. Knowing how you’ll track success helps you create content that actually drives results. When you measure from the start, you can adjust strategies and improve with real insights.

By embedding metrics into your planning, you can refine strategy, reuse insights, and make smarter content decisions throughout the year.

5. Identify Gaps & Opportunities

Look beyond your existing footage and content plan—what’s missing?

• Topic gaps. Are there areas your audience wants more insight on? Identifying these gaps helps you stay relevant and keeps your audience engaged and informed with new perspectives.

• Format gaps. Could you try short-form interviews, bite size learning clips, or long form discussions? Exploring different formats can capture diverse audiences and refresh your content lineup.

• Seasonal hooks. Plan around key dates, industry events, or anniversaries to create content. Timely content captures attention and increases relevance, making your video stand out.

Identifying gaps now ensures your 2026 content is fresh, relevant, and strategic—not just a repeat of last year.

Final Thoughts

January is the perfect month to get ahead. Audit your footage, map key messages, plan approvals, set success metrics, and spot content gaps.

Do this now, and you’ll turn what could be a frantic year of filming into a smooth, creative, and cost-effective content strategy—with stronger, more engaging videos as the payoff.

And remember, we love a chat! So if you just want to brainstorm some ideas, pick up the phone!