Making an instructional video is a smart idea when you want to make sure that certain instructions are followed correctly. For example, for your staff, to optimize certain business processes. But how do you know for sure that your instructional video is also equally clear to everyone? That is the question we will answer in this article.
A good instructional video starts with a plan
Starting to record right away usually doesn’t give the best results. It’s therefore important to first work out a well-thought-out plan. Consider:
- what you want to achieve with your instructional video
- what your target group is and what characteristics it has
- what the message is that you are going to communicate
- how you are going to get that message across
Formulate very clear answers to this for yourself. This way you will immediately get a clear picture of what needs to be done and within which frameworks you will make the instructional video.
Write a script
When you are recording, it is nice to know exactly what you want to say. A stammering, bumbling narrator on screen is anything but convincing and detracts from your message. So think in advance about what you want to say and write this out word by word in a script.
It also helps to discuss this script with one or more colleagues. Remember that the script should be short, powerful and clear to the viewer. So present only essential information and leave out the rest. Also consider the tone of the message and make sure it matches the message you are communicating.
Is the process you want to explain complex and does it consist of multiple instructions? Make sure you make a separate video for each instruction. This way, users who want to watch a specific instruction can easily find it.
Supporting images
Instructional videos often discuss complicated subjects. With all types of instructions, but especially with safety instructions, it is important to support the verbal explanation visually. The message will then be much better received by the recipient.
Therefore, when developing an instructional video, try to think about how you can best use that graphic support. A good example is the instructional video of the airline Delta. A woman talks about the safety instructions, but at the same time there are funny images to support her story
Because these images are slightly different from most videos, they grab the viewer's attention and the message is better conveyed.
When presenting figures, it is strong if you support them with an infographic. In the video below, the creator succeeds in simplifying complex subjects with a good story and clear supporting images, so that the viewer understands exactly what it is about.
Quality above all
The written script for your instructional video must of course be a crystal clear story. But that also applies to the images you use. No grainy images, but razor-sharp visual support in HD quality. This way you can also be sure that the film can be viewed well on every possible device.
Don't forget the sound!
Fortunately, image quality is something that most people think about when recording an instructional video. Unfortunately, this does not always apply to the quality of the sound. So when recording, make sure that you have a professional microphone in addition to a good camera.
Make sure you test the sound recordings in advance and take into account ambient noise. Do not speak too loudly into the microphone, but remain audible. Avoid echoes and other forms of noise. It is best to speak your script several times until you have found the best form and are really satisfied with the quality.
Of course, you should also test the end result on different devices before releasing your instructional video. For example, how does it sound on a mobile phone or through the speakers of a laptop?
Test and evaluate your instructional video
Is your video ready to be launched? Don't forget to test it with your target audience beforehand. You'll be amazed at the insights you'll gain. Things that seem perfectly logical to you can sometimes be unclear to your target audience.
At this point in the process, you fortunately still have time to adjust your video if necessary. It is a bit of extra work, but it prevents your instructional video from not working properly in practice.
The publication
Once the instructional video is completely finished, you are ready to publish it. Many companies do this on their own website, others place the video on an external platform such as YouTube or Vimeo.
Logical, but it is also still possible to physically distribute the video. PixioCard makes this easier than ever before. Your instructional video will then be delivered in a fully printed luxury card and will start playing as soon as it is opened. This way, your instructional video becomes part of your video brochure of company presentation.
An original way, which also increases the chance that the video will actually be watched. A physical card with a video screen is just a little more noticeable than a link in an email, right? Curious about what the PixioCard could look like? Ask a test sample on and experience it yourself.
