How to Split Video Budget: 20% Onsite, 80% UGC — And Still 10x Output

Onsite is the cherry on top. Here’s the split that maximizes outcomes.

Why does this matter if you’re weighing budget, quality, and scope?

Because most teams—especially at events—default to pouring 100% of their video budget into one or two big onsite productions. That gets you a polished keynote or panel recording, maybe some clean promotional material for am executive or new product, but little else. The output is shiny window dressing, not the day-to-day content your team actually needs for sales, recruiting, or ongoing marketing.

The smarter split is 20% onsite, 80% UGC. That mix gets you your “hero” moments while also unlocking a repeatable stream of content that works daily for your business .

Step 1: Use Onsite as the Spark, Not the Whole Fire

Reserve a light onsite capture—one or two panels, a keynote, or a highlight reel. This scratches the itch for high-quality event footage without swallowing your entire budget.

🎯 Myth busted: You can have pro-level video without betting your full spend on it.

Step 2: Stand Up a 10-Creator Internal Roster

Build a small bench of trusted voices—clinicians, partners, execs, panelists. Get them comfortable recording short clips that react to sessions, summarize insights, or share personal takeaways.

🎯 Myth busted: You don’t need to rely on random phones-in-the-wild with unpredictable quality. A roster approach ensures consistency, variety, and authenticity, and MarketScale Studio makes the edit/finish effortless for your team (no one’s stuck holding the bag on editing).

Step 3: Calendarize Four Recurring UGC Formats

Plan 90 days of repeatable, low-lift formats. Example:

• Panel Recaps – 30-sec “What we covered today.”

• Industry Tips – Bite-sized, practical insights.

• Partner Spotlights – Give voice to collaborators.

• Behind-the-Scenes Moments – Energy from the summit floor.

🎯 Myth busted: Instead of wondering if you’ll have enough content, you’ve already mapped out a foundation of 40–60 clips ready to drip over a quarter.

Visual Proof

Imagine your spend as a pie chart:

• 20% Onsite Capture

• 80% UGC Program

Now map that to a content grid: 40–60 clips vs. 2–3 polished long-form videos. The second feels familiar, but the first actually fuels ROI.

Onsites don’t compete with UGC—they complement it. One gives you your capstone, the other gives you your foundation. And with the right split, you get both without blowing budget or leaving gaps in your pipeline.

✅ Key takeaway: Stop thinking “onsite or UGC.” The winning move is “UGC plus onsite.” Keep the cherry, but don’t skip the sundae.