It’s a way to say, “LOOK HOW FAR WE’VE COME!
A company anniversary video is short content crafted to celebrate how long the business has been around. It could be: 1 year, 10 years, or even 100 years!
Such videos typically show highlights from the past.
- The company’s journey
- Challenges
- Achievement
- Key moments
- Expressions of gratitude
With this, you can show your values, your growth, and your future. It boosts employees’ pride, customers’ confidence, and partners’ trust.
Done right, it becomes your brand’s personal documentary.
The content may have old photos, clips from big events, or how the initial office looked back then. It usually ends with a big thank you and a tiny tease of what’s coming next.
The goal? To connect with people and build brand love.
If you want the connection, then it’s time to craft one. But how to do that? Easy. There are 4 stages-
- Planning
- Shooting
- Editing
- Distribution
Key Themes to Cover
The Origin Story
Where it all began.
Show the year you started, the reason behind it, and your first big win. Viewers would love knowing how it all started. It builds connection and trust.
Milestones & Growth
Big steps. Bigger story.
Create a simple visual timeline with numbers. Highlight major wins, team growth, number of customers served, new offices, or big launches. Milestones prove real progress, and stats help show that.
Behind-the-Scenes
Not everything’s polished.
Show a typical workday, team culture, inside jokes, or even funny bloopers. This will let viewers see the human side of your brand. This adds life and personality.
People & Impact
Faces matter more than logos.
Let employees speak for your company. Share client testimonials and their positive journey with you. If your company supports any community projects, show those too.
This will build trust.
Core Values in Action
Walk the talk.
Don’t list values. Show real decisions made because of them. Use real examples where your values guided a decision, helped a client, or supported a team member.
Actions make it believable.
Vision for the Future
What’s next?
Talk about your future goals. Mention vision, upcoming projects, or innovations. Show you’re not done growing yet.
Maybe tease a new launch. Keep them excited.
Creative Style & Format Options
Style matters. Pick what fits your vibe.
Tone
Go with
- Uplifting
- Nostalgic
- Humorous
- Heartfelt
- Inspiring
- Emotional
This helps build a connection with your audience.
Formats
You’ve got options:
- Mini-Documentary (5-10 minutes): Storytelling, milestones
- Short Highlight Reel (30-120 seconds): Quick recap for social media
- Animation & Voiceovers (2-5 minutes): Creative brand storytelling
- Montage & Interviews (3-7 minutes): Combines nostalgia with client feedback
Narration
Let your founder talk. Let employees tell the story.
Infuse stories. Add emotions and humor.
Use text and music. But it must be clean and well-suited. Keep it real and raw.
All these will make the storytelling dynamic and effective. That way, your viewers can instantly connect with you.
Pre-Production Stage
Define The Purpose
Start with a reason.
Ask why there will be a company anniversary video production.
Is it
- To celebrate with your team?
- To show the world how far you’ve come?
Some companies make it for internal pride, whereas others to impress clients, leads, and investors.
You can even do both. But it’s better to opt for one message per video. It’ll keep the content clear and more efficient.
Also, ask what you want your viewers to feel?
- Inspired?
- Grateful
- Proud?
- Excited?
These emotions can shape the tone, visuals, and script.
Set SMART goals. Studies found that people who set goals are 10X more likely to succeed. And only 14% set clear goals. So, if you do this right, you’re already ahead. And SMART goals ensure you see success.
Set Timelines
No rush jobs.
Start at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead. You can’t produce a great corporate anniversary video overnight.
This needs time to plan, shoot, edit, and maybe re-edit. Rush this part, and you may witness the consequences of sloppy content.
Break it down-
- Week 1-2: Planning
- Week 3-4: Filming
- Week 5-6: Editing
- Week 7-8: Feedback and final touches
Gather Assets
Old is gold.
Dig through old photos, past event videos, award snaps, and customer testimonials.
These bring your story to life. They also add history and credibility.
It’s a kind of nostalgia marketing. It creates a unique emotional feeling in people.
Script and Storyboard
Don’t wing it.
Start with a rough outline. Then build a script. It’s the written story of your content. The script mostly includes-
- Dialogue
- Narration
- Scene Description
- Visual Effects
- Sound Effects
If it’s an animated explainer, a storyboard can help. It’s the visual plan, showing each shot with sketches and images.
Both keep your video focused, clear, engaging, and on-brand. You can design a script or storyboard with-
- Company milestones
- Employee/SEO messages
- Future goals
Hire The Right Crew
Yes, you can assign roles to your own people.
Then again, if you don’t have a pro team, this can affect the video quality. In case you have the budget, reach out to a good company anniversary video production company.
They may charge around $1,000 to $25,000+. The cost varies based on
- Complexity
- Length
- Type
- Production quality
Such agencies have all the pros under one roof. Planners, scriptwriters, directors, camera technicians, and editors.
Hiring them can help save your time and effort. Look at their past work, quality, experience, friendly nature, customer service, and ability to listen to you.
Pick one that GETS your style.
Production Stage
Get Your Gear Ready
Don’t mess it up.
