We’ve all sat through meetings where the presenter just can’t seem to get the video to play. Or maybe you’ve (also) been that person. Well, we’re here to make sure sharing your presentation video is seamless. Not only will we show you how to embed video in Google Slides, but we’ll share best practices for creating and sharing videos during presentations too.
Let’s get right to it!
Looking to embed a video in powerpoint instead? Check out this blog!
TLDR: To embed a video in Google Slides, you must use the Insert > Video menu and select a video source from either YouTube or Google Drive. Once embedded, use the Format options sidebar to set the video to play Automatically for a seamless presentation.
How to embed a video in Google Slides
Successfully embedding a video ensures it will play without failure during your presentation. This process requires your video file to be stored either on YouTube or in Google Drive.
Here's the process at a high level:
- Step 1: Open your presentation in Google Slides.
- Step 2: Click on the slide you want to add the video to.
- Step 3: Click Insert > Video.
- Step 4: Choose where to get your video from (Drive or YouTube)
- Step 5: Select your file and upload.
- Step 6: Reposition your video and trim down as needed.
- Step 7: Present!
Step 1: Open your presentation and select your slide
No matter where you’re pulling your video from, you’ll need to start with a presentation first. Either open up an existing presentation or start a new one using the templates at the top of the homepage.
Then, navigate to the slide on which you'll be embedding your video.
Step 2: Select your source & insert your video
With your slide selected, click Insert > Video from the top toolbar.
Next, you’ll see that you have the option to either add a video from your Google Drive account or directly from YouTube:
Drive
- How-to: Click the Drive tab. Navigate through your folders, select the video file, and click Insert.
- Tip: If your video file is stored locally on your computer, you must first upload it to Google Drive before you can embed it.
YouTube
Want to add a video that’s on YouTube? You don’t need to worry about downloading it – just paste its URL into the search bar. You can even upload your own videos to YouTube as “unlisted” so that only you and people with the link can watch it.
Step 3: Reposition and customize the video
Alright! So your video is in the right place. Now how do you perfect it for your presentation?
Once embedded, click on the video to customize its appearance and playback settings.
- Repositioning: Drag and drop the video to move it. Use the corner toggles to scale its size on the slide.
- Format Options: Click on the video, then select "Format options" from the toolbar. A sidebar will open on the right.
Want to make even more edits to your video? You can trim it, add music and text, and more in Animoto for free.
Step 4: Optimize playback settings
In the Format options sidebar, adjust the following critical settings to ensure a smooth presentation flow:
- Playback trigger: Under "Video Playback," choose when the video should start:
- Play (automatically): Recommended for seamless presentations.
- Play (on click): Requires you to manually click the video during the presentation.
- Play (manually): Requires you to manually click the play icon.
- Trimming: Use the "Start time" and "End time" fields to trim the video. This is useful for playing only the most relevant segment without having to use a separate editing tool.
Troubleshooting: Why won't my video play?
First up, keep in mind the settings you’ve chosen for your video. Will it play on click, automatically, or manually? You can always change this by clicking on your video and opening the format option menu.
Videos in Google Slides will play with sound, but there are some things to keep in mind to make sure you nail it.
- YouTube Videos: The sound will play as long as your device's volume is up.
- Google Drive Videos: The sound will play automatically when the video starts, provided the original video file contained audio.
- Live Presentation: Ensure your computer's audio is unmuted and the volume is turned up. If using a projector or external speakers, verify that the audio is routed correctly.
Adding videos to presentations: Examples, templates, & guidelines
When used correctly, videos enhance your message, make complex ideas more digestible, and keep your audience engaged. But with any tool, there are some best practices you’ll want to follow. In this section, we’ll walk you through some key tips for effectively incorporating videos into your presentation and making it an engaging and impactful experience.
Then, we’ll give you some examples and templates of videos that you may want to include in your next presentation. Let’s dive in!
Best practices
- Keep videos relevant: Ensure each video directly supports the presentation’s main points and enhances the message.
- Brevity is key: Keep videos short and engaging to hold audience attention. If possible, keep them around 1 minute or so.
- Seamless integration: Videos should fit smoothly within the flow of your slides, complementing rather than distracting. Allow yourself time to set them up by introducing them or going through examples before you press play.
- Optimize for quality: Use high-resolution videos with clear audio to maintain professionalism. You can always edit your video for free in Animoto.
- Interactive elements: Encourage engagement by adding videos that prompt discussion or highlight key takeaways. You may even want to follow up your video with a few discussion questions to get the ball rolling.
Videos for presentations
Each of the videos below is actually a video template! That means that you can customize any one of them for your own presentation. You’ll also see some examples of presentations that you can add them to. Check it out!
Company About Us
Use it for:
- Sales presentations
- Client onboardings
- Employee onboardings
Why Choose Us
Use it for:
- Sales presentations
Product Demo
Use it for:
- Sales presentations
- Trainings
Self-Introduction
Use it for:
- Classroom introductions
- Company introductions
- Sales presentations
Presentation video templates
Loving the idea of adding video to your next presentation? Well what if you made the entire thing a video? Here are some templates that you can use to transform slides into animated, engaging videos and recaps.
You can even use Animoto’s built-in screen and webcam recorder to give a virtual on-demand presentation that your audience can watch again and again! Here are the templates:
