Tricks to Embedding Videos in Your Next Presentation

I attended a keynote presentation recently. The presenter had clearly prepared and was knocking the presentation out of the park when he came to a video he wanted to share. What ensued was a slurry of confusion as the presenter attempted to switch between screens to locate his video. After what felt like several minutes, the video played, and you could see that rather than drawing the audience in, the distraction of the setup had left the audience disengaged.

Videos are a great tool for any presenter to use. They’re another way to tell your story visually in an easy and concise manner. However, executing them can be tricky to navigate. When the lights are on and you’re presenting in front of an audience – no matter how large or small – the pressure of switching between programs is nerve wracking. Thankfully, with 7 simple steps, you can embed a video into your presentation and create a seamless transition.

It’s important to note that for the sake of file size, embedding your video via an online platform is the most effective solution; however, if you will not have access to the internet during your presentation, you will need to embed the file directly. Have a backup copy on your desktop as well just in case.

Step 1 | Pick an online platform.

In order to embed an online video, you must first upload it to a hosting site. There are a number of different sites to choose from, but for the team at Ethos3, there are 2 sites in particular that we like to use.

YouTube is an easy go-to option. YouTube is a user-friendly, convenient platform to host all of your video content. It has an easy-to-navigate portal and simply requires a Google login to access. It also allows for great shareability so that you can share your video in more ways than your presentation. On the flip side, YouTube does lack security which could allow your video to be ripped or stolen from the platform. YouTube is also a highly copyright-conscious platform, so you must be careful that your video does not violate copyright laws, or it will be pulled down by the host.

The second option is Vimeo. Much like YouTube, Vimeo is a great video hosting platform. Vimeo comes with a cleaner, more professional look than YouTube, and for a small fee, it unlocks unlimited video length as well as ad-free play. This is great news for a presentation embed, because there is nothing worse than an ad playing prior to or popping up during your video. The cons to using Vimeo are found largely in reference to the shareability and platform traffic as this platform trails YouTube significantly in this area.

Either platform will serve you well for a video embed, so when thinking of which you will use, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each against other potential uses as well.

Step 2 | Upload your video.

YouTube Instructions:
1. Log into your account.
2. Select “Create video or upload.”
3. Select the file you would like to upload.
4. Fill in the relevant name and description.
5. Select publish.

Vimeo Instructions:
1. Create and log into your account.
2. Click “Upload.”
3. Select the file you would like to upload.
4. Fill in the relevant name and description.

Step 3 | Copy video link.

Once your video has been uploaded, copy the link from the search bar.

Step 4 | Open PowerPoint.

With the link copied, open the PowerPoint in which you wish to embed the video. Then, navigate to the slide where the video should live.

Step 5 | Select “Insert,” and click on “Video” tab.

From the main toolbar, select the Insert tab. Then, navigate to the right of the toolbar, and click on “Video.”

Step 6 | Select “Online Movie.”

Click on the “Online Movie” option. From there, you’ll be prompted to paste the link of your uploaded video. Once you have pasted the link into the toolbar, click “Insert.”

Step 7 | Resize video.

After the video thumbnail appears, use the corner arrows to resize the video to fit your slide.

Congratulations, you’re done! Now all you will need to do is click on the Play button when you’re ready to show your presentation. No more navigating between screens or changing inputs; now you have a simple embedded video that is ready to go when you need it.

Interested in learning how the team at Ethos3 can take your next presentation to a new level? Contact us today for more information.

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