But, the big question is – are companies getting a “good enough” ROI for the training cost? Research paints a rather gloomy picture. Only 25% of employees admit that their performance has improved after attending training sessions.

Ok, let’s get to the point

The poor response by employees to training is mediocre training content. 1 in three employees admit that uninspiring training material makes learning fatiguing. If companies want excellent ROI on training, then they need excellent training content.

Which brings us to: Videos and employee training

Videos are visual information, therefore what you see in videos you remember for a long time. That’s why using videos for training employees removes that “uninspiring” part of training and gives companies a better ROI.

But, making videos is easier said than done. Having said that, it’s also not that complicated either. In fact, you can make a total series of training videos using a simple screen recorder. You only need to know the basics, and we have covered exactly that in just 7 points.

Make your training videos engaging with these 7 amazing tips

Know the audience

Not knowing about your audience while making a training video is like not knowing directions while driving. Your video content is going to be all over the place and so is your employees’ attention. The best way of knowing your audience is by interviewing them.

What are they looking forward to and if they have any specific goal to achieve after attending the training. You can gain these using a data analytics software, which helps you pinpoint what your audience exactly wants. These simple pieces of information will be the anchors for designing your training video. You will know where to start and where to end the video that will give the maximum benefit to your audience.

Decide the video type

Training videos can be done in different forms. It can be an animated video, a screen recording video or an instructor-led video. The trick here is to know your audience preference, which you will know by interviewing them in the first step. The second is concentrating on the resources that you have available for making the video.

If it’s an animation video, you need to have someone in the team who can do basic animations. For instructor-led videos, you need a confident instructor, and if it’s an external instructor, you need to stretch your budget too. The leanest way you can make training videos is by using a screen recorder. You can do it all on your own without compromising on the quality.

Take a look at the screen recording video above. It’s great for training employees about a new feature release or a product development.

Keep it simple

The first time you think about making a video, you can get all creative and experimental. While this is great, and necessary to create kick-ass training content, it can get a little out-of-hand sometimes.

A lot of trainers make the mistake of adding too many elements which are not directly related to the core content. For example, adding too many animations in the slides or using too many different variations of colours for the text.

Keep the videos simple, and the training content at the core of it so that your employees remember the most important aspects, and have no distraction in recollecting them. Use graphics at the right place and question yourself – “does it really make sense to add this GIF over here?” A bit of self-introspection will go a long way in producing an excellent video

Make it short

As per MIT, any learning video should be less than 6 minutes. This duration is ideal for keeping the attention and engagement of the attendants at a high level. To capitalize on this short attention span, plan your content in advance.

If you have a lot to tell or share with your audience, then make multiple videos with each of them not crossing the above threshold limit. While you do that, keep in mind that the topics are well aligned, so that it’s not very difficult for the audience to relate to the content.

Write a script

A script is your vehicle. A strong and well-written script will lead you to your destination with some great memories. As you start writing a script, you get closer to the points that you have in your head.

It gives you an outstanding chance to critically analyze the content that you have thought of including in your training video. However, don’t jump on writing the script; create an outline first. Write down all the points that appear in your head, and try to connect them.

Once you have that, start writing statements and dialogues; and while you do that, read it out loud. After you’re ready with the first draft, start editing. Pull out all the unnecessary content, extra words, and everything that is not important for the training video.

Do multiple rounds of editing, and if you have a team of editors, run it by them, so that you have a crisp written script without any flaws

Run trials

It’s always a good idea to have a few trial runs to ensure that you don’t miss out on anything at the eleventh-hour. During the trial runs, you can go over your final script and record a few pieces, to check how the quality is turning out.

It also gives you a good opportunity to check inventory – camera, lights, microphone, video editing software. This particular task is very important if you’re planning a professional video like an instructor-led video.

If you’re using more frugal techniques like screen recording videos, then checking your laptop configuration, cleaning your desktop, and getting comfortable filming yourself can be good for starters. Whatever technique you use to create video training material, do not hurry in recording the final cut before giving a few rounds of trial run.

Edit the video

After you have made the first cut of the video, re-look into it to weed out the segments from the video that can be distracting for your audience. Looks for filler words like “ah” or “uhm.” If they recur after every few seconds, it gets irritating for the audience.

