11 Tips to Create Effective Training Videos

11 Tips to Create Effective Training Videos

Making a training video

Videos are a great way to help train new employees and provide instructions for existing staff. They can be used to explain various processes in your company, or they can show off your product or service. But creating a compelling training video takes time and effort— and it won’t happen overnight!

 

There are many tricks of the trade that will help you along the way so that you don’t get stuck with something that looks amateurish or unprofessional. Use this guide to learn more about why employee training videos are so crucial, the different kinds of videos you can create, and tips for making effective training content.

What is Video Training?

Video training is a video that gives information to users in a way that makes it easy to understand. These videos educate new and current workers on the practices and policies of your workplace. They can teach them about specific processes or tools they’ll use in their day-to-day life.

 

Or, these videos can provide more background on the company, its structure, and its values. They’re often used as an alternative to traditional text-based or one-on-one training methods since they’re less expensive and make it easy for workers to absorb new information. You can do a lot with employee training videos, too (more on this later).

Why is Video Training Beneficial?

You’re probably asking yourself, “Why should I use video training?” The answer is simple: it’s an effective way to communicate a message. Video training allows you to engage your audience and provide them with information in a clear, visual way. It enables them to get answers quickly and easily, making learning more enjoyable than ever before. In fact, video training is as beneficial for workers as it is for companies. These are just a few great reasons to use video training for your employees.

 

  • Videos are consistent, ensuring all employees receive the same information and reducing mistakes and miscommunication down the line.
  • Employee onboarding and training software simplify the onboarding process for new staff.
  • People retain information better and are more engaged throughout training with video.
  • Employees can revisit content easily if they have questions after their training period.
  • Videos are more cost-effective since they can be reused over and over again.

Types of Employee Training Videos

Training videos are a versatile tool; many different kinds of videos exist. Here are a few different types that you may choose from:
  • Instructional Videos
    General videos used to educate on any topic
  • Corporate Videos
    Instruct employees on corporate policies and procedures
  • Health and Safety Videos
    Help employees avoid injuries, unsafe situations, and potential lawsuits
  • Tutorials
    Train workers on specific tools and machinery
  • Screen Recordings
    Train workers to use software and computer programs
  • Presentations
    Share a lecture, slideshow, or other presentation with relevant information to your employees
  • Animated and Whiteboard Videos
    Simplify complicated ideas and engage your audience with graphics, text, and animation

Training Video Tips

Ready to get started with your own employee training videos? Use the tips below to make your videos as engaging and effective as possible.

Outline Your Training Program

Before you record, it’s essential to ensure that you clearly understand the steps you will be taking. That way, when someone watches your video, they’ll be able to follow along easily and learn in an organized manner. To do this, create an overall training plan and outline each individual lesson. Getting organized will ensure you don’t miss any important topics or critical details. You can use bullet points or numbered lists if that’s more helpful for outlining your steps. Include every step necessary to complete the task— don’t skip any details!

 

You should also make sure that all necessary information has been gathered before starting your training video. This means gathering any resources or files needed to create and explain each task step. Also, consider whether there are additional materials you need to set up and finish each lesson, like your equipment.

Use the Right Equipment

One of the most important things to consider when creating a training program is the equipment you use. Good equipment is essential to producing effective, high-quality videos. It’s important to have high-quality cameras, microphones, lighting, and a tripod or stand to hold your equipment steady while recording. You’ll also need a screen recorder and video editor to finish your videos.

 

When searching for equipment, read plenty of reviews from impartial customers to learn more about its quality. You should also consider your budget and any equipment you may already have. If you already own a good camera, microphone, and tripod, you don’t need to buy new ones. You may just need to purchase a screen recorder and video editor.

Keep it Short and Sweet

It needs to be short and sweet to ensure your training video is compelling. Like with a blog post or any other media type, people will stop paying attention and lose interest if you make it too long. Try to keep your videos to just a couple of minutes long. Regardless of how long your video is, there’s no question that it needs to be concise and easy to understand. It’s better to break your courses into shorter lessons/videos that will be easier for employees to view and absorb the information.

Engage with your Audience

There are many ways to engage your audience. One way to do so is by having a conversational tone, which can be achieved by speaking as if you were talking with a friend. Another popular option is to use a natural tone, which involves sounding like yourself rather than putting on an act or being overly formal. If you prefer being more formal but want to avoid sounding stiff and distant, it’s best to go for something between these two options — friendly and professional.

