I recently attended a meeting with Ethos3’s ultimate presentation expert and CEO, Scott Schwertly. He was updating our team on some company-wide announcements when a slide came across that immediately caught my attention. Scott had used a stock video as a background image for several of his slides, and I was completely captivated. In that moment, I was reminded that bold imagery does not always mean photography, and that by inserting stock videography, you can wake up your audience and catch their attention once again.
Here are 3 S’s that will help you integrate stock videography in your next presentation.
Smooth
When selecting stock videography to use as a complement to a presentation design, it’s important to select smooth videos. By selecting a video that smoothly moves through the footage, you will not distract from the content being displayed. As you are looking through endless hours of footage, look for something that is easy for your eye to follow with very few cuts or sharp angles.
Subtle
When it comes to stock videography, your goal is for the footage to be hardly noticeable yet extremely engaging. Look for footage that is subtle enough not to cause distraction but engaging enough to add value to your presentation. Look for footage that does not highlight any person in particular or show someone performing a cool act. This will ensure that your audience is watching you and not the skateboarding dog behind you on the screen.
Supportive
A sure-fire way to throw your audience for a loop when using stock videography in a presentation is to have footage that is not supporting your content. If your footage does not complement your message, your audience will struggle to understand its purpose rather than listen to what you have to say. There are hours upon hours of stock video footage available with just a click of the mouse; this can feel overwhelming and even cause you to sacrifice quality for convenience. But if you take the time to find the right footage, your presentation will be enhanced, and your audience won’t be able to look away.
By implementing stock videography in your next presentation, you’re setting yourself apart as a presenter. You’re showing your audience that no detail is too small and that you’ll go the extra mile to drive home your message. This will not only win points with your audience, but it will show them that your message has value and should be taken seriously. So why not take the plunge? Use some stock video footage in your next presentation, and watch your audience become mesmerized.
Unsure of where to find stock video footage? Check out the iStock.com library today, or contact the team at Ethos3 to find out how we can help elevate your presentation to a new level.
