How to Make a Year in Review Video in One Afternoon
A year in review video is one of the easiest ways to thank your customers and remind them why they chose you. Most businesses have a year of photos and phone clips sitting on a phone, and most of it never gets used. So the year ends without a thank-you, and the footage just sits there. This guide turns that pile into a one-minute video, with a simple structure, a short studio session and a plan for when to post.
Your Year in Review Video, in Short
Why a Year in Review Video Works: Thanks, Proof and a Reason to Come Back
It does three jobs at once. First, it says thank you, in a way that feels personal. Next, it shows proof: the jobs you finished, the events you ran, the people you served. Then it gives customers a reason to come back, because it ends on what is next.
It also lands at the right moment. In late December, people are already looking back on their own year. So a short look back at yours fits the mood instead of interrupting it. In addition, it gives you an easy post for a slow week, when you might not have much else to share.
Best of all, you already have most of the material. Outcome: one short video that thanks customers, shows your work and opens the new year.
The Afternoon Plan at a Glance
Here is the whole afternoon in one view.
| Trait | What it means | Where it comes from | What you notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gather | Pull clips, photos and reviews | Your phone and profile | More material than you thought |
| Pick | Choose three highlights | Your best moments | A clear, short story |
| Record | A clean thank-you | A short studio session | Sound that feels polished |
| Cut | Long and short versions | The edit | One video, many posts |
| Post | Late December or early January | Your site, YouTube, social | Replies and kind comments |
Start With What You Already Have
Before you film anything new, look at what is on your phone. Scroll back through the year and save the clips and photos that show real moments: a busy day, a finished job, a team lunch, a happy customer. Next, check your Google reviews and pull a few short quotes. Then list your milestones, such as a new hire, a new service or an anniversary.
Put everything in one folder. Also, don't worry about quality yet. Phone clips and photos work well when they are paired with a clean, well-recorded thank-you or narration. As a result, rough footage becomes part of a finished video instead of sitting unused.
Then check two things before anything goes in the edit. First, permission. If a customer or an employee appears in a clip, make sure they are happy to be in a public video, and ask if you are not sure. Second, music. Use music you have the rights to use, such as a licensed track or the free library built into your editing app. Also skip clips with other brands' logos front and center. In short, a minute of care now saves you from pulling the video down later.
The Year in Review Video Structure: Five Parts
Keep the structure simple. Here are the five parts, in order.
- An opening line. One sentence that sets the tone, such as "What a year it has been."
- Three highlights. Three to five of your best moments, each a few seconds long. So pick the ones that show real work or real people.
- The people. Your team and your customers, since they are the heart of the year.
- A thank-you. A real thank-you to customers, said by you, on camera or in narration.
- What is next. A short look at the new year, such as a new service or a date to remember.
That's it. In short, if it fits in about a minute and ends with a thank-you, it works. For more ideas on using video, read about the future of video marketing.
Record the Thank-You in One Short Studio Session
The thank-you is the one part worth recording well. Phone footage can be rough, but your voice should be clear. So record the narration or an on-camera thank-you in a short studio session. That clean audio ties all the rough clips together.
Keep the script short. Write three or four lines: thanks, one highlight, what is next. Then read it a few times and keep the most natural take. In our studio, a producer is in the room for the session, and the rough mix of the audio is emailed within 24 hours. So you can move straight to the edit.
See the Sun City Podcast Studio →Versions: A One-Minute Cut Plus Short Vertical Clips
Cut one main version and a few short ones. First, the main version runs about one minute, for your website and YouTube. Next, cut 15 to 30 second clips for social media, each built around one highlight or the thank-you. Then make the short clips vertical, so they fill a phone screen.
Google's YouTube Help Center covers upload settings, and the YouTube creator resources have tips on presenting. Also, for where each version should live, see getting videos found in search.
When to Post: Late December and the First Week of January
Post it in the last two weeks of December or the first week of January, when people are already looking back. For example, post the main version between Christmas and New Year's, then share one short clip each day of the first week of January.
Also pin the main version to your profile and add it to your website. As a result, it keeps working well into the new year. For a way to plan posts around studio sessions, read a studio content calendar for business. Outcome: one afternoon of work, and your January posts are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 How do I make a year in review video quickly?
Q2 What should a year in review video include?
Q3 How long should a year in review video be?
Q4 When should I post a year in review video?
Q5 Can I make a year in review video from phone footage?
Want It Filmed and Cut in One Session? DM SHOOT
You already have the footage. So bring it in, record the thank-you and let us cut the versions. It is one session, not a retainer, and it is ready before the year ends. That is how a year in review video should come together: your year, your thanks, one afternoon.
