How to Use Video and Sound to Support Your Message
The use of video and sound in a presentation is a smart way to connect more deeply with your audience. The Public Speaker explains how and when to use these tools most effectively.
I’m seeing more and more people use audio and video in an attempt to enhance their presentations. While I agree that video or audio can strengthen a presentation, I believe the phrase “everything in moderation” needs to be applied.
Today we’re going to talk about how to use audio and video clips to support your message without letting them take over the presentation entirely.
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Audio and video clips are a great way to provide support for your points. I find them most useful when I want to engage the audience in a discussion. In addition, well-produced video can help you emotionally connect with your audience in a way that words just can’t.
In addition, audio and video clips are good for both the audience as well as the speaker. The audience gets a break from the presenter and the speaker gets a chance to look over their notes and prepare for the next section.
However, audio and video can also ruin your presentation! If overused, or used without proper preparation, they can be a major distraction to the flow and energy.
Video Gone Awry
A friend of mine was invited to hear a presentation last week. The point of the talk was to introduce products in a new cosmetic line. When she arrived, she found self-serve tea in paper cups, folding chairs to sit on, and a video playing on an old TV with poor sound and worse picture quality. She assumed they would stop the video and start the real presentation, but 25 minutes in, they were still showing video clips! My friend finally got up and left (and she wasn’t the only one).
Video and sound can really add value, but you’ve got to use them as a form of support. The video supports what you are presenting. The video should never be the presentation.
The video supports what you are presenting. The video should never be the presentation.
How to Use Audio and Video
Very short video and audio clips can support a presentation talk in a variety of ways:
- To introduce your topic.
- To encourage discussion and engagement. (Click to tweet.)
- To expose your audience to something they’re unfamiliar with (and can’t imagine with words only).
- To show real life examples of your topic.
- To give a demonstration that wouldn’t be possible to deliver live.
- When a VIP can’t attend in person but wants to participate.
- To feature the voice of an expert.
- To conclude your topic and start a discussion.
When to Use Audio or Video
Use video when movement or imagery will carry a message all of it’s own. For example, a video of children playing in a park that your organization funded will help your audience make an emotional connection. Keep in mind that video of someone sitting in a chair being interviewed won’t have the same impact, unless it’s a VIP with a personalized message for the audience.
Use audio when an accompanying visual doesn’t add value or when sound effects bring your presentation to life. I regularly use very short sound clips of people describing their work in my networking seminars. I recently watched a presentation where animal sounds and jungle noises were used to create a surround-sound type of experience and the sounds made the point far stronger than if the speaker tried to describe them with words.
Rules of Audio and Video
Here are my 4 simple rules for creating a dynamic presentation that uses sound and video effectively:
- Video and sound should support the presentation. They should never be the entire presentation. Use them to introduce your message or reiterate it. Make the clips as short as possible to support your point. Don’t over-rely on them.
- Transitions must be smooth and incorporated into the presentation software. No matter what software program you use, make sure you understand how to create seamless transitions. It’s awkward when your audience has to sit and wait for a transition to take place. Be sure to practice the transitions at the venue ahead of time to be sure everything works.
- A good sound system is a must-have. No matter the size of the room, you won’t get quality sound from your computer’s speakers or the boom box you found in the attic. Request the proper equipment ahead of time so you can use a quality amplification system. Poor sound quality detracts from your presentation instead of enhancing it.
- Avoid using video in a webinar unless absolutely necessary. Your listeners may not have equipment that can handle it well. The lag time is often long and slow – it rarely keeps up with the speaker. Instead, if necessary, use a series of still images pulled from the video to illustrate your point.
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Finally, if you’re going to use audio or video clips in your presentation, leave yourself time for at least a couple of run-throughs. If I’m using someone else’s equipment, I schedule a time to see the room and make sure my presentation will work there. I try to do this early enough to allow for getting additional equipment if needed. I also like to do a quick run-through right before the presentation to make sure everything is still working as planned.
Including audio and video in your presentation creates a richer, more memorable experience. You, as the speaker, should always remain the focus of the presentation—with audio/video clips used only to support and to amp up the emotional connection. By following these guidelines, you can deliver a strong, engaging presentation.
This is Lisa B. Marshall, The Public Speaker. Helping you lead, influence, and inspire through better communication. Your success is my business.
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About the Author
Lisa B. Marshall Lisa holds masters with duel degrees in interpersonal/intercultural communication and organizational communication. She’s the author of Smart Talk: The Public Speaker’s Guide to Success in Every Situation, as well as Ace Your Interview, Powerful Presenter, and Expert Presenter. Her work has been featured in CBS Money Watch, Ragan.com, Woman’s Day, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many others. Her institutional clients include Johns Hopkins Medicine, Harvard University, NY Academy of Science, University of Pennsylvania, Genentech, and Roche.
