	Ы Content

	Ы Delivery

	Ы Visual Aids

	Ы Tutorials

	Ы Archive

	Ы Contributors

Home ЫЫ Courses ЫЫ Visual Aids ЫЫ Choosing The Appropriate Vehicle

Using Videotaped Presentations Effectively

Using videos to sell a service or product or to inspire and inform associates is becoming common for all kinds of organizations. The latest technologies offer endless opportunities at reasonable cost and with professional results, yet nothing can replace the drama and warmth of a live presentation. It's like the difference between live theater and television- no comparison!

But videos offer a number of advantages: you can have your presentation "delivered" around the globe simultaneously and repeated to suit individuals who might otherwise miss the one-time opportunity. It can also be replayed, in whole or in part, ensuring that the message is fully understood. It can even be played to groups who then discuss the contents, pausing between major sections. Imagine asking a speaker to pause for twenty minutes while the audience discusses what they had just heard? All of this translates to a level of effectiveness not possible with a one-time oral presentation that is not recorded.

There are many books on this subject, especially on the technicalities of making videos, but our purpose here is not to teach how to make and use videos. Instead, we offer a few rules of thumb that my help you achieve your communications goals using videotapes.

Whether you are standing, sitting or walking around on camera- as you would, say, inside a plant or service facility, concentrate on speaking normally to the camera as you would to another individual. You might eventually reach many viewers, but try to visualize them as individuals. In truth they may well view your video in the privacy of their home or office or in the intimacy of a small conference room.

Your challenge is to speak naturally, much as you do in conversation with someone. Unlike a presentation to a large group, on video your eyes will communicate much of your sincerity. President Ronald Reagan was called the "Great Communicator" for good reason. On television he gave the impression he was speaking to each individual personally, even though his audience often numbered in the millions! So personalize, in your own mind, envisioning just one face, one person as your audience.

Having memorized and rehearsed everything you are going to say you must take care not to act. This is a common trap many speakers fall into, especially on camera. The camera can be even more intimidating than a room full of listeners, so rehearse, of course, but relax and be natural. The nice thing about video is that if you flub your lines, you can retake as many times as you need.

A helpful way of preparing and learning to relax before the camera is to have it set up in your office or wherever you'll be speaking and rehearse for a while with the camera turned off, and eventually you will relax enough to do the real thing. Remember, nothing builds confidence more than preparation.

When you plan your video be sure to include intercuts to augment your presentation. Intercuts are important since they cut away from the speaker and give the viewer other things to watch. You can use your own voice or that of another for narration during the intercut, but it is sometimes effective to switch gender. If the main speaker is female, then use a male voice for the intercut and vice-versa. Write a script even if your video is short. The script does not have to be followed verbatim but it provides a framework for prearranging all that you want to convey. Circulated amongst colleagues, it provides opportunity for them to criticize or give other input, which should improve quality.

Video productions do not have to be expensive, though they certainly can be, depending on how you want to share your information. For some purposes you can sit behind a desk or stand in front of a chart or blackboard, and that suffices as your video production. In other situations you might want to use special effects or montage your visuals. In this way the entire workings of something quite intricate can be shown within a seconds, even though the video may have taken hours to shoot.

Here are a few additional tips. Small points, but important:

When taping live presentation use two cameras. One pans the audience, showing their reactions. You can splice and edit later, for maximum effect.
Never hire the first cameraman or production company you negotiate with. Production pricing is very competitive.
Be willing to share your ideas with the production person you hire. Chances are that he or she will be able to give you ideas and approaches that bring a greater professionalism to both your performance and the finished tape.
When you need duplications, check with a number of service providers. Seldom can the production company deliver duplications at cost effective rates.
If you are not experienced before the camera it is a good idea to hire a director. If your camerapersons have direction skills, why not solicit advice from them.

It is true that a picture is worth a thousand words- but only if it is well done.

Back