Also, add intros and outros to make your videos look professional. Add subtitles, trim the length if it’s getting too long and add a proper background to your webcam recording if you’re recording that.

If you have a limited budget, then we recommend checking out screen recorders like Vmaker. It comes with a free AI video editor with a simple interface. This allows you to add subtitles, intros, outros, b-rolls, stickers, transitions, and more with AI in just one click.

Wrap Up

Alright, so these were some very simple tips that can help you start making training videos. Remember, training employees is important, but just training them will not help. If you want them to retain the training content for a longer duration, and have better return on investment, use more videos.

If you’re new to videos, then you can start with a screen recording tool as it’s simpler to use. Even if you choose any other technique, bear in mind that you need to keep the video simple and short. Moreover, know your audience, write a script and do a few rounds of trials before you share the final video.

If you enjoyed reading the above article, then here are a few more articles you might be interested in further reading!

Why Are Video Tutorials Popular?

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The answer is simple. It’s because videos simplify the whole learning process. They help us process information better and improve memory recall. So much so that today, we all rely on videos to communicate complex ideas, concepts, information and instructions.

So, irrespective of who you are, if you plan to teach something to people, you can definitely try investing your time and energy in creating a series of training videos.

In today’s post, we will be giving you a complete walk-through about how to create training videos using the simplest approaches and tools. But, before we learn how to create training videos, let’s try to understand what they truly are, and how people across different sectors benefit from them.

A training video is a video that instructs or teaches someone about something. It could be a how-to video, a tutorial, or a screencast that teaches how to get something done with easy-to-follow instructions. 

There are several types of training and instructional videos. It’s important to choose the right type of video content before you start your video creation process. Based on your audience’s interests and learning goals, you will be able to decide on the type of video you need to create for your audience. Here are some of the popular types of video content. 

i) Micro-videos

A micro-video is a short video that tries to deliver a message or a call to action within a short time frame. These types of training videos are increasingly becoming popular because of three reasons – they are easy to consume, to the point, and are effective in delivering the message within a few seconds. The optimal length of a micro-video is somewhere around five to fifteen seconds. 

ii) Screencasts

A Screencast is a digital screen recording that can be used to create detailed training manuals, tutorial guides, and video presentations. They are widely popular in the educational sector and are actively used by educators, online course creators and coaches. Simply put, a screencast captures everything that’s visible on a computer’s screen and allows presenters to add voice narrations and webcam overlays explaining the process. 

iii) Animated videos

Animated videos are fun to create. These videos use graphics, text and voiceovers to deliver their messages. Animations also help in making the videos more engaging for the audience. These kinds of animation training videos can be created for young learners in the age group of 6 – 12. There are quite a few tools available online that help beginners create animation videos effortlessly. Some of the popular animation tools are Animaker, Powtoon, Vyond, etc. 

iv) Roleplay videos

In these types of videos, a scenario is usually enacted to make viewers understand a learning process. These videos would be suitable for soft skills training. 

These days, training videos are widely used across different sectors to create e-learning materials, instructional guides, and employee onboarding manuals. Here’s a list down of the top 7 reasons why people love them.

• They make employee onboarding & training easier.
• They provide practical learning exposure without real-time interactions
• They help viewers rewatch important sections of the videos multiple times
• They serve as a great alternative to books and courses
• They help visual learners grasp lessons better
• They make it easier to access anytime, anywhere
• They reduce training costs and time involved

Now that we have a clear understanding of what training and instructional videos are, let’s dive in and learn how to create training videos easily in five simple steps.

Prefer reading? Follow these simple instructions!

Step 1: Choose the best training video software & download it to your computer

Choose the right software and install the application to your system. In the next section of this post, we will also be sharing the list of 5 best training video software available online. Feel free to take a look at it and make an informed buying decision. 

Note: In this process, we teach you how to create training videos with the help of Vmaker. Vmaker is a popular screen recording software that allows its users to create training and instructional videos effortlessly in just a few simple steps. It comes with an AI video editor and allows users to record HD videos. Users have access to multiple recording modes and can easily record both their screen and webcam. It comes without watermarks and provides custom branding options as well. 

