What makes a good training video in 2020? Here we offer 8 tips for modern training videos.
Training videos are becoming increasingly important for a huge number of companies across every industry. Producing a high-quality modern training video is a worthwhile investment as it ensures all your staff or customers have the correct training and information. At the same time, it saves you time and money as you don’t have to hire trainers every time a new member of staff starts or a new piece of equipment is brought in.
1. Animate your logo
An animated logo is dynamic and instantly grabs the attention of the viewer. As you can see in the below video we created for AED Authority, opening with an animated logo makes the company branding more memorable and prepares the viewer for the content of the video.
Having your logo animated also offers great value for your business as you can use the same animation at the beginning and end of multiple training videos, corporate videos and your social media videos. You can also use it on the home page of your website as a means of engaging visitors.
2. Incorporate music tracks
Every good training video should have a soundtrack. Although, this shouldn’t be so obvious that it detracts from the message of the video. Using music tracks in the background can help to drive the action of the video, as demonstrated by the video example below (Directors Cut), which is given a greater sense of urgency by the music. The use of appropriate, modern music makes your video more memorable.
Music also helps audiences to engage more effectively with the video as it provokes an emotional response.
3. Hire a professional voice-over artist
The whole point of a training video is to deliver information in a clear and precise way. This is why it is extremely important to hire a professional voice-over artist instead of using someone you know.
Voice-over artists are highly experienced, and they pronounce every word clearly so the message of your video will be conveyed more effectively. They also make your video more interesting and engaging as they don’t just read from a script – they know how to bring the words to life, which parts to emphasise, and when to pause so the correct message is conveyed.
In addition, they only record using top-quality equipment so the sound quality will be excellent. It’s no surprise that listeners are more likely to retain information when it is spoken by a professional voice-over artist.
4. Include graphic title pages
In the AED Authority video, we interspersed the live-action footage with graphic title pages showing a photograph of the defibrillator and relevant text reinforcing the words being spoken in the voice-over.
This is a highly effective technique as it gives viewers more opportunity to absorb the message of the video. These words are on-screen for several seconds, and the viewer has the opportunity to read, as well as listen, so the message is doubly reinforced. It also makes the video more interesting as the action is broken up into several easily digestible sections.
5. Use professional actors
Some companies choose to use their own employees in their training videos, but this isn’t always a good decision. Professional actors are much more comfortable on-screen than your employees will be as they’re used to acting on camera. This is especially important with training videos as even the right facial expressions can be crucial to getting the emphasis right.
Professional actors instantly know what’s required so the shoot will be quicker and easier, and, ultimately, the message of your video will be conveyed more effectively.
6. Hire a professional production company
It might be tempting to shoot a training video on your smartphone, but the quality just won’t be high enough to make your video look professional and engaging. Professional production companies have all the latest equipment, as well as understand the right techniques to use in order to convey your chosen message. For example, in the AED Authority video, we deliberately shot the footage in a shaky style, incorporating constant movement to create a sense of urgency and authenticity.
Professional video production companies also have the knowledge and experience to produce graphics and animations and have access to other essential elements, such as music tracks and actors. This solves all your video production problems in one place.
It’s worth remembering that 62 per cent of viewers will view your business in a negative way if you produce a poor-quality video. This is why a professional production company is essential.
7. Have a flowing narrative
Training videos need to be relatable, and the information needs to be presented in a way that is easy to understand. This is why you need to keep your narrative simple and ensure it reflects real-life situations.
The story in the AED Authority video is extremely simple, and it gets straight to the point – a colleague is unwell, and two other colleagues have to use the defibrillator. Keeping the narrative straightforward like this ensures that the message will be more easily understood and retained.
8. Include a call to action
The purpose of every corporate video is ultimately to encourage viewers to find out more about your business or product. It’s essential for viewers to understand what action they are supposed to take once they have finished watching the video. This is why a clear call to action is essential.
The AED Authority video ends with a graphic showing the company logo, along with the call to action: “For further information” and the company phone number, email, and web address. At the same time, the voice-over is explaining more about the company.
This highly effective brand messaging will encourage more people to contact the company, leading to more conversions and sales.
For more information about training video production, please contact us, and we’ll be happy to help.