An efficient company anniversary video production means proper use of equipment. This includes- camera, lighting, tripod, and microphone.
Use good equipment. It’ll determine the video quality. The more premium it looks, the more effectively it creates a good brand impression.
“87% even mention that video quality affects trust in their brand.” [Source: Vidico]
Camera & Shots
Shoot your brand anniversary event using multiple shots. It keeps things interesting. Try camera angles like-
- Wide Shot (WS)
- Close-Up (CU)
- Medium Shot (MS)
- Over-the-Shoulder Shot (OTS)
- Point-of-View Shot (POV)
- Establishing Shot
For instance-
Wide shots show the full venue and event energy. Medium shots highlight interviewers’ expressions and personality. Close-ups capture speakers’ and the audience’s emotions.
The reason is- one static shot feels flat.
You want:
- Movement
- Depth
- Variety
Use a tripod. This will keep the shots steady.
Lighting & Microphone
Good lighting can make the video look clean and premium.
Natural lighting works wonders.
It’s softer, warmer, and makes your stars look good. Just shoot near windows or during golden hour if you can.
Avoid noon time. It can create harsh shadows and wash out colors.
However, things will be different if it’s indoors.
In that case, use softbox lights or LED panels. They’ll light the faces evenly. There will be no shadows.
Place lights at a 45-degree angle to the speaker’s face. It’ll create a flattering look.
Avoid overhead lights. They create dark circles.
Clear sound is important, too.
Use a label or shotgun mic. It’ll ensure the audio is crisp. Plus, the mic will help reduce background noise and focus on the speaker’s voice.
B-Roll Fun
The small stuff matters.
Don’t film people talking only. Shoot them doing stuff. Show the team working, laughing, having food, packing products, and making mistakes.
Walkthroughs of the office, BTS shots, and coffee breaks– they fill in the story.
B-roll gives your video a unique personality. It works like a charm for viewers.
Real People & Imperfection
Throw away the scripts.
Keep the talking and interview natural. Let them speak like they normally do.
Just guide them with prompts. Ask ‘What’s your favorite memory from early days in the office?”
Real answers are better than perfect ones. Even a few “ummm”, “hmmm”, or “aaaa” make the content look more raw and organic.
Moreover, “63% of consumers prefer relatable, authentic videos over polished, high-production ones (37%)”
Post-Production Stage
Edit It Well
Pull all the A, B, C-Rolls together.
Editing gives your video a nice shape. Start with a story arc-
- Where did the company begin?
- Where is it now?
- Where is it heading?
This flow helps people connect the dots.
Keep cuts smooth. Add simple transitions like: cross-dissolves and fade-ins/outs. Ensure there’s no jumpy moment.
Remove unwanted footage and parts.
Add Graphics
Make it pop.
Try to drop in timeline animations. Show growth using them. Highlight milestones with simple text.
Add a quote overlay when someone says something powerful.
Graphics add clarity and creativity to the videos. But don’t overdo it. Ensure the visuals look rich while keeping motion clean.
“Animated stats” or a visual “Then and Now” always hits.
Use your logo, brand colors, and fonts. The ones that represent your brand.
Subtle touches- like color tone in lower-thirds or name tags- make it feel ON BRAND.
Select Music
Let the vibe lead.
Music sets the tone. Go for tracks that feel warm and hopeful. You can also try something upbeat and motivational. Pick depending on your message.
Use royalty-free music. Or buy a proper license from Epidemic Sound or PremiumBeat. That helps you avoid copyright issues.
Keep the sound volume low. Ensure it doesn’t overpower the voice.
A good soundtrack makes the video more dynamic and emotional.
Keep It Tight
Don’t drag it out.
Company anniversary videos can go from 30 seconds to 5+ minutes. The sweet spot is 1-3 minutes. Because that’s how people like it. Under 2.7 minutes mostly.
Shorter videos are effective enough to keep viewers hooked.
Video Optimization
Help people find it.
Video SEO is an important factor. It helps more people discover your story, without paying for ads.
- Use the right and relevant keywords
- Add the title, subtitle, description, and tags
- Give links to your website or page
That way, search engines will know what it’s about.
Try the keywords people would type, like
- “10th Company Anniversary” or
- “Behind the Scenes at [Your Company Name]”
Good Video SEO boosts visibility and ensures the content ranks high on SERP. This is important because-
- 91.5% of Google traffic stays on the first page. (Source: RedlocalSEO)
- The organic result typically gets up to 39.8% of clicks. (Source: Backlinko)
Promotion & Distribution
Internal Rollout
Launch the video internally first.
Play it at a town hall, anniversary event, or team meeting. Share it in newsletters.
Your team should be the first to see it. And feel proud.
External Rollout
Upload the video to multiple platforms and social media sites. For example-
YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and your company website.
Pin it to your profiles. Share it in your email signatures.
Use Snippets
Turn your full video into bite-sized clips for
- YouTube stories
- Instagram reels or
- TikTok
Viewers love short, snackable content. You can get 5–10 micro-videos from one great company anniversary film.
