How to Create Engaging Training Videos
Video as a medium has seen a meteoric rise in popularity. Whether for entertainment or education, video is the most popular method of sharing and absorbing information. In addition to its popularity, video content is easy to engage with, is more accessible, and has a broader reach than other forms of media. As such, is an excellent format for engaging training videos.
What is a training video?
Unsurprisingly, a training video is a type of video created in order to share information and show how to accomplish something. Most people consider training videos to be created by employers for employees, but a YouTube tutorial falls under this umbrella too. Videos on how to sew clothing, how to write code in a specific language, or how employees should handle client interactions, are all examples of training videos.
What are the benefits of training videos?
Creating engaging training videos often requires a fair bit of time and effort in order to get it right. As such, it’s important to know the benefits in order to justify this investment.
The first major benefit, as we mentioned, is that video as a medium has gained an enormous level of popularity in recent years. For YouTube channels, or any other online platform, this popularity lends itself well to growing an audience. People like video content, and so by employing the use of video in your training videos or tutorials, you open yourself up to a much wider audience than by using other means. Consider a dense article of several thousand words and a concise video; which would you prefer?
The popularity of video content isn’t without reason. Video makes it easy to instruct viewers on how to do something, while complementing your words with a showcase of what you mean. Anyone that has put together furniture or scale models will know how much easier video makes the task, as it shows exactly what must be done, without room for misinterpretation. Words can be misunderstood, actions much less so.
Video content has other, wider benefits to your online presence also. In addition to creating effective training materials, video content can increase the amount of traffic directed to your website, boost your search rankings, and provide your customers with more engaging content. Ultimately, this results in growth for your business, all from the adoption of a new form of media.
Tips on how to create engaging training videos
We’ve touted the benefits of training videos up to this point, but how exactly do you create them? More importantly, what goes into creating engaging training videos, ones sure to impart the knowledge your employees need in order to work effectively? Before diving into your favoured video creation software, consider these tips.
Know the point of your video
It may seem as though this goes without saying, but many content creators start making their videos without considering the full picture. Some think of half a story, others no further than a title. Instead, you should know the purpose of your video, what your audience should take away, and have a good knowledge of the topic discussed in the video.
When selecting a video topic, consider what your audience wants to see. You can have an excellent breadth of knowledge and a well thought out video idea. However, if people don’t want to see it, people won’t click. This is true for both employees and audience members; if it doesn’t strike a chord, attention won’t be paid. Interest is also reflected in watch time. Audience members won’t stick around or engage with videos they aren’t interested in.
To make good choices, you need to understand your audience. If you aim to provide entertainment, look at your competition and keyword search volume. The bigger the number, the bigger the interest. For employee training, you must understand what your employees need to know, and what format will best convey the information. Surveys and conversations are a good means to gather this information. You can use survey software to collect faster the data you need. Once you have what you need, condense your ideas into one cohesive video idea. Information will be absorbed more easily if it isn’t riven by tangents.
Tailor the format to the audience
A brilliant video can lose its effectiveness if it isn’t packaged in the correct format. For example, complex topics that need to be discussed at length to convey the message properly won’t work well with short formats. For complex topics, long-form videos or screencasts are likely a better fit. Long-form videos package a great deal of information into them. While screencasts allow the trainer to show how certain actions should be performed.
By ensuring the format of your video meshes with the topic and the audience, conveying and retaining the information will be easier. This improves viewer satisfaction, alongside boosting the quality of your training overall.
Don’t neglect to plan
Planning is an integral part of a successful project, whether it’s marketing, expansion, or video content creation. Launching straight into the creation phase can make your content feel spontaneous and genuine, but these qualities don’t necessarily lend well to training videos. For best results, planning your video is a requirement.
Scriptwriting is a good place to start. Creating a draft of what should be included, then refining it in subsequent drafts, is what results in concise, informative content. Doing so gives you time to consider how you should express your message. How your audience might receive it, and whether it hits the mark. Off the cuff can be good, but thoughtful planning benefits training videos.
Storyboarding is another method of planning, similar in purpose to scriptwriting. A storyboard breaks down the segments of a video, being of particular use to entertainment videos. However, coupled with scriptwriting, these techniques offer the perfect foundation upon which to create your video.
Engaging Training Videos, Conclusion
Video is the ideal method for informative content. It allows creators to express a message well. While providing viewers with a visual demonstration of how a task or action should be performed. Moreover, creating engaging training videos isn’t a nightmare, provided you lay the groundwork. Consulting your audience, learning their preferences, and planning your content is the route to success. By doing so, high-quality training videos are well within your reach.
If you think a training video would benefit your business contact Animation Explainers today to see how we can help!