In a time when the Millennials’ attention span can be measured as little as 12 seconds, how can we create genuinely engaging presentations? Is continuously changing slides the answer these days?
A skilled presenter has to master different techniques; therefore, we will examine the potential for video presentations. Join us to discover what video presentations are, the reasons why you should use them amongst your presentation tools, and exciting tips on how to drive engagement from them.
Table of Contents
- What video presentations are
- Video Presentation Stats to consider
- Different types of video presentations
- Why should you use video presentations?
- What are the components of a winning video presentation?
- The role of accessibility: Advanced research on video presentations
- 5 Tips on how to make your video presentations engaging
- How to create a video presentation
- Do you need special software to create video presentations?
- Closing Thoughts
What video presentations are
Presentations are a crucial part of business and academic environments. Thousands of presentations are delivered each day in different environments; still, many are doomed to fail. Although we can blame this on a lack of proper presentation skills, reality tells us there’s a change in how people prefer to see the content.
As a general rule, consider 10 minutes the Goldilocks Zone for traditional presentations in what comes to audience engagement. Inspirational presentations like the ones we see on TEDx don’t follow this rule, as the objective here is to share a compelling story as detailed as possible so the audience can relate. In some cases, academic presentations of the thesis defense style remain loyal to a specific format. Still, trends are also changing, and video presentations have much to offer in terms of exposing complex concepts more plainly.
A video presentation can be represented in multiple formats: as a compendium of animated slides in video format, video files and audio sources packed on a single video file, a video recording made in interview format, a video documentary, etc. Although this definition may sound redundant, the concept behind a video presentation is that they don’t require a presenter to change between slides or windows to browse different assets. Hence, the importance to create a story behind the video presentation, so the various elements don’t feel segregated without logic.
We can say people use the video format to convey information in courses, job training, edutainment, conferences, and any kind of message-sharing purpose that requires connecting with the audience for engagement.
Video Presentation Stats to consider
Before dwelling on the specifics of building a video presentation, here we share some video presentation stats that speak about the importance of video presentations these days from a marketing perspective.
- Online search continues to be the most common way (45%) for users to find instructional and informational video content. (source)
- The most commonly-created types of videos are explainer videos (72%), presentation videos (49%), testimonial videos (48%), sales videos (42%), and video ads (42%). (source)
- 57% of consumers said that product videos make them more confident in a purchase and less likely to return an item (source)
- Millennials’ attention span can be measured as little as 12 seconds (source)
- A minute of video is worth 1.8 million words in terms of information retention (source)
As you can see, the effort of building a video presentation is well-paid in terms of consumption and content information retention from the audience.
Different types of video presentations
Depending on the requirements of the presentation itself, we can classify video presentations as follows:
In-Company Video Presentations
These video presentations belong to the business and corporate world, but their purpose is to distribute information among coworkers or to coach the personnel for a specific requirement. In-company video presentations are used in workspace training, as part of internal recruitment processes, or other kinds of internal presentations.
In-company video presentations usually carry the company branding; they have restricted access for people outside the organization, so their distribution methods happen in meeting rooms dedicated to these purposes.
Business Video Presentations
Business video presentations are used for a variety of business purposes: business pitches, workspace training, advertisement, product releases, recruitment, and more. Business video presentations also include the ones dedicated to B2B or B2C relationships.
Like In-Company Video Presentations, they carry branding to identify the video presentation’s author quickly. They are shared through official mediums for the company (like a brand’s social media channels and website), during corporate meetings with investors or potential business partners, and through 3rd. party channels.
Examples of these kinds of videos are product launch sessions, much like what tech giants like Xiaomi do.
Another kind of business video presentation is the explainer video. Explainer videos can be defined as short online marketing videos that are used to explain the company’s product or service. Explainer videos are commonly used for sales, marketing, and training purposes. Here is a real example of a 1-minute video presentation introducing SlideModel.com.
Another application of business video presentations is when sponsorship deals are involved, as brands can present their value to influencers through short reels.
Resume Video Presentations
This is a relatively recent but incredible turn of resume presentations. In resume video presentations, the candidate offers a detailed introduction of their capabilities, skills, interests, and potential value to the employer in a visually engaging format.
Unlike traditional CV presentations, the video format gives little room for anxiety, answering most of the interviewer’s questions or even driving admiration for the effort and dedication to this job-hunting adventure.
We recommend the usage of resume presentation templates for this purpose, as they save tons of time in crafting a high-quality resume video presentation.
