Video: Create a Powerful Video Abstract for Your Research Paper

Graphical abstracts have become quite common in the scientific field. But have you heard of video abstracts? Similar to graphical abstracts, video abstracts or video summaries are slowly gaining popularity in various research fields. 

Basically, it is a story told about specific topics in two to three minutes. A narrative representation of your paper can be provided using animation, motion graphics, and audio, with minimal text. 

Video abstracts help you provide a snapshot of an entire research paper in an engaging manner. This type of easily consumable content increases your research visibility on social media, helping you reach a wider audience. But how do you create effective video summaries? 

Here are some tips to help you get started: 

• Keep it short and simple. Do not overwhelm the reader/viewer with excessive content.
• Prepare a script beforehand so that the flow appears natural. 
• Avoid including unnecessary details that can add to the length of the video. Get straight to the point, answering the question that the reader/viewer expects you to answer. Highlight your research impact and how it can potentially open new avenues for the scientific community.
• Keep it engaging. Use simple language and avoid technical jargon that can seem confusing. 
• Make sure that the audio is clear and eliminate any background noise that might affect the video quality.
• Always have a call of action! You want the readers/viewers to go through your research article and not just stop at watching the video abstract.