Imagine that you want to present the ideas for using video in presentations from this chapter to a group of people. Convert the “Using Video” section of this chapter (11-5a) to one slide. Use only a few words to focus on your main points, and then arrange them graphically.

11-5a

Including video in a presentation is a good way to engage the audience, illustrate a point, and make an emotional appeal. If you want in-store customer service associates to improve their sales skills, you could show a video of interactions with customers. If you want to convince restaurant workers to improve cleanliness, you might show how dirt accumulates on tables. But don’t use video just to break up your presentation. Your video should have a clear purpose—otherwise, it may detract from your message. Irrelevant or, worse, silly videos may make your audience question why your content isn’t strong enough to stand alone. Use just enough to make your point, editing content to keep only the relevant parts. Also integrate your video into the presentation. Tell your audience what to expect—why you’re showing it, generally what it’s about, and how long it will be. At the end, summarize the relevance and transition to your next point. Practice so that you can show the video smoothly and seamlessly. Embed videos into your presentation slides rather than switching programs or linking to YouTube. Embedded videos will look more professional and will eliminate embarrassing downtime during your presentation. Check the sound in the presentation room and set the volume level in advance to make sure your audience won’t miss the first few seconds of your video.