Educational Video Presentations
This category can be divided into three different sub-categories:
Academic Video Presentations
Intended for University-level presentations or post-Doctorate work, these presentations follow strict format guidelines. They are mainly designed to distribute data comprehensively, with proper documentation backup. Animations usually don’t take part in these video presentations.
Despite being commonly associated with business events, conferences also belong to the academic video presentations category, as the live sessions are recorded to spread the message about important research discoveries.
Teaching & Training Video Presentations
Teachers introduce the presentations to their students on various topics to understand abstract issues better. Chemistry, Physics, and Geography are typical examples of subjects that use video presentations. However, subjects like History and Philosophy can save countless hours of whiteboard sessions by using educational video presentations.
Webinars fall under this category, either being released to the public or in-company webinars, as they share common aspects in their structure. Do keep in mind that educational content recorded as video presentations is not the same as a webinar, as the latter requires the presence of a live audience, a moderator, and usually a Q&A session at the end of it. If we talk about educational content being recorded and released as a course platform, then we can say it is a workshop.
According to recent studies, visualizations through video presentations and video-based learning can enhance understanding. It is demonstrated that students who watched learning videos on Statistics, influenced engagement and motivation positively.
Student Video Presentations
Finally, students also make video presentations as requested by their teachers to present a lesson or project exhibition. These presentations vary as the students grow older, becoming less dependent on animated effects, setting the bases for future work or academic presentation formats.
Informal Video Presentations
If you remember seeing videos in situations like 50th birthday parties, baptisms, wedding anniversaries, etc., then you have already experienced informal video presentations.
These informal presentations are free from any format restriction. As the term implies, they are used for any kind of meetup, making it simpler to share a story rather than to tell a lengthy story.
Inspirational & Motivational Video Presentations
The final category belongs to the video presentations with a strong emotional component. They are built to connect, to empathize with the audience in specific situations or problems. Examples of this are TEDx, Evan Carmichael, or similar influencing platforms.
In general lines, motivational video presentations are recordings of live events shared with the purpose of getting the message to the biggest audience possible (internet consumers). Another possible format for these presentations is recorded interviews or testimonials intended to speak about a person’s contributions to society. An example of this, from an organization’s point of view, are the videos produced by the UK’s NHS to highlight and thank their medical personnel for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspirational video presentations share common aspects with motivational speeches. A list of requirements for these video presentations would be:
- Have a clear purpose
- Make it personal
- Get the message tailored for the target audience
- A strong conclusion
Why should you use video presentations?
Compared with traditional presentation methods, such as presentation slides or speaking in front of an audience, video presentations can offer a series of advantages.
For starters, as you write the “story,” you are also rehearsing the points to be covered. In that way, anxiety or shyness won’t trigger you to forget about essential points or lose track of time. The length of the presentation can be predetermined, depending on the external requirements of the organization party, or how comprehensive or concise you need it to be.
In the case of people struggling with camera shyness, an animated video presentation with voiceover is the answer to deliver quality work. Since psychologists and doctors agree the common point on fear of public speaking is the delivery of the presentation itself, video presentations shall reduce work-induced anxiety to a great degree. Since psychologists and doctors agree the common point on fear of public speaking is the delivery of the presentation itself, video presentations shall reduce work-induced anxiety to a great degree. You can also convert images to video online using video editor platforms to easily create video from images and voiceover on video.
Video presentations can be persuasive thanks to the usage of graphics and audio. It is far easier to convey emotions through video presentations than to put them in the presentation design. Also, research by Dr. James McQuivey proved that a minute of video is worth 1.8 million words in terms of information retention.
Regarding engagement, the popularity that both TikTok and YouTube gained among the younger generations reflects the behavioral changes in content consumption. It has come to the point that even professionals use TikTok to demystify health hoaxes and help users worldwide. Therefore, using video format for presentations can help to boost your presentation performance, making it attractive for your audience and less effort-demanding.
What are the components of a winning video presentation?
The most significant factor in delivering a successful video presentation is keeping the audience engaged. To ensure this, make sure the presentation doesn’t feel robotic-like but that it conveys a personal message. Don’t get this point wrong if we talk strictly about business or academic scenarios; making video presentations to deliver your personal touch can become as simple as selecting the proper color combination to enforce your message. Other solutions come from watching your voice tone not to make it too monotonous.
Structure your presentation accordingly. In business or academic video presentations is a good idea to introduce a slide in the fashion of a table of contents. It is an extra touch that brings the audience closer to the topics due to be discussed.