If you choose to make your training videos with Vmaker, head over to Vmaker’s home page and sign up for Vmaker. Once you sign up, you can easily install the application to your device. Currently, the application is available in four formats:

As a Windows application

As a Chrome Extension

As a Mac application

As an iOS application

Install any one of these versions that suits your needs.

Step 2: Prepare a script

Now, it’s time to prepare your script. Once you are ready with your script, you can try taking a few mock sessions before you start recording for real. This helps you gain practice and helps you give your best shot. But, if you’re already well prepared, you can skip the mock recordings, and start recording the real session. 

To start recording, click on the ‘Record’ button on your dashboard. A small drop-down box will appear below your user icon. This is where you select your basic recording features. 

Select your desired recording quality, recording mode and audio output source. You can either click on ‘Start recording’ right away or try enhancing your videos further by enabling some additional features. 

Step 3: Customize your preferences to enable advanced features

You can customize your recording preferences according to your own requirements. 

In order to do this, click on your profile icon, and select ‘Preferences’. Here, you will have some advanced features. Enable the features that would help enhance your recording and start recording.

As soon as you click on the ‘Start Recording’ button, a timer starts indicating to you that the recording is about to start in three seconds. Once the timer stops, the recording starts. 

To make the training video more engaging, you can make use of the screen annotation feature. It will help you explain things better and will ensure your viewers stay engaged throughout the video.

Once you’re done with the recording, you can click on the Red dock button the left side of your screen to stop the recording.

Step 4: Edit and Enhance your recording

As soon as you finish the recording, you will be able to access it in Vmaker’s dashboard. If you choose to edit the recording, you can do so by clicking on the ‘Edit’ option. This will redirect you to our AI video editor, where you can transform your raw recording into a publish-ready wow video with just one click.

Not just AI, it also comes with an intuitive timeline. So, you can easily edit the parts of the video as you like.

You will be directed to Vmaker’s built-in editor. Here, you’d be able to crop, trim, rotate and flip the recording easily. Once you’re done with the editing process, you can export the file to your dashboard in your desired quality. 

Pro tip: Before you start editing your video, we highly recommend you ‘Duplicate’ the file. This ensures you have a backup of your original copy in case you cut out some necessary sections of your original video during the editing process.

Step 5: Download and share the video recording

Once you are done with the recording and editing process, you can easily download, share or upload the training video to any of your social media platforms. If you choose to share the recording, you can do so by copying the link.

If you’re on the lookout for the best software for creating training and instructional videos, you can check out this list of 5 best training video software. This list elaborates on each of the product’s features, pricing policies and ratings. 

1. Vmaker

Vmaker is an all in one recording suite that helps users record, edit and track video metrics based on the number of views a recording gets. It comes with no watermarks and provides custom branding options. Users can easily record their screens and add narrations using the webcam overlay. Vmaker also comes with screen annotation tools that help users draw and highlight important sections of the recording. 

Pro Tip: If you wish to create animated training videos, you can do so by using Vmaker Train – a complete video creation suite that comes with Animaker (DIY animation tool), Vmaker (screen recording tool), and GetShow (video hosting platform).

Features

• Recording scheduler
• Watermark free
• Records both internal & external audio
• Comes with an AI video editor
• Offers up to 4K recording quality
• Add subtitles using AI
• Allows users to track video metrics
• Comes with screen annotation tools
• Easily shareable
• Add music and customize video background using AI

Pricing 

It has three main pricing packages. 

• Lite plan (free): $0
• Starter plan: $84 a year/ $7 a month
• Team plan: $120 a year/ $10 a month

Reviews & Ratings

• G2 Rating: 4.7
• Capterra Rating: 4.4
• Crozdesk Score: 89/100

2. Camtasia

Camtasia is also a complete video recording software that provides all the necessary recording and editing features one would look for in a training video software. It has a stock library of ready-made video templates, animations and audio tracks that helps even beginners create training videos effortlessly. 

Features 

• Built-in video editor
• Screen annotation
• Powerpoint integration
• Allows users to add a table of contents
• Readymade video templates
• Easily shareable

Pricing 

It provides a license that’s valid for a lifetime. 

Camtasia license: Rs 28,369. 

