In everyday life, it's not uncommon to have to search for the perfect video tutorial to answer our questions. How do you remove wallpaper from a wall? How to bleed a radiator? How do you teach your dog to sit up? According to Google Trends, this type of search is increasing by 70% every year on YouTube. There's no shortage of everyday questions, and so many opportunities for professionals to showcase their expertise on video.
But video tutorials also have their place in the world of work! Onboarding new employees, reinforcing in-house skills... Video tutorials have it all, and digital learning is growing all the time. And that's no accident! Videos like these are an effective way of transmitting and formalizing knowledge. So much so, in fact, that according to a TechSmith study, 83% of those questioned would rather watch a video than learn new material from a written or audio medium.
Would you like to create your own video tutorials as part of your internal or external communications? Then this article is for you! In this article, we'll explain the most common mistakes made when creating video tutorials, so that you can avoid them. All with professional advice!
#1 - Don't set an objective and improvise your video tutorial
A video tutorial without a defined objective is like navigating blindly. All too often, content creators fail to clarify from the outset what the viewer should retain from the video. The result: digressions, excessive length and a lack of clarity that ends up losing the audience along the way.
And there's another pitfall: improvising without a script or storyboard. Without a preliminary plan, it's easy to get lost, forget key points or offer disjointed content . Imagine a tutorial where the author hesitates, backtracks, loses the thread of his explanations or doesn't respond concretely to the subject: it's easy to lose interest... And that's exactly what you need to avoid!
The solution? Before filming, ask yourself two simple questions: What does the viewer need to learn? and Why is this video necessary? This will help you clarify the purpose of the tutorial. Next, write a script and draw up a storyboard to structure each step. The script ensures that nothing important is forgotten, while the storyboard visually plans transitions and sequences. In this way, you avoid digressions and deliver fluid, step-by-step content that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.
Let's take the example of the video explaining how to use our mytydeo application. The aim is simple: to show you how it works and how to transmit your rushes. Thanks to rigorous preparation, the video is concise and precisely meets the user's expectations, with no superfluous content.
#2 - Ignoring the target audience for your explainer videos
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Tailoring your message to the right audience is essential to creating a good video tutorial. It's a common mistake not to take into account viewers' level of expertise, and the content quickly becomes inappropriate. If you present an overly technical subject to novices, you run the risk of quickly losing them. Conversely, explanations that are too basic will bore a well-informed audience.
Personalization is the key. Understanding who's watching your video allows you to calibrate tone and vocabulary. The idea is to put yourself in the shoes of the person who will be watching your tutorial. A tutorial on editing software should be easy to understand for beginners, yet concise for advanced users. Adapting the complexity and examples to the right level gives the tutorial meaning and captures attention.
Tip 💡
Depending on the subject and the skills of your collaborators or audience, consider creating several tutorial videos with different levels. For example: beginner, advanced or expert. This will meet the specific expectations of each group and deliver a more personalized and, above all, more effective experience !
#3 - Putting viewers to sleep through lack of dynamism
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Would you feel able to follow an hour of monotonous video, with no transitions or changes of pace? Probably not. Once again, this is one of the most common mistakes: fixed shots, a dull tone and interminable length. Even the most motivated of your colleagues or collaborators is likely to take off!
The solution? Inject dynamism! Use smooth transitions to link your sequences, vary camera angles to give life to your shots, and add annotations or zooms to emphasize key points. These visual effects aren't there just to look pretty; they help hold attention and highlight important information. For example, an annotation that summarizes a concept or displays a visual reminder increases the chances that your viewers will retain the message.
And remember: don't overload your videos with too much information at once. If you have a tutorial that turns out to be complex, divide it up into shorter, punchier videos. A well-structured tutorial keeps your audience focused.
Last but not least: structure your content right from the start. Announce key steps in the introduction, and for YouTube videos, consider adding timecodes in the description. This system makes it easy for viewers to navigate between the different sections of your video. Example: "00:00 - Introduction", "02:45 - Step 1: Setup". Simple, effective and, above all, it boosts your SEO and your viewers' experience.
#4 - Lack of interaction and audio narration
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Speaking of dynamism, a video tutorial without narration is likely to lack clarity, especially when it comes to demonstrating the use of a tool. If you simply film your screen without audio explanations, the audience can quickly get lost in the manipulations. This drastically reduces learning efficiency. Images alone, without context or explanation, are not always enough to convey the necessary information.
Another common mistake is not to encourage audienceinteraction. A tutorial that simply rolls out explanations without actively involving its viewers limits their engagement. Even if it's not a live event, an engaging tutorial can encourage your employees to test and reflect. Content that is too passive, with no interaction, tends to reduce the impact on learning.
To solve this problem, consider integrating a clear, structured audio narration to accompany the visuals and guide the viewer through each step. A simple voice-over explaining on-screen manipulations adds an indispensable layer of understanding.
At the same time, make your tutorial interactive by integrating calls to action. For example, offer breaks where the audience can test what they've just learned, or ask questions to get them thinking. Encourage them to try out a feature, then return to the video to validate their knowledge or learn the next step. This active approach, combined with effective narration, makes your tutorial much more stimulating.
#5 - Poor audio or video quality
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A video tutorial can be interesting, but poor audio or video quality will make it difficult to follow. Unclear sound, background noise or blurred, poorly framed videos quickly frustrate viewers. For example, a video with insufficient lighting or too wide a framing distracts from the main content. The result? Users tune out.
The solution is simple: invest in a minimum of equipment to guarantee professional rendering. An external microphone, even an inexpensive one, will ensure crisp, clear sound. On the visual side, good lighting (natural or LED) and precise framing will make all the difference. Your video immediately becomes more pleasant to watch and listen to.
If you're looking to maximize the quality of your tutorials, tydeo is here to help. Our team of expert video editors, sound engineers and professional videographers guarantees impeccable rendering. Whether it's adjusting colors, stabilizing the image or capturing high-quality sound, we make sure your videos reach the highest level of professionalism.
#6 - Ignoring SEO
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Forgetting about SEO when creating a video tutorial means limiting its impact, especially if it's aimed at an audience broader than your internal collaborators, such as customers or prospects. By not taking SEO into account, your video becomes invisible on platforms like YouTube or Google, even if its content is relevant. For example, a tutorial explaining how to use software sold by your company would benefit from being well referenced to attract new users.
The solution is to optimize the title, description and tags. An evocative title that contains the keywords you're looking for, a detailed description with key information and well-chosen tags all help to improve your video's visibility in search results. In addition, including subtitles and a transcript can also help your video rank higher on Google. Remember to adapt the vocabulary to the terms your target audience is likely to type into the search bar. A well-referenced video reaches more people and becomes a real marketing tool.
The ideal video tutorial
Preparing a quality video tutorial requires anticipation and rigor. By avoiding common mistakes such as improvisation, lack of subtitles or videos that are too long, you ensure that your audience is captivated and engaged from start to finish. A well-designed tutorial is not only clearer, but also more effective in conveying knowledge.
Whatever your objective, whether it's to train your staff internally or to share your expertise as a chef, sports coach or other professional, video tutorials are now central to training and communication practices.
To find out more, read our article on how to make a successful training video.
If you need a hand with editing, tydeo offers a fast 48-hour video editing service. And for more complex shoots, our professional videographers are at your disposal. You can also find out about our training courses, and don't miss our tutorials on our YouTube channel.
With these tools, you'll have all you need to create powerful video tutorials tailored to your needs.
