9 steps for creating engaging training videos

Which type of training video?

Training videos come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you’ll need to start by deciding which type of video best suits your purpose. Here are some of the most common:

• Explainer videos are generally public-facing and aimed at customers. Often animated, they’re a short, easily digestible overview of how a product or service works. These videos help viewers grasp and retain complex information which would be difficult to explain using words alone.
• Internal training is a budget-friendly training resource for onboarding, upskilling or delivering information to members of an organisation. In an age of hybrid working, they help employees remain engaged, connected and loyal to the company.
• External training is learning content aimed at a broader audience of business partners, suppliers, clients or even other organisations. These videos build credibility. You’re arming the audience with specialist tools and knowledge which may be difficult to find elsewhere.
• Online courses are usually a series of videos. Digital courses are becoming increasingly popular within educational establishments — while in the commercial sphere, they provide a rich income stream for experts in high-demand topics.

So, that’s a quick rundown of the different ways in which you can use training videos. The question is, how do you create them?

1. Understand your audience

Start by getting to know your target audience. Who is this video for? Think about their demographic, occupation, interests, the problems they experience and how your video can solve them.

What’s their current level of knowledge? Are you training complete beginners, or do they need more advanced techniques? Will you be delivering information, or showing the viewer how to perform an action? Also, consider how they like to learn.

Understanding the audience not only informs the video’s tone, format and style, it also helps you design the most effective content structure.

2. Define your objective

What do you want the audience to learn, or do, after watching the training video? With a defined objective, you can gauge whether the videos actually worked as intended.

Try to be as specific as possible, and make sure the objective is achievable. For example, let’s say you’re teaching employees about cybersecurity. Rather than expecting them to become industry experts, a realistic objective would be:  “After watching this video, employees will be able to spot a phishing email”.

3. Decide on a format

The format depends on the target audience, the subject matter, the learning objective and your available resources. To give you a helping hand, we’ve set out some examples of training video formats, and how they could be used.

• Instructor-led or talking head videos are popular for how-to practical training. The presenter speaks directly to the camera and demonstrates a task step by step. This can be combined with additional visuals such as whiteboard animation or screen capture.
• Screencasts or screen-capture videos are often used for software tutorials. Generally featuring a voiceover, they go through the actual software on the screen to demonstrate how to perform a digital task. Again, these videos can include additions such as a talking head or animation.
• Animation is perfect for explainer videos. By using cartoons, bright colours, motion graphics and 3D animation, complex information can be simplified. It’s explained in a way that’s easy to understand, engaging and memorable.
• Interactive video gets the audience actively participating in the learning process. The videos can include quizzes, polls, clickable buttons, gamification or even virtual reality. They’re particularly effective for `spot the hazard’ safety training, or for practising customer interactions because they involve risk-free decision-making along with immediate feedback and reinforcement.

Alternatively, you can opt for a hybrid video format. These feature a combination of different formats — animation, live demonstration, interactive elements or overlaying a presenter on a screencast.

4. Map out the content

You’re looking to break down the learning material into small chunks, one topic at a time, so that viewers can process information without becoming overloaded.

Try creating a storyboard. It helps you map out the content sequentially. Before hitting `record’, you can move elements around, making sure everything fits together as a clear narrative.

While you’re at the planning stage, pay attention to video length. Short videos tend to attract higher engagement than longer videos. The optimal video length depends on the audience and the topic although generally, 6 minutes or less is a good yardstick.

Complex topics can be longer, up to 15 minutes, but make sure the content is divided into easily digestible, manageable segments. You have to respect the audience’s time, as well as their concentration span.

5. Write the script

A well-written script is crucial. After all, your video might be going head to head with a world of competition. You have to grab and hold the viewer’s attention from the moment they press `play’.

• Introduction: Try starting with a thought-provoking question, or an interesting fact. For example, “Did you know that audience engagement with a training video drops off after just 2 minutes?”
  In your intro, clearly state what viewers will gain from watching. “By the end of this video, you will be able to….” or “In this video, you will learn how to…” 
• Instructions: Go through them logically, step by step, using as few words as possible. If you can stick to a maximum of 2 or 3 sentences per chunk of script, this will up the pace and keep viewers interested. Don’t forget to illustrate important points with examples.
  Bear in mind that you’re an expert. Facts which appear blindingly obvious to you may need explaining to an audience of beginners. And, while you understand industry jargon and acronyms, your viewer probably doesn’t.
• Viewer interaction: A short quiz is a great way to maintain engagement and reinforce learning. You can also hold the viewer’s attention by asking an open question every now and again.
• Summary: At the end of the video, briefly summarise the key learning takeaways. If you’re creating a series of videos, provide an intriguing and persuasive taster of what they’ll learn next.
• Call to action: If you want the audience to take action, ask them to do so, and give clear instructions on how to perform the relevant action.

6. Record the audio

Built-in computer microphones are the easy option. However, they don’t cut it with sound quality — and clear audio is as important as top-quality visuals.

It’s worth investing in an external microphone. Your choice depends on budget, the recording environment and the type of training video you’re creating. For example, a lavalier (lapel mic) may be a good option if you’re demonstrating something with your hands. Where there’s a risk of intrusive background noise, you’ll need something more directional, such as a shotgun mic.

As you’re recording, you won’t want to stumble over words. A teleprompter is worth thinking about. It makes it easier to maintain the steady, even pace of a professional presenter.

7. Film the visuals

You can, of course, film on your mobile phone. Some smartphones are perfectly capable video tools. Having said that, will mobile phone footage give your video the all-important professional, polished finish? Probably not.

If you want to stand out, particularly if the video is presenter-led, use a dedicated camera. It delivers control and flexibility, as well as the visual depth and clarity which an audience of learners need.

Good lighting is crucial. Natural light is best — although for consistency, and to avoid being at the mercy of changing weather conditions, try using a ring light. It helps even out the lighting.

8. Edit the video

Editing is where the magic happens. It’s a chance to trim the waste, organise the raw footage into an engaging narrative, and add all the elements which enhance the learning experience.

• Trim the waste: Firstly, cut out anything which doesn’t meet the objective you’ve already defined. Has the script gone off piste at any point? Is there repetition?
• Create the narrative: Make sure each chunk of script corresponds to the relevant scene in the video, being careful not to hold one static shot for too long. Aim to change scenes every 10 to 20 seconds to keep the viewer visually engaged.
• Enhance the experience: There are a multitude of ways to do this — from motion graphics, infographics and animation to text overlays which highlight key points. This is also where you add interactive elements such as quizzes or polls. If you’re using background music, choose carefully. It should always complement the learning material, rather than become a distraction.
• Make it accessible: Captions, subtitles and transcripts widen the reach of your training video. It becomes accessible to everyone, including people who want to watch with the sound switched off. Choose clear, sans-serif fonts which are easily readable by those with disabilities.

9. Outsource it

If you’re committed to professional-level video podcasts, it makes commercial sense to outsource. This could simply involve hiring a fully-equipped video studio for the recording, or calling in professional help with motion graphics.  

To raise the bar higher, consider bringing in Videofrog’s professional specialists in training video production. No matter how complex the subject matter, we can illustrate it simply and clearly. Your audience will thank you for that. Get in touch, we’d be happy to help.