The keys to a successful training video

Conveying knowledge in a clear and engaging way. This is a difficult objective to achieve when you find yourself welcoming a new employee with a twenty-page paper document to teach them how to use your internal management software. If you want your training courses to hit the mark, opt for video instead! In an age when attention is dispersed in the blink of an eye, video training is an essential tool for capturing the interest of the people you want to train, and for conveying all the information they need in a powerful way. What's more, according to Insivia, 95% of a message is retained when viewing a video, compared with 10% when reading a text.

But be careful! There's more to a successful training video than pressing the "record" button. In fact, if you want to offer training videos to your customers or in-house, and they just run on and on with lines and lines of text, with no sound or voice-over, you're in danger of simply flopping... To make a training video a success, you need to structure your content, choose the right format and create content that sticks in your mind. And every detail counts. In this article, we'll show you the key steps to turning your ideas into effective training videos, so follow the guide!

1. Define your pedagogical and third-party objectives

As with any project, the first step is to define your objectives. For video training, it all starts with two simple but essential questions: who are you targeting? And what do you want your learners to retain? In other words, you need to target the people your video will be aimed at, and identify the skills or knowledge you want to pass on.

Are you targeting employees in a particular department within your organization? How much time do they have for training? Or are you targeting your customers with training videos on your software or on a theme in your field of activity?

Once you've set your objective, you need to determine the expected results. Do your learners simply need to understand the concepts, or apply them in real-life situations? Does your video have a purpose other than training, such as reinforcing the performance of your teams or your brand image with your customers and prospects? With specific expectations, you'll be able to structure your video script so that it gets straight to the point.

Let's take the example of a retailer who has just rolled out a new inventory management system. Here, the objective is quite clear: each employee must be able to use the software independently after viewing the video. In this case, the video goes beyond being a teaching tool to become a real key to ensuring the team's day-to-day performance.

2. Choose the right format for your video training

Now that your objectives have been clearly established, it's time to get creative! To achieve them, the choice of format for your training video is crucial. And there's no shortage of choice: face-to-face,screencast, interactive video... each format has its strengths, but you still need to know which one best suits your audience and what you want to convey.

Face-to-face: the direct, human option

Although a lens and then a screen separate you from your learners, speaking directly to them has a certain impact. This format works wonders for creating a connection, conveying complex concepts or sharing important messages. It's also one of the most coveted formats for youtubers who have mastered the art of popularization. These include Nota Bene, whose history videos are presented by Benjamin Brillaud, who presents various historical concepts and facts on camera, interspersed with visual elements to support his points.

Screencast: the darling of technical training courses

Need to demonstrate how to use a software program? Well, that's what this format is for. Thescreen is shown, the learner is guided step by step, and by the end, he knows exactly what to do. A perfect example of this format can be found in Microsoft's support videos. Many of the video training courses on Microsoft Word, for example, are screencasts with background music, zooming and explanations to keep the viewer's attention.

Another example is YoanDev, a YouTube channel hosted by Yoan Bernabeu and dedicated to web development training. Here, videos oscillate between face-to-face and screencast. The trainer remains present even when showing his computer screen! In this case, the screen is simply minimized to make way for the stream from his screen, allowing viewers to follow his developments as they unfold. 

Interactive videos: the active, engaging option

If you want your learners to be even more active, opt for interactive videos. Add quizzes, polls and interactive scenarios. In short, make your viewers actors in their own learning. It's a technique that transforms a video into a truly immersive and complete experience.

This can only be done by asking your audience questions, with short pauses before giving the answer. The best example of this is the Defakator channel, whose aim is to demystify facts and reveal false content using the scientific method. In his videos, the videographer regularly urges viewers to pause and reflect on a question or problem before giving their own answer.

We're also thinking of the films that can be found on the Netflix streaming platform, such as 2019's You VS Wild with Bear Grylls. With these creations, we seem to rediscover those books in which we become the heroes of the story and which, depending on our choices or rolls of the dice, get us to this or that stage of the adventure. A training video in this format would engage your learners!

In short, the format is your trump card. Choose it according to your audience and your objectives, and you're sure to score points.

3. Scripting and video design

Before you get started, there's one fundamental step: scripting. This is where it all comes together. A good script ensures a clear, fluid and punchy video. But every word counts. The script must be structured in such a way as to guide the learner from beginning to end, without ever losing him along the way. You therefore need to follow a logical thread, from the introduction to the key concepts before concluding.

To help you visualize all this, it's best to go through the storyboard. In other words, it's your video's roadmap. It will enable you to get organized and see, even before the camera rolls, how the scenes will flow together, what visuals will accompany each part of the script and how the transitions will be made. It will be your best ally in avoiding unpleasant surprises and guaranteeing a professional result.

In addition, depending on the format you choose and your content, remember to make your script and ultimately your video dynamic to maintain attention throughout. This is particularly the case if your video training is to end up on a platform like YouTube.

This is also the time to think about recording a voice-over. A clear, professional voice-over can help you create an effective learning video. Even if you don't opt for the face-to-face format, your voice will guide learners through your video. However, it's important to pay attention to audio quality.

In any case, don't forget to include subtitles for accessibility reasons, but also because your employees or customers won't always be able to watch your training with sound.  

4. Call on the tydeo agency for professional editing

When it comes to creating a training video, the quality of the editing makes all the difference. And that's whereTydeo comes in. Our teams don't just edit sequences, they transform a collection of shots into a fluid, coherent video. Every cut, every transition, every effect is meticulously chosen to serve the message and maximize impact.

At Tydeo, we can also customize your video content to reflect your corporateimage . Need to add graphic elements, animations or adapt the tone to the target audience? The agency takes care of everything, and the end result is a training video that not only informs and educates, but inspires confidence and credibility.

When you call on our services, you're also guaranteed tailor-made support. From the outset, our experts will guide you throughout your project. Need to write a script, choose the right visuals or decide on the right tone? We're here to advise and support you, from the first brief to the last minute of the video.

As you've no doubt gathered by now, creating a training video is not something you can improvise. However, if well conceived and edited, such a video can transform learning, whether for your employees or your customers. To do this, you need to define clear pedagogical objectives, choose the right format and carefully script your content. In this way, you'll give yourself the best chance of delivering quality training.

However, if you want to go one step further, the support of a professional video editing agency is a major asset. With its expertise, tydeo not only guarantees impeccable editing quality, but also guides you through the entire process, tailoring the content to your specific needs.

Choose excellence for your training videos and turn every viewing into an unforgettable learning experience. Contact the tydeo team today.