One of the best ways that Uberflip brings static PDF content to life is by integrating videos right into a Flipbook’s pages. This is an effective way to grab a reader’s attention with captivating and often unexpected content. In addition to our own custom video player, we also have integrations with YouTube, Vimeo and Vidyard that allow thought leaders to easily enhance their Flipbooks without needing to know how to code.

Videos are added to Flipbooks by simply dragging-and-dropping. If you think of a page as a canvas, you can use Uberflip to drag a frame overtop of the page and then select a widget that insets a video inside of that frame (this same method is also used to add audio, slideshows, social feeds and more).

A question that our Customer Success Team gets quite frequently is “what should I keep in mind if I want to add video to my PDFs?” Though you can technically add a video anywhere on a page, strategically designing your original PDF file before converting it to a Flipbook will ensure that your videos will stand out to your readers and, hopefully, entice them to watch. Read on for some of the most important design considerations for optimizing your Flipbooks for video.

Leave Negative Space

This might sound obvious but the most essential thing to keep in mind is ensuring that you have left an appropriate amount of negative space for your video. If your page is one large block of text, it will be difficult (or even impossible) to add video without overlapping this content. In general, people tend to enjoy watching video more than reading. So, don’t be shy when cutting down on room allotted for text when adding space for your video.

Also keep in mind that your readers will be using screen sizes ranging from a small smartphone screen to massive desktop monitors. Find a happy medium between these devices that will satisfy everyone – not too large for big displays yet not too small for smartphones. Also, be sure to test on whatever devices you have available and be honest with yourself – will your audience be happy with the experience you’ve provided them with? No one wants to watch a video that they can’t even see because it’s too small.

Add a Playful Background

While it might be perfectly fine to add a video overtop of a blank background, adding creative designs to your page that anticipate the addition of a video will really add that extra WOW factor. Showing a video about smartphones? Place a blank iPhone on your page and put your video overtop of the screen (like we did here). Have a clip from a TV show? Play it from “inside” a television. With just a little extra effort, you’re able to make the viewing experience profoundly more fun and exciting for your audience.

Call Attention to your Video

Though Flipbooks are becoming increasingly popular, many readers are coming from the world of boring PDFs. This has resulted in some people unfortunately being trained to equate “document” with “boring,” and has definitely not prepared them to expect rich media to be integrated into a document. To reduce the chance of a reader skimming over a video and not pressing play, add text and imagery to your document that points out your video. A simple “Check out this video on _________” or highlighting key facts from your video will create more awareness and increase the chances of it being watched. Plus, this will provide context for why this video is there and make your document feel more cohesive.

How do you think videos can be best leveraged in Flipbooks? Let us know in the comments below!