Consider the audience’s perspective as a vital element in video presentations. Check relevant examples of the topic discussed on platforms such as YouTube or DailyMotion. Compare their approach to yours and assert if you would watch your presentation as a spectator or not. This simple test gives insights into which aspects you should work on.
Winning video presentations never miss the usage of CTAs. It’s a good method to direct the audience’s interest to a specific goal.
The role of accessibility: Advanced research on video presentations
Video presentations can become an incredible tool for driving engagement, yet there is a problem that not so many presenters address: accessibility. Think about how many times a presenter ends a phrase like “over here,” assuming the audience is watching the item being shown. But what if members of the target audience have visual impairments?
Much like we consider the importance of adding Closed Captioning (CC) to our videos, accessibility in terms of the narrative is a must. On this behalf, we want to introduce an interesting research that led to the production of a tool named Slidecho. Using state-of-the-art technology like video scene detection, AI, and OCR, Slideshow follows these very steps:
- Step 1: Extract slide frames
- Step 2: Selecting slide elements
- Step 3: Detecting described elements from the slide elements
- Step 4: Aligning slides with the speech
Therefore, Slidecho uses an algorithmic methodology to extract the visual elements from the slides, converting them to an audio reading format whilst aligning it with the original speaker’s narration. Moreover, its interface instantiates new interactions that augment the plain video interface with synchronized slide information and audio notifications to alert users to undescribed elements.
This technological advance helps the audience better understand what is being presented, regardless of the context of the presentation. Imagine an award ceremony where many references apply to visual cues. People with visual impairments get half of the message, with luck, when presenters fall into colloquial language usage, not understanding the context or having to ask for clarification. If instead, the synced narration is available, we then talk about making presentations available for everyone. This is an accurate definition of enriching an event experience.
If we talk about attending to the needs of people with hearing impairments, we have to consider the social factor as a motivator in presentations. It is a common mistake to leave slides filled with text and voiceover narration in the background providing detailed information. A study made by Stanford University speaks about the value of having the presenter’s face available through these slides, as it delivers both social cues plus helps users through lip reading. The human factor also reduces distractions since the audience must check the presenter’s input on written slides.
5 Tips on how to make your video presentations engaging
Tip #1 – Be mindful of the presentation topic
It’s not the same to create a presentation for a business audience as an inspirational presentation. The category of the presentation shall determine items like
- Background music
- Color theme
- Visual hierarchy
- Videos to include
Tip #2 – Limit the number of words to include
The whole idea behind the video presentation is to make a dynamic presentation, not having to pause every 5 seconds to allow the spectator to read.
Instead, use words to transmit powerful messages, such as quotes relevant to the presented topic, key information, or CTAs. Use the 7×7 rule: no slide should have more than 7 lines of text, and no sentence should have more than 7 words.
Tip #3 – Voiceovers can become your best friends
The whole point behind a video presentation is not to create a boring one-person video speaking in front of the camera. Use voiceovers effectively to introduce charts, data feedback, etc., with your voice connecting the points of the entire presentation.
Be mindful of the tone. A monotonous or flat tone can divert attention and induce people to ignore your work. Your voice skills should articulate the importance of the point being discussed as well as your interest in it.
Tip #4 – The power of transitions
Adding suitable transitions and animations makes the presentation more engaging. However, this isn’t equal to adding countless effects. Less is more.
Ask a professional for guidance if you don’t have experience with animation effects. The transition can be part of the conversation, being subtle if the presentation is flowing between data sets or similar topics, or contrasting and powerful to deliver a persuasive message. You may also want to insert a transition when you’ve used a video cutter to remove an unwanted part to smooth out the video flow. Don’t abuse any of the two extremes, or the audience may find it uncomfortable.
Tip #5 – Make video presentations accessible
As we mentioned before, quite often presenters assume the audience can understand every part of a video presentation. Reality tells us to attend to the needs of people with visual and auditory impairments by making audio and video media accessible.
Subtitles or translator screen-over using sign language is a perfect opportunity to help people with auditory impairments feel part of the presentation, making the message available to them as well.
For people with visual impairments, be mindful about how you create the narrative for your presentation, in particular, avoiding visual cues like: “over here,” “this,” and “there” and gesticulating over an object or person, assuming everyone can get the same reference information. Instead, opt to be descriptive in your speech; software solutions can help a great deal, but you can also use native PowerPoint or Google Slides tools such as voiceovers.
How to create a video presentation & recommended video presentation templates
You can create your own video presentations as easily as using Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynotes, or Google Slides.
Check these links for relevant information on how to create a video presentation:
- How to Convert a Google Slides Presentation to a Video
- How to Convert a PowerPoint Presentation to a Video
- How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint
In case you feel stuck about which content to input or how to make your video presentation outstanding, a brainstorming technique can do wonders for interactive presentations and creative thinking. It is known as the SCAMPER technique.
Since video presentation templates make our life easier, we also recommend you check the following product categories to access extremely visually appealing designs created by professionals to help you deliver your message in style:
- Animated PowerPoint Templates
- Animated Text Banner Templates
- Academic PowerPoint Templates
- Business PowerPoint Templates
- Marketing PowerPoint Templates
Additionally, here you can preview some of our presentation templates that you can use to create a video presentation in PowerPoint.
1. Animated PowerPoint Charts Collection Template
Present data in a visually appealing format by using this collection of animated charts in PowerPoint. Fully customizable, this template brings ease to speak about data-driven presentations; hence becoming a vital asset for any presenter in the corporate world.
2. Animated Network Diagram PowerPoint Template
Simplify the different streams that take part in your project or product release with the help of this animated template design. This Animated Network Diagram template can help you expose the processes that, with integrated effort, evolve into a successful outcome. It has animations applied to the objects, plus transitions to make the presentation more fluid.
Fully editable with any version of PowerPoint.
3. Free Animated Editable Professional Infographics PowerPoint Template
Infographics are a powerful tool that every presenter must consider for their work. This Free Animated Infographics template allows presenters to communicate complex data pieces, build marketing strategies, or prepare professional-looking reports.
You can find a broad variety of charts and graphs. These are fully editable by using the chart filter option to edit on a spreadsheet.
4. Free Animated Editable Infographic PowerPoint Slides
If you intend to present financial data or KPIs for your marketing projects, look no further: this Free Animated Editable Infographic Template for PowerPoint has it all.
Arranged in an 8-slide deck, we find a compendium of graphic elements to represent complex data in a visually compelling manner. Fully editable in all versions of PowerPoint
5. Free Animated Business PowerPoint Template
This versatile free presentation template for PowerPoint makes the perfect tool for more than business presentations: it works perfectly for educational video presentations and even inspirational video presentations.
With 9 fully editable slides, you can build your video presentation by using a unique combination of graphic elements, animations, and transitions. The graphics elements on this template are oriented to highlight leadership concepts.
6. Free Animated Business Infographics PowerPoint Template
Use this free template to create powerful statements backed by data in your video presentations. With a broad selection of graphs, diagrams, and charts, this fully editable template can help presenters to discuss topics ranging from demographics, economy, marketing indicators, or other relevant research results in an easy-to-understand format.
Compatible with all versions of PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote.
You also need to consider the output format of your video presentations. For maximum compatibility, you can use MP4 or MOV. Other alternatives include:
- MKV: The native format of most 4K videos due to being able to store multiple audio tracks. Ideal for presentations with different voiceover languages that presenters can pick from.
- WMV: It’s a quality format for rendering videos to be shared via e-mail, although not compatible with some devices. Installing codecs is advised.
- WebM: This format is one of the preferred choices for online video libraries or live streaming services, but it can present compatibility issues.
Do you need special software to create video presentations?
The answer to this question entirely depends on your aim for creating video presentations. For most presenters, PowerPoint and Google Slides will do a good job, allowing them to use features such as voiceovers, transitions, animations, and high-quality graphics.
If instead, you desire to make advanced effects, screen recordings, or toon-like animations with voiceovers, then you should check the following list of solutions:
- Camtasia (Techsmith): It is a professional video editing software, much lighter and easier to use than Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas. You can create professional transition or animation effects, work with layers to add multiple sounds or video sources and create screen recordings.
- Adobe Premiere Pro: The industry-leading software in video editing. This often intimidating software by Adobe has all the requirements for professional video editing, plus full integration with third-party plugins or other software from the Adobe suite to enhance the video result.
- Sony Vegas Pro: It is considered a direct competitor to Adobe Premiere Pro, less demanding in hardware requirements, and somewhat more user-friendly.
- Final Cut Pro: For Mac users, this is the option to consider if we talk about video editing. Powerful and tailored for the hardware the Mac device has.
Closing Thoughts
As we have seen in this article, video presentations are far from obsolete. It is a truly engaging method to divulge our ideas, especially if we target a younger audience.
Take your time to write a compelling story to tell rather than spilling animations and transitions along the way. Professional-made video presentations always care about details and the takeaway message for the spectator.
