Boost Your Course Business with Professional eLearning Video Production Tips

Video content is becoming increasingly popular these days. In fact, according to Cisco, video content comprises nearly 82% of all internet traffic as of 2022. Due to it being an engaging and stimulating option, users report greater interest in video content as compared to any other formats. Hence why online course creators must have the know-how of producing video content. This article will take you through some essentials of eLearning video production so you can create quality content for your learners.

Before you head on this journey of learning about eLearning video production, ensure that you have your priorities straight. Have clarity regarding the purpose of developing these videos. You must begin with a focused mindset and have your desired outcomes laid out. As video production is an expensive resource, especially if you are looking to make professional-grade content. Reportedly, the average cost of video production in the United States is anywhere between $800 - $1,200 per video. So be a hundred percent sure about it before experimenting with it as it can cost you.

On the plus side, video content is incredibly effective. It makes the tasks much easier to understand via demonstration. You can use it to summarise the entire module within a few minutes. Not to forget, if you utilize the resource smartly, you can report high learner engagement rates.

A couple things you need to keep in mind before you start ahead. Just like with any project, set your goals and set a project timeline for managing the entire process smoothly. In case you are collaborating with a team of actors, editors, writers, videographers, etc, get them onboard on the ideas and coordinate well for a seamless video production process.

eLearning video production types

If you thought that video is a single format then you were wrong. Interestingly, there are plenty of types of video formats that you can use as per your suitable teaching approach. Here are some of the more common ones.

1. Narrated slides

Narrated slides are probably the easiest to execute out of all the other types of eLearning video types. Not only is it widely used in academia but also for corporate training programs. Due to their simple presentation style and ability to distribute chunky content in a sizable manner, it makes for a great way of delivering video content.

You can simply use PowerPoint, Prezi, or Keynote for making your narrated slides as they come with an inbuilt audio recording feature for voiceovers. You only need to invest in a quality microphone and the rest is ready for launch.

2. Screencasting

Screencasting is perfect for demonstrating more technical tasks where you can lead learners through every process step-by-step. It is basically the video recording on your device's screen as you instruct the task. For added clarity, you can even include voice-over or graphics to highlight important sections.

3. Presenter video

Presenter videos are the most widely known ones. It is where you have a person demonstrate or instruct by recording themselves in front of the camera. Although they are incredibly engaging, they are relatively difficult and often expensive to execute. Presenter videos work best for product demos and for introductory purposes.

4. Animation

Animations are a great way to engage with your audiences. Especially, explainer animations which are a great way of condensing a lot of information and presenting them in a fun way. On the flip side, these require technical knowledge for producing quality animations.

eLearning video production tips

Start with a storyboard

Much like before taking on any project, it is essential to have a blueprint in hand to guide you along the way. A storyboard or a script is that blueprint in the case of eLearning video production. They will provide you the much-needed structure and decrease the chances of making mistakes. Moreover, with this extra preparation, you can add a professional touch to your videos. It will make you appear confident and improve the overall video quality too.

Gather the right equipment

Purchasing quality video production equipment can be very expensive. Cameras alone can cost you five figures. However, having the right equipment is a prerequisite for good videos.

You can hire a third-party team to shoot your video for a price (which will still not be very cheap) if you only plan to shoot a few videos. In case you wish to produce a lot more video content, then invest in the equipment. Thankfully, these days intelligent phones offer professional-grade cameras and audio quality which can help you save a lot of money.

Other equipment and tools to pay particular attention to include good lighting, video editing softwares, and background setting.

Edit smartly

The entirety of your video is dependent on the quality of your editing. So pay extra attention during this step. Get proper video editing softwares. If you are not super confident at it, get a professional editor to do it for you.

A general rule for video shooting is to shoot more footage than you think you need and later remove the unnecessary bits accordingly. This way you won't risk losing any content. A good video length is known to be between 6 to 15 mins. However, you can adjust the length accordingly. And lastly, annotate and time stamp the sections in the video.

Gamify your videos

For an extra layer of learner interaction. gamify your videos by including quizzes and assessments. You can even include dialogue simulations and create breakout sessions at the end or during the video. A great way of incorporating gamification in videos is via the 'choose-your-own-adventure' interactive video format where people can select the direction of the video.

Show the speaker

Oftentimes, people don't focus enough on including the speaker's persona as part of the eLearning videos. Especially when making animations or narrated slides. Avoid this and make sure to show the speaker. It will help your audience connect better as an emotional response. You can design your animations or slides in such a way that there is a section on the screen where the presenter is visible to the learners.

Conclusion

Video content has taken over the internet. With the popularity of TikTok and Instagram Reels, more and more people are consuming content in video format. As online course creators, it presents you with an interesting opportunity to tap into for selling your content. However, eLearning video production can be daunting for newbies. Especially if you lack technical knowledge. With the help of the tips mentioned in this article, I hope to make your task a little bit easier and more interesting.

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