Reviews & Ratings

• G2 Rating: 4.6
• Capterra Rating: 4.6
• Crozdesk Score: 92/100

3. Screencast-o-Matic 

Screencast-o-Matic is a commonly used software in the educational sector to create screencasts, instructional guides, tutorials, etc. It allows users to personalize their videos with images, screen effects and transitions. 

Features 

• Provides multiple collaboration tools
• Comes with built-in video editing tools
• Provides easy backup and recovery 
• Records both internal and microphone audio
• Provides speech to text translations 
• Easily shareable 

Pricing 

It has four pricing packages. 

• Free plan: $0
• Business plan: $5/user per month
• Premier plan: $5.75 per month (annual subscription)
• Deluxe plan: $4 per month (annual subscription)

Reviews & Ratings

• G2 Rating: 4.3
• Capterra Rating: 4.5

4. Panopto

Panopto is another screen recording tool that comes with all the necessary recording, editing and video management features. It allows users to create and record video presentations enhanced with special multimedia elements. 

Features 

• Provides a video content management software
• Records both system audio and microphone audio
• Allows users to track engagement 

Pricing 

It has two major pricing packages. 

• Panopto Basic plan: $0
• Panopto Pro: $14.99/month 

Reviews & Ratings

• G2 Rating: 4.2
• Capterra Rating: 4.5

5. Hippo Video

This is an easy-to-use software that helps users create training guides, tutorials and video messages. It allows users to personalize their videos with graphs, callouts and tags. 

Features 

• Provides video analytics and reports
• Customizable video thumbnails
• Provides 100 GB bandwidth
• Provides multiple video embed options
• Easily shareable

Pricing 

It has separate pricing packages for different categories. 

Sales

• Starter plan: $15 per month 
• Pro plan: $ 30 per month
• Growth plan: $ 48 per month per user
• Enterprise plan: $79 per month per user

Team 

• Starter plan: $4 per month 
• Pro plan: $ 15 per month
• Growth plan: $ 20 per month 

Reviews & Ratings

• G2 Rating: 4.5
• Capterra Rating: 4.5

Here are a few tips you can keep in mind while you make your training videos.

• Tell a story
• Set a clear learning objective 
• Know your audience 
• Don’t aim for perfection in the very first shot
• Ensure that the video recording is mobile-friendly
• Determine the budget of your video beforehand
• Remember, that you don’t need costly recording equipments
• Don’t hesitate to hire a professional voice over artist
• Set up an engaging thumbnail 
• Share on multiple social media channels 

Bonus: 5-Step Action Plan For Video Creation

In order to create an effective training video, it’s safe and advisable to stick to a plan. Here’s a five-step action plan you can follow to make your video creation quicker and easier:

Recommended Reads

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• A Complete Tutorial Video Guide (With Tips & Tricks)

The sad part about corporate training is that it always remains as an afterthought. Management does not work on it actively, trying to find breakthrough solutions to make training more inspiring. However, this has to change now. After the Coronavirus pandemic, the work environment has become very dynamic. Remote working is normal, and employees have the power to choose where they want to work from. While they’re doing that, they’re also leaving organizations where they see limited learning opportunities. 

The only way to stop these employees is by designing & implementing corporate training in a revamped way. The one that is more relevant & syncs with the current employees. One that inspires them to stay in their job & push themselves to generate better results. On that note, if you’re a manager or an L&D professional, read this blog till the end to get some ideas on how you can make corporate training better with some engaging video ideas.

5 types of engaging videos for corporate training

Before we get to the list, here’s something important that you have to remember. This list is not exhaustive. There are different ways that companies are using to make corporate videos. The learning and development field is constantly evolving, so keep an out there. Use this list as a reference, and keep adding more as you discover along the way.

Animated videos

We don’t have to tell you why animated videos are so engaging. We watched them as kids. Our eyes glued to the TV screen for hours, we do it even now. Well, at least some of us still do it. It’s hard to explain why animated videos are so charming, but they definitely pique interest when they appear on the screen. That’s why animated videos top our list. 

What we also love about them is their flexibility. You can use them in your corporate training video for explaining how different teams work. Or, it could be a company overview video, corporate health policy, or an investment education series. The point is that it is effective for all of them equally.

