Video tutorials are extremely popular among viewers due to the fact that they provide value to them in the form of important information on how to do something that they want. That being said some tutorials are flat out better than others, and viewers definitely appreciate it when they find a great tutorial and are more likely to watch and share it.
The good news is that creating a great video tutorial isn’t really that difficult, and a few useful tips are all that you should need to pull it off:
- Keep it simple and concise
The key to a great tutorial is that it should present viewers with the easiest way to perform the task or action that they’re learning about. That starts from the time you begin to structure your tutorial.
One of the best ways to keep a tutorial simple and concise is to write a detailed script. That way you can ‘see’ the structure of the tutorial before you start rolling the camera, and make adjustments to simplify and make it more concise if need be.
- Record excellent audio
Most video tutorials rely heavily on a voiceover to explain each step of their content. Unfortunately in many tutorials the audio quality is far from ideal, and may crackle, pop, or even be completely inaudible at some points.
Recording high quality audio is essential if you want to create a great tutorial – and that starts with the microphone that you use. Try to find a decent mid-range microphone, and make sure it is the right type for your video. For example if you’re recording a tutorial where you’re showing the steps being performed yourself while explaining them on-screen, a lavalier microphone may be best.
In addition to the type of microphone, you should try to take other steps to improve the audio quality. It is sometimes easier to record the voiceover separately, as it will let you find a quiet location with less background noise to record in.
- Find the right tools to ‘show’ each step
The reason tutorial videos are so effective is that they will let you ‘show’ each step in the tutorial in a way that plain text or audio never could. To fully leverage that however, you need to find the right tools to show each step.
Generally speaking for tutorials involving physical objects you may want to record conventional videos, but for digital products it may be better to use screen recording. For example you could use Movavi Screen Recorder Studio and follow the steps at http://www.movavi.com/support/how-to/how-to-create-videoguide.html.
In certain specific cases you may find it easier to show the steps using other media, such as illustrations, graphs, or animation.
- Inject some personality into the tutorial
While the focus of the tutorial should be on showing viewers what they want to learn about – that doesn’t mean it has to be dull. To be perfectly honest some of the most popular video tutorials are the ones that have a charismatic presenter who cracks jokes and is passionate about what they’re doing.
Suffice to say you should try to inject some personality into your video – but just make sure it isn’t too distracting and doesn’t take up too much time. If you don’t feel you have the camera presence or voice for it, you may want to consider hiring a professional.
- Add subtitles to the video
If possible you should try to always make it a point to add subtitles to your tutorials. Not only will that make it easier for viewers to follow the video even if they are hearing-impaired or have the volume turned down or muted, but it will look more professional as well.
Assuming you do decide to add subtitles to your video, you should make sure they are clearly visible. The font should be easy to read and large enough for viewers to make out, and the color should contrast against the part of the video that it is placed (typically the bottom area).
- Make sure the video is mobile-friendly
It is safe to say that a large number of the people who watch your video will be on mobile devices – so your tutorial must be mobile-friendly. While a lot of that involves how it is published and whether or not the website and video player is responsive, it also is something you need to keep in mind when you’re creating the tutorial.
Simply put because of the screen sizes of mobile devices, small elements and details may not be as visible as they would be on larger screens. To compensate you will need to make sure that every important element can be easily made out, and may need to record the video as a close-up if there are any smaller elements involved.
If you follow all of the tips listed above, you should have the makings of a really great tutorial. Although some areas may be a bit tricky to manage the first time round, it is really just a question of making a start.
Always remember that at the end of the day the goal of your tutorial should be to help viewers learn how to perform the action or task in question in as simple and clear a manner as possible. Every decision that you make regarding your tutorial should be to further that goal, and that is what will make your tutorial stand out against the many other subpar tutorials that don’t really hit the mark.
Photo: @jeshoots