Measure The Impact
Know What Worked
Track your KPIs. These include-
Views, shares, likes, comments, watch time, and website traffic.
Such numbers show how far your video reached and how people reacted.
See who’s staying.
Check engagement rates. If most viewers drop off in the first minute, your hook needs work. If they watch till the end, you nailed the story.
You can use these tools for tracking.
- Google Analytics
- Social Media Insights
- Hubspot
Ask Around
Don’t guess. Ask your employees, clients, and partners what they thought. Honest feedback beats assumptions.
Why Do Company Anniversary Videos Matter?
Builds Trust with Clients and Partners
Still here? That says a lot.
Being in business for years isn’t luck. It’s effort, results, and consistency. An anniversary video shows that in action. It helps clients and partners see your journey and understand your values.
Long-term success is a trust signal. It grows when people see consistency.
- A 2023 survey found that 75% of Gen Z trust companies with a long history. (History Factory)
- Even 8 out of 10 U.S. adults trust long-established brands more. (Source Marketing Charts)
Your anniversary video is that track record, in full color, with real people and stories.
Show the timeline. Show the growth. Show the ups and downs. It’s your proof of reliability.
When viewers see the journey, they feel more confident:
- Buying from you
- Working with you
- Joining your team
Strengthens Brand Image
Years speak louder than ads.
When a business stays for years, people notice. A company anniversary video is your chance to show off that journey, without sounding salesy. It says, “We’ve been here. We’ve grown. And we’ve delivered.”
That kind of story builds brand image. People start to link your name with consistency, hard work, and progress.
Brand perception isn’t fluff. Nielsen says
“Nearly 6 out of 10 consumers prefer to grab new products from brands they’re familiar with.”
That “familiar” feeling? You create it when you show people who you are and what you’ve been doing all these years.
Anniversary videos ensure that. It shows the real thing. People, culture, values, your journey. That’s what makes you memorable. And more brand recall helps boost reputation.
Builds Emotional Connection
Feelings beat fancy marketing.
You can’t fake 10, 20, or even 50 years of memories. An anniversary video brings back those real moments.
The throwback office photos, first product launches, behind-the-scenes laughs, and even the not-so-perfect times that shaped the team.
It triggers nostalgia. For your employees, as well as long-time clients and partners. They cherish being a part of your story. And that’s where pride kicks in.
Such emotions drive connection. Harvard Business Review pointed out that-
“Emotionally connected customers are over 2x more valuable than satisfied ones.” They stay longer, buy more, and spread the word.
The same goes for employees. “54% of workers say they’ve stayed longer because they felt deeply connected to their workplace.”
That’s the kind of loyalty you can’t buy. But you can earn that from company anniversary videos.
WARNING: Viewers may tear up a bit watching it. That’s a good thing, though.
Boosts Morale & Culture
Everyone loves a shoutout.
Employees want to feel seen. Brand anniversary videos celebrate them.
When you create content that highlights their work and their wins, it lifts the mood. This boosts morale. It shows they’re a part of something that matters.
Recognition at work makes a big difference. A stat highlights that-
“Employees who feel truly recognized are 5x more likely to see growth and feel valued.”
This helps fuel company culture and creates a ripple effect. The appreciation translates into higher engagement, productivity, and business growth.
Even stats say that engaged teams see 18% higher productivity and 23% more profit.
A simple anniversary content gives you that benefit.
Attracts New Customers and Talent
It’s scroll-stopping content.
People love stories. Your brand anniversary video becomes a marketing gold that can live on social media, your website, investor kits, and even career pages. It tells the world what you’re about. Fast.
This works like a magnet. It reaches and pulls both leads and talent.
For fresh customers, the video builds instant interest. They see your growth, values, and real people behind the brand. And that builds trust.
No surprise that “89% of consumers say they want to see more videos from brands.” (Source: Hubspot)
For job seekers, it’s even more helpful. A real, people-first video boasts your culture better than any job post.
You can even hook 75% of job seekers. Because they check out an employer’s brand before applying. The anniversary video can help them.
So don’t let them guess what you’re like. Let them watch your journey on screen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to create a video for an anniversary?
Script your message, collect key visuals (photos, milestones, interviews), and use professional lighting and sound. Edit with branded elements, music, and captions. Keep it under 3 minutes. That’s the basic way to create a video for corporate anniversaries.
How do I announce my business anniversary?
Try a teaser video on social media, email newsletter, and website banner. You can announce the anniversary through these magnets. Also, highlight the date, years in business, and upcoming celebration. These are some effective company anniversary video ideas.
How do you plan a company anniversary?
Set goals, decide format, gather stories and visuals, and assign roles. Start planning 3 to 6 weeks early for production, approvals, and promotions.
What do you say in a happy anniversary video?
Thank your team, clients, and partners. Share a quick company journey, big wins, and future goals. Add personal stories and appreciation messages. Keep the tone warm, authentic, and celebratory.
Founder at LocalEyes Video Production | Inc. 5000 CEO | Emmy Award Winning Producer