However, the biggest reason for recommending animated videos is that they can be created by anyone and without being dependent on an external agency. With tools like Animaker, you can pick templates, characters, and make the complete video by simple drag and drop.

Screen recording

The reason why we keep suggesting screen recording videos as making them part of corporate or any training videos is because they are agile. They can single-handedly do what multiple tools can’t do together. It just doesn’t end with recording your screen. With your voice and webcam recording, the videos become personal and educational. And, when you’re making a corporate training video, this blend works great. 

You must have already figured that screen recorders can be a great fit for your budget. Other than that, the biggest advantage of using a screen recorder is that you can mix different content types & present them in the form of a video. For example, you can record an animated video, presentation slides & a keynote message from the CEO, and put them all together in one single video. This also keeps things interesting for the employees as they get equal doses of different forms of content.

We recommend you use Vmaker, obviously. But, don’t take our word for it. Go check it out and see if it plays well for you. We also recommend checking out software comparison websites to get the hang of the different screen recorders that are available on the market and make the best choice for yourself.

Instructor-led videos

The specialty of this type of training video is that it is reminiscent of formal educational training that everyone has to go through. It’s like an online classroom session where the instructor explains and breaks down the meaning of complex stuff, making it easy for the attendees to assimilate the information.

The onus shifts to the shoulder of the instructor. The employees attending the training session have to do the less stressful part of the training, and that is listening. They don’t have to read from slides or lines of text and try to find the meaning behind them. Moreover, the instructor’s body language, expressions, and gestures add to the experience of learning, which is highly impactful from the retention point of view.

Before we move to the next part, here’s something you should know. To make instructor-led videos, you don’t need a classroom or a heavy studio setup. Using a screen recorder, you can get the job done in the same way, at a lower cost, but high quality.

Employee made videos

It’s easy to learn from colleagues. It’s more believable when they share their job experience, learning at the workplace and how their work is contributing to the success of the organization. For these reasons, employee-created videos can be an excellent way to train employees. This type of video is great when you’re planning to create videos for each department.

This way, senior employees can get into the specifics, be more technical, and share practical knowledge about working in the team. Also, the attendees feel more comfortable opening up and asking questions.

To make the most out of these videos, you can create a database and keep uploading similar videos here, so that it can be used and repurposed as needed. In a remote work set up, employees can check the videos and update themselves on the latest developments.

Interactive videos

We kept this for the end because interactive videos are complex and require more time, money, and effort. In interactive videos, the attendee plays an active role in controlling the video. They have the ability to make choices, answer questions, skip content or play it at a higher speed. Many companies have started using more modern techniques like 360 – degree views where the employees can view the environment and make an assessment. 

The interesting part about these videos is that they are fresh and more innovative as compared to other training sessions. Having said that, all of this comes at a cost. If you plan to make interactive videos, be ready to shell out some extra bucks. Because you have to hire an agency first who are experienced in this type of content creation. You also have to spend a large amount of time working on the curriculum and re-iterating with your team.

However, interactive videos are a worthy investment as they can be shared with the whole organization and expect active participation from everyone.

Summing it up

Corporate training is one of the most crucial jobs of a learning and development team. Whether it’s on the job training or training for new employees, training programs are highly effective. But, with remote work and hybrid work set-up, using the traditional ways for training like presentations and online documentation will not cut it. Videos are the right way for learning and development professionals to create corporate training material.

But, when it comes to making videos, it can be done in so many ways. This blog is a snapshot of that. As you’re aware of the most popular types of videos now, discuss with your team, senior management, analyze your strengths and weaknesses to zero in on the right technique. And, once you get started, don’t forget to improvise to get better at it.

Furthermore, editing a video is a vital part of any type of videos you create. Vmaker AI video editor is the perfect tool that turns your raw videos into publish-ready wow videos in just one click. Don’t have time to edit your videos? Vmaker AI takes care of the editing process in just one click, saving you time and allowing you to focus on creating more quality content.

Recommended Reading:

7 upskilling and reskilling strategies to improve employee retention

Top 10 Styles of Animated Explainer Videos (With Examples)

How to Use Screen Recording Software for Video Creation

How to Make Engaging and Effective Training Videos

Training Videos 101: Everything You Need to Know