Explaining big, brainy ideas is hard. You know your concept is brilliant, but when you try to share it, you’re met with blank stares, awkward silences, or (worst of all) the dreaded, “Can you explain that again?”
Here’s the thing—it’s not you, and it’s not even your idea. It’s the story you’re telling.
Jeff Bezos once said, “You can explain things to people, but you can’t understand things to people.” So clear communication is key. If your audience isn’t getting it, you need to rethink how you’re sharing it.
The good news? mmhmm is here to help you turn even the most head-scratchingly complex, abstract concepts into engaging, crystal-clear presentations.
Let’s dive into some tried-and-true video tools and techniques that reveal how to make complex ideas easy to understand, so you can flip from confusing to captivating.
Simplify your visuals to sharpen focus
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Complex ideas need clear visuals—period. But the important word there is “clear.” A busy slide full of text and clutter is like trying to watch a movie with subtitles, pop-ups, and a running commentary all at once. It’s overwhelming, and no one gets the point.
Here’s how to simplify your visuals with mmhmm:
Declutter your slides: Imagine you’re presenting a new product design to your team. Instead of overwhelming them with a slide packed with specs, charts, and text, focus on one idea per slide—like the sleek new interface or a standout function—and pare it down to its essence. Combine a clean, minimalist layout with bold visuals and minimal text to guide their focus.
Choose your background carefully: A good background can set the stage without adding distraction. Apply a tint or blur to your room to bring yourself and your content forward, or try one of mmhmm’s virtual backgrounds. You’ll find one for any mood you want to set. For example, a clean whiteboard background works for brainstorming, while a futuristic interface might feel right for tech-heavy ideas.
Get creative with overlays: If you’re recording a presentation rather than delivering it live, you can highlight key points by inserting text or image overlays that appear at the right moment. An overlay in mmhmm is a title card or visual that takes over the screen while you talk under it. It’s a great way to emphasize something really important.
By cutting out the noise and directing focus, you’ll ensure your visuals don’t just look good—they actually help explain your idea.
Don’t just show the data—tell the story
Data is powerful, but raw numbers and charts alone aren’t enough. They’re like the ingredients of a meal—you may need them, but they’ll be a lot more appetizing after you chop them up, cook them, and add a few spices. What’s more, bamboozling your audience with too much data can mean instant mental shutdown.
What makes data stick is the story you build around it. With mmhmm, you can tell a data-driven story that’s both clear and compelling. Here’s how:
Place content strategically: Picture this: you’re pitching a marketing strategy to a potential client, and you need them to focus on a detailed ROI comparison chart. Help them see it by arranging your screen to make the chart big while you move down to a neutral corner. This way, your voice and gestures add context without pulling attention away from the numbers that make your case.
Point to specifics: Sometimes, you need to go all-in to make complex data understandable. Instead of standing apart from your slides, become part of them. With mmhmm, you can literally immerse yourself in your presentation. Shrink, fade, or float yourself into the content to guide your audience’s attention. Want to emphasize a specific number? Point to it. Need to explain a trend? Hover over the graph and break it down.
Explain what it means: Don’t just say, “here’s the graph,” and leave your colleagues to figure it out for themselves. Tell your audience what you think it means. Find the story and bring it forward. Break down the trends, patterns, and anomalies, and connect them to the bigger picture. Your analysis is what brings the data to life.
Pro tip: If you’re diving into super-complicated numbers, use the fader to blend into the background and narrate your findings while staying part of the scene. It’s next-level storytelling.
Three storytelling techniques to clarify complex ideas
Great storytelling isn’t just for Netflix shows and viral TikToks—it’s the secret to making your ideas memorable. Here are three simple storytelling techniques to turn abstract concepts into “aha!” moments:
The “before-and-after” transformation
Just like Queer Eye, everyone loves a good makeover story. Show your audience the problem (the “before”) and how your idea solves it (the “after”). For example:
- Before: Customers were waiting too long for support.
- After: We implemented a streamlined process that cut wait times in half.
Use a tried-and-true storytelling framework to set the scene, highlight the challenges, and explain what changed. And frame up your content in mmhmm to visually illustrate the transformation—split-screen layouts can highlight the contrast beautifully.
The visionary journey
Let’s say you’re pitching a new workflow to your team to solve a recurring bottleneck. Start with a relatable question or challenge, walk them through your process step-by-step, and end with the solution. Think of it like a road trip where you’re the guide, and mmhmm’s video tools are your GPS.
- Use relevant images to map out each step of the journey.
- Stay on screen to narrate key points and keep things personal.
The “what if” scenario
“What if” scenarios are a different spin on the visionary journey, perfect for sparking imagination. Pose a hypothetical situation that aligns with your audience’s goals, bring it to life with evocative details that let your audience see themselves in that situation, and then start building the case for your idea.
Example: “What if we could cut costs by 30% without sacrificing quality?” Who wouldn’t want to hear more about that?
Recap with confidence to bring your message home
Whether you’re hosting a presentation in a live video conference or using our screen recorder to pre-shoot a video, don’t let the momentum fizzle. Wrap your video up with a quick recap that reiterates your main points and outlines next steps.
- Thank your audience: Start by expressing gratitude for their time and attention.
- Summarize the key takeawys as succinctly as possible.
- End with a clear call to action: Whether it’s scheduling a follow-up meeting, reviewing materials, or approving a proposal, make the next steps easy to understand and act on.
Explaining complex ideas doesn’t have to feel like climbing Everest. With mmhmm’s presentation tools, virtual camera, and interactive features, you have everything you need to make your ideas pop.
