How can you use video to effectively communicate business presentations?

1 Choose the right format

Depending on your purpose, audience, and resources, you can choose from different formats of video presentations. Live video, for example, allows you to interact with your audience in real time, but requires good internet connection and reliable equipment to avoid technical glitches and distractions. Recorded video gives you more control over the quality and timing of your presentation, however it also requires more planning and scripting skills. Lastly, animated video can help simplify complex ideas, but it also requires creativity and design skills to avoid confusion and clutter.

2 Plan your content

Before you start creating your video presentation, it is essential to plan your content thoughtfully. Firstly, define your goal: What do you want to achieve with your video presentation? Do you want to inform, persuade, educate, or entertain? Your goal will direct the tone, style, and structure of your presentation. Secondly, consider your audience: Who are you speaking to? What are their needs, interests, and expectations? How familiar are they with the topic? Your audience will influence your language, level of detail, and examples. Lastly, craft your message: What is the main point you want to make with your video presentation? How can you support it with evidence, facts, and stories? How can you make it memorable and actionable? Your message will form the content, arguments, and call to action of your presentation.

3 Design your visuals

The visuals of your video presentation are essential for captivating and maintaining your audience's attention, conveying your message, and solidifying your brand. To design your visuals effectively, use a consistent theme incorporating a color scheme, font, and layout that reflect your topic, tone, and brand identity. Utilize tools like Canva, Prezi, or PowerPoint to create a professional look. Moreover, include relevant and high-quality images and videos to illustrate your points, show examples, and evoke emotions. Tools such as Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay can provide free and royalty-free images and videos for your presentation. Additionally, charts and graphs can be used to display data, compare results, and demonstrate trends. Excel, Google Charts, or Infogram are tools that can help create clear and attractive charts and graphs for your presentation.

4 Record your audio

The audio of your video presentation is essential to communicate your voice, personality, and credibility, as well as to deliver your message clearly and convincingly. To record your audio effectively, you should invest in a good microphone that can capture your voice clearly and reduce background noise. A headset, lapel mic, or standalone mic can be used depending on budget and preference. Additionally, find a quiet and comfortable place to record where there are no interruptions, distractions, or echoes. You can use a room with soft furnishings, a closet, or a car to improve the acoustics of your recording. Lastly, prepare a script or an outline for your audio with main points, transitions, and keywords. Tools like Google Docs, Evernote, or CuePrompter can be used to create and display the script or outline while recording.

5 Edit your video

It is important to edit your video presentation to polish it, fix errors, and add effects. To do this effectively, you should choose a video editor that suits your needs, skills, and budget. Tools like iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, or Adobe Premiere Pro are all good options. Additionally, you should cut and trim your video clips to create a cohesive flow for your presentation. Finally, adding transitions and effects with tools like Animoto, Lumen5, or InVideo can create interest and emphasis for your presentation.

6 Share your video

The sharing of your video presentation is the final step to reach your audience, get feedback, and measure your results. To do this effectively, you should choose the right platform for your goal, audience, and format; YouTube, Vimeo, or Wistia for hosting and Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn for promotion. Additionally, you can optimize your video for the web using tools like HandBrake, Compressor, or Clipchamp. Engage your audience by adding a catchy title, a compelling description, and a clear call to action. Invite them to comment, share, and subscribe to your video presentation and respond to their feedback and questions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?