Created with Adobe Spark highlighting my Prezi Video Presentations
Forty-three days ago, I “googled upon” Prezi video, and although I had used Prezi in the past (2016 last logged in) I hadn’t heard about them launching a video tool in late 2019.
I tweeted them:
@prezi how was I not aware of the video functionality now available… from what I can tell this is pretty amazing! Can't wait to dive in!
Since that tweet, I’ve delivered 18 virtual presentations and created 25+ videos using Prezi Video. On top of that, I also have another 6 Prezi Next templates in the “design brainstorm phase.”
The only limitations with virtual presentations are within our creative minds!
The feedback after each presentation has been fantastic, but I’ve also appreciated the access I’ve had with the Prezi Team. I’ve had multiple calls with the co-founder, the head of the video product, VP of Strategic Partnerships, and other members of the team to share feedback and have a better understanding of the use cases and roadmaps of Prezi Video.
Holy crap. Been looking for something like this these last few weeks. This looks awesome!
Below are 4 of types of dynamic presentations I’ve given using Prezi Video.
But honestly, the most exciting part has been exposing Prezi Video to friends, executive clients, and fellow virtual speakers and seeing the unique ways they are leveraging it for their presentations, video meetings, and virtual keynote presentations.
1. Customized hologram overlays with a shaded background
Customized a Prezi Next presentation and then converted it to Prezi Video as the video becomes the background. This can be used to create the desired emotional connection needed to maintain audience attention and drive interactivity within virtual events.
2. Branded speaker program transparent overlays
Custom graphics and overlays for Brian’s Press The Damn Button Virtual Keynote Program. As speakers, it’s important to stand out from the noise, be memorable but also demonstrate the high quality and value you provide with each virtual presentation. This is a great way to do just that! This screengrab is from the Socio Hackathon you can watch the replay and read the recap here.
4. Video templated graphics replacing webinar slides
Created from a Prezi Video Template much easier to customize and adapt for a virtual video presentation. This can be done with pre-recorded, produced, and even live streaming video content. When thinking about live streaming it’s important to go beyond the average Facebook live. This screen capture is from Kerwin Rae’s K2 Business Accelerator event and you can watch it here.
Why Prezi Video?
For me what excites me the most about Prezi Video for virtual presentations as you aren’t limited to standard templates or just video overlays as you can leverage all of the Prezi Next catalog or even create your own from scratch.
The advanced editing functionality has really allowed me to up my game and the virtual cam connecting directly to Zoom, GoToWebinar, Facebook Live and every other platform I’ve presented on virtually makes Prezi the number 1 tool in my virtual presenting toolbox.
I’m sharing all this not to get you to try Prezi instead to open your mind to what’s possible as you never know what you might “google upon” if you are determined to shift the perspective and transform the way you share your message virtually.
If you want to see how I created one of these Prezi Video presentations I did a walkthrough using eCamm Live directly after a virtual event hackathon for Socio where I shared the steps and mindset I leveraged here:
I’m such a fan that I’ve signed up as a reseller and created a landing page that I will update after each presentation with tips, tricks, and lessons learned with Prezi over at BrianFanzo.com/Prezi
Ps. I’ll be sharing more info over the next couple of weeks around the reseller partnership and services that we are working on together… In the meantime, feel free to send me an email if you want to jump in and give Prezi Video a try!
Live streaming video has exploded during these times much like it did in 2014 but what is it’s role in virtual events and how do we know when to use it versus pre-recorded video.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Live streaming took the world by storm in 2015, and I for one was a major fan! I helped deploy live streaming initiatives for companies like IBM, the Superbowl and SAP. For a while, live streaming was my go-to strategy.
In the video above Brian uses Prezi Video to go live on Facebook Live. Brian answers the 9 most popular questions being asked around live streaming video and its role in virtual events in 2020.
As conferences move from offline to online they are looking for ways to create true virtual experiences and Brian believes live video is essential. But you might be surprised by some of these answers as there are many use cases where Brian doesn’t believe live video should be utilized.
No, the entire event should never be fully live video. But yes, all virtual events should include live video segments before, during and after the event!
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Should all virtual events be on a live video? No! says @iSocialFanz but Yes all virtual events should have a live streaming video aspect! ” quote=”Should all virtual events be on a live video? No! says @iSocialFanz but Yes all virtual events should have a live streaming video aspect! ” theme=””]
Live video will never replace production video and the power of editing can transform an average presentation into a great one.
If there isn’t a plan for active engagement or the presenter won’t see or adapt to the live conversation, live only adds complications. All of the moving pieces aren’t worth it if you are not going to live to its greatest ability.
When you want to have a unified look or controlled audio and video settings, live is not the way to go.
If you need more than one take or you’re doing a demo or you’re going aspects beyond the presentation might malfunction.
4. Which platform is best for live video?
There’s no one platform that is better than any other.
You must first determine what success looks like for your live video. Ask, who you are trying to reach? What format & style do you plan on creating? (Interview or mobile or vertical)
Understand the benefits and risks of streaming to multiple platforms at once
Have a plan to manage comments, questions and the live audience on the channels you are streaming.
5. When should a virtual event include: Live Video vs produced vs pre-recorded
Live Video: Providing access and leveraging the participatory component of the video!
Produced: Telling a story that must go beyond the presenter’s words and slides through things like b-roll, sound effects and story format.
Pre-Recorded: When you want to control and manage the audio, video and length of the video while doing multiple takes. Also if you want to add closed captions and mitigate risks involved with live video.
6: How do I combine produced video with live video to maintain audience attention?
Manage expectations at the start
Be Transparent with what aspects of the virtual event will be recorded vs live
If the speaker will be doing Q&A after a produced video tease that before and during the produced video session
Leverage live video before a produced video to add context and take questions teasing what is to come in the produced video
Balance the desire to have evergreen videos with live to provide the FOMO and excitement available beyond the produced videos you can watch later!
7. How can we use live video to promote a virtual event before and after?
AMA
Launch party
Q&A with speakers
Behind the scenes planning
Giveaways and contests
Influencer collaborations
Preview of the day
Daily Recap
Key takeaways to create FOMO for those that didn’t attend
Ask direct questions with multiple types of answers
Focus on open-ended & personal over choices or true & false
Empathetic connections more WE than Me
Crowdsource ideas and direction of content
Celebrate those that do comment
9. What should we do to limit the risk involved with live streaming on the day of the event?
Create backup plans but don’t plan to fail
Create swim lanes & live video expectations rather than rules
Create pre-recorded filler videos as a backup
Allow the host freedom to stretch things out with direct communication with the host
Test, Test and Test and know that something will go wrong
Bandwidth, lighting and audio will be top priorities create best practices
Use kit or standard equipment to limit variables
Leverage remote producers beyond the live video talent
Teach presenter to roll with the punches rather than expecting it to go as tested
Tweak, Test, Tweak again, Repeat
As we continue to push the boundaries of what we can do with virtual experiences I’ve enjoyed testing new solutions for presenting and interacting with the audience.
As you see in this video I used PreziVideo which is a new tool that allows you to create a template for your video then either record it or live stream it to Zoom replacing stale slides.
I enjoy disrupting and testing new tools and as I do I will be sharing all of the insights, links and use cases on my Virtual Event Resources page.
Looking for more on live streaming and how it should be leveraged with virtual events? Watch this video!
