How to Create Simple Videos Using PowerPoint

Want more reach on Facebook and other social media platforms? Heck yeah, who doesn’t, right? You probably know this already, but videos are one of the BEST WAYS right now to increase reach. Live broadcasting, for example, is killing it right now on Facebook.

But what if you don’t want to be front and center on the camera? Or what if you just want a fun way to jazz up your content and get more eyeballs on your business?

Then I recommend using PowerPoint to create simple videos quickly.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “PowerPoint, really?”

However, let me show you just how easy it is!

1. Change the slide size to square.

Click on “Slide Size” and then in the drop down select Custom Slide Size. From there you can change it to square dimensions (mine is 12 inches by 12 inches). I encourage you to use square sizes because it takes up more real estate in the newsfeed, which means it will be easier for people to see. It also tends to perform better than other sizes.

2. Insert an image and add text.

If you’ve created a PowerPoint presentation before you’ve probably done this. I would recommend starting with a blank slide before you begin. I would also suggest adding a watermark at the bottom of the slide (either an image or just your web address typed at the bottom).

 

3. Add animation.

Again, if you’ve created PowerPoint presentations before, this may be old hat. Simply go to the animations tab and select from the large number of animations that are available. I’m a fan of the “Appear” animation, as it allows me to have the letters appear one by one in the video. Make sure that the Animation Pane is selected and visible on the right.

4. Modifying animation effects.

If you do want to have the letters appear one at a time, you’ll need to go to the Animation Pane and use the drop down menu to change how the text appears.

 

I recommend anywhere from 0.1 to 0.2 seconds between letters.

If you have separate animations set up for the text, I recommend having one animation start as soon as the next ends. (It’s the “Start After Previous” option below.)

If you want to create a video with multiple images you could duplicate slides to save yourself time (just right click on the slide and click “duplicate”). This will allow you to copy logos or even animation without having to set it up again with each new slide/image. If you do this, you may want to add transitions for moving from one slide to the next.

5. Recording your video.

There are a large number of recording options out there. I, personally, use Camtasia. However, I know that SnagIt also has the option to record videos. The key is to make sure that you’re recording just the square area on the screen.

Here’s how you can set it up if you’re using Camtasia:

 

And that’s it! A very simple video that should help you increase reach and engagement without spending hours in the creation process. Click here to see my video in action (and feel free to take a moment to follow me on Facebook.) <wink>

Please feel free to share the links to your videos below. I would love to see them!