Dynamic training for a dynamic labor market
The global labor market has changed dramatically in recent years. Corporate training is becoming increasingly important as generative AI, robotics, automation, and other technologies change the way people work. That said, company leaders shouldn’t implement old-fashioned training just to check things off a list. Evolving technology means that corporate training must also evolve. That’s why leaders should invest in video-based training, creating high-quality training videos that teach employees the skills, concepts, and workflows they need to thrive in the workforce of the future. But how can companies create effective and engaging training videos? Here are some practical tips and examples. But first, let’s consider what training videos are and why they are a good investment.
In this article…
What is a training video?
Training videos are video-based content that educates your audience about a specific topic. Organizations use training videos to improve employees’ existing skills and help them learn new ones. This enables employees to perform their jobs more effectively and efficiently.
While instructor-led classroom training remains a popular method of training employees, video-based training is increasingly being used in the workplace. According to a training industry report, 79% of companies use virtual classroom, webcasting, or video broadcast technology to train their employees.
This investment is consistent with how employees use information. A Forrester Research study found that 75% of employees are more likely to watch a video than read a document, email, or web article. Effective training videos also provide the following benefits to your organization:
High learner engagement and retention. Reduced training time. Cost reduction. Standardized learning experience. Accessible and reusable learning content. Increases brand credibility.
5 types of training videos
If you’re looking to invest in training videos, there are several options to choose from. The type of training video you ultimately use will depend on your target audience and topic.
how-to videos
Show your employees how to perform a task or complete a process. Perfect for teaching practical skills, such as how to use software tools. Scenario video
Simulate real-life situations that employees may encounter at work. Ideal for soft skills training such as communication and leadership training. animation video
Explain complex topics using 2D or 3D visuals, motion graphics, or character animation. Great for simplifying abstract or technical concepts such as cybersecurity. presenter video
A subject matter expert, instructor, or company representative speaks directly to the camera. Perfect for leadership messages, expert insights, or policy developments that require a personal touch. screencast video
Record the presenter’s computer screen while he or she is demonstrating the task. Perfect for software tutorials, system walkthroughs, or platform training.
How to make an effective training video?
A good training video has six characteristics:
Clear learning objectives Target audience Appropriate format Ideal length High quality audio and video Accessibility features
Let’s look at each in more detail.
clear learning objectives
Without clear learning objectives, your training videos can veer off-topic, show irrelevant details, and confuse your audience. By being clear about what you want your employees to accomplish after watching a video, such as completing a task in your company’s learning management system (LMS), you can ensure that each second of screen time supports that goal.
Target audience
Training videos should always keep the audience in mind. What are the roles and experience levels of your employees? What challenges do they face? How knowledgeable are they about the topic? Defining these details upfront will help you create relevant video content that solves employee problems and helps them do their jobs more effectively.
proper format
Each training video serves a clear purpose. How-to videos are better for explaining to your audience how to complete a task or challenge. Scenario videos are great for modeling the soft skills you want your employees to demonstrate in real-life work situations. Choosing the right format will help your employees retain and apply the information effectively.
ideal length
The length of your video can affect its effectiveness. Therefore, you need to strike the right balance to help learners focus on learning and remember the material. Research shows that video engagement peaks at 6 minutes, so aim for that length when creating your video.
High quality audio and visuals
High quality audio and visuals are critical to clarity and learner engagement. If your training video is difficult to hear or watch, viewers will lose interest and miss important information. To avoid this, record in high resolution, monitor audio levels, and carefully frame your shots.
Accessibility features
Effective training videos ensure that all employees, regardless of ability, language, or learning preference, can fully engage with and benefit from the content. Accessible videos provide closed captioning for employees who are hearing impaired, descriptive narration for employees who are visually impaired, and closed captioning for employees who speak different languages.
How to create a training video in 6 steps
Now you know how to create effective training videos. Now let’s actually create it. Below is a step-by-step process.
1) Define learning objectives
Learning objectives clarify what the training should accomplish, whether it’s improving a specific skill or introducing a new process. This keeps your content focused and measurable. For example, if your goal is to teach your customer service representatives how to respond to customer inquiries, make sure your videos include support scripts that can be used to increase resolution rates and increase customer satisfaction.
2) Select video type
As already mentioned, certain videos are suitable for teaching certain topics. If you want marketing professionals to learn how to use a particular platform, screencasts are much more effective than animated videos. However, if you want to teach your fellow marketing professionals a concept like a marketing funnel, an animated video is much more effective than a screencast.
3) Create a script and storyboard
A script and storyboard ensure that your video conveys the most relevant and important information to your audience and presents that information in a logical order. For example, a presenter video announcing a company’s new diversity and inclusion policy should follow a script that explains each of the presenter’s main points, as well as a storyboard that shows key visuals and text overlays that emphasize those points.
4) Shoot or animate a video
The process of creating a training video varies depending on the type of video you want to create. Presenter and scenario videos require a high-quality camera, tripod, and external microphone, while how-to and screencast videos require screen capture software. Finally, animated videos require motion graphics software to design characters, icons, and other visuals.
5) Edit and enhance videos
Editing your videos makes your content professional, engaging, and easy to understand. This helps employees absorb, retain, and apply information. Here are some tips for editing your videos.
Cut out long pauses, digressions, and mistakes. Add on-screen text, highlights, or graphics to emphasize important points. Adjust volume level and remove ambient noise. Incorporate smooth transitions between scenes or sections. Add captions, subtitles, and descriptive audio to ensure accessibility.
6) Video hosting and distribution
Properly hosting and distributing your videos makes your material more accessible to your viewers and can also be stored for future use. You can host your videos on your LMS or simply upload them to a video hosting platform. To ensure employees know how and where to find content, announce and share links to training via email, Slack, and other internal collaboration tools and apps.
Stay ahead with smart, scalable training videos
You don’t need to hire a fancy production company to create effective training videos. Simply define your learning goals, choose the type of video that best suits you, and then shoot or animate your video using the right equipment and following a strict script. You’ll soon have dozens of videos created that you can reuse when onboarding new employees, saving you time and resources and freeing you to focus on more strategic tasks. Whether you’re creating new videos or updating old ones, you can follow the same process to create fresh, engaging video content to keep your company ahead and your employees ahead of the game.