 

Another effective way of engaging with your audience is through using positive words and body language. This shows off confidence and an encouraging attitude that will make employees feel more engaged in what they’re learning about. This type of language can help create an atmosphere where viewers feel motivated rather than intimidated by what they see before them on screen (elements like positive sound effects can also help reinforce this effect).

Try Whiteboarding

If you feel words aren’t enough for your trainee to understand what’s being taught, try whiteboarding instead! This type of video uses simple hand-drawn designs and animations accompanied by voice-over and text. Whiteboarding is a great way to explain complex concepts visually. It can also help you explain difficult-to-describe ideas and break them down into more easily digestible tidbits.

 

Whiteboarding is also helpful for training videos aimed at audiences with different levels of technical knowledge. Using simple drawings and animations, you can make your video more approachable to a range of viewers. Be sure to include text on-screen as well; this will help people who may not be able to understand some of your drawings.

Add Text and Music

Break up your content and make it more interesting by editing in text and music. Use on-screen text to highlight important words, phrases, and concepts. You should also think about adding subtitles to your videos. This simple technique allows you to cater to a variety of learning styles. With captions, employees can follow along with the video content using their eyes instead of their ears.

 

Background or transition music can also make the training experience more exciting and enjoyable for your workers. It adds a bit of fun while remaining professional. Plus, you can use music to break up the monotony of the lesson plan and create a bit more auditory interest.

Make it Interactive

You can keep your workers engaged throughout their training by making the videos interactive. This tests their knowledge to ensure they’re paying attention and makes the training process more engaging and fun. Here are a few techniques you can try to make your training videos more interactive:

  • Use Quizzes:
    Quizzes are a great way to get your audience actively involved in the learning experience and make them feel like they’re getting something out of it.
  • Give Them a Worksheet:
    Ask employees to complete the worksheet when the video is done to ensure they understand every part of the training program.
  • Make it a Game:
    Gamify the training process to keep your workers’ attention and check their knowledge simultaneously.
  • Create a Poll:
    Polls are another way to get your audience active in their learning experience, which can help motivate them to take more interest in their learning.

Keep it Professional

Though you want to ensure your videos are fun and engaging, remember that they must also be professional in quality and content. Focus on the topic at hand, and don’t distract your employees with busy visuals, too many jokes, or irrelevant content. To make your videos look more professional, try:

  • Using a professional voice actor
  • Using a professional scriptwriter
  • Using a professional background or greenscreen.
  • Recording with a high-quality camera, microphone, and editing software
  • Keeping color schemes and graphics simple

Use Clean, Minimalist Visuals

Simple graphics and visuals are a great way to keep employees focused on the material while still projecting an air of professionalism. You can create a simple, compelling training video by using clean, minimalist visuals by:

  • Use a simple background. A blank white or black background is best for most videos, but if you need to use color, choose one that complements the content and isn’t distracting.
  • Use a clean font. Choose one that’s easy to read in most resolutions, so it doesn’t look pixelated when viewed on different devices.
  • Avoid logos and watermarks unless they add value to your video; they often distract from learning objectives instead of supporting them.
  • Keep your player design simple; be mindful of viewers who may be watching on different screen sizes.

Try Using a Screen Recorder Software

If you’re not a video expert, one of the easiest ways to create a training video is by using a screen recorder and video editor. Screen recorder software allows users to record both audio and video from their computer at the same time. This makes it easy for anyone to create high-quality training videos that can be used on websites or uploaded to YouTube.

 

Employee onboarding and training software also give you complete control over what you want to show in your training video and how long you want it to be before stopping recording. Some people prefer shorter videos, while others like longer ones that cover more details about a specific topic or process within their business or organization. This makes screen recording software an ideal choice for those looking for an efficient way of creating high-quality training videos without any previous experience with video editing or filming equipment such as cameras, tripods, and microphones.

Be Consistent with All Your Training Videos

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to be inconsistent with your training videos. You should use the same font, colors, and background for all your training videos. You should be consistent with the style, format, and employee onboarding and training software used for making these training videos, as well as music or voices over them.

 

Video training is an effective way to communicate information. It’s more engaging, efficient, and cost-effective, too! And with the tips above, you can ensure your company’s employee training videos effectively teach your staff. We hope this article has given you some insight into how to create effective training videos. The key is to keep it simple, engaging, and professional. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on expensive software or equipment because plenty of affordable options are available for making high-quality videos today. The most important thing is that you have a good idea and stick with it!

Use FlashBack screen recorder and video editor to produce engaging and interesting videos for all your staff training needs. Visit us to learn more.
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