* Explain yourself. Where did the video come from? Why is it on the screen? What purpose does it serve? Simple text blocks next to the video can give such background information for those who are interested in it.
* Give the user control. Put up a simple controller [Most authoring packages that support multimedia will give you some prefabricated method for doing this -- either a controller you can just use (like mci.vbx in Visual Basic) or sample code for putting together your own (as in the example "video widgets" that come with Multimedia Toolbook).] for pausing, playing, rewinding, etc. This gives the user a feeling that the presentation is something he can handle.
* Offer alternate video clips.
To add interest:
* Use attractive backgrounds.
* Frame the video appropriately. Is there a company logo you should be using? How about a title for the video clip?
To add information:
* Put up a text block that shows the important points from the video.
* Put up a text block that the video(s) provide examples for.
* Put up a text block that the video(s) offers colorful additional material about.
