We have quite a few clients who offer products that need tutorials. And almost every tutorial they have is in pictures and written instructions. While this is helpful, it is no where near as beneficial as having a video to watch. Unfortunately, many of them also believe that creating a how to video is way more costly than it’s worth. The good news is that they are wrong – you can create video without a huge overhead cost.

*Disclaimer: This should not be used for large scale videos or ones that are meant to be extremely professional. This is only for small scale videos – the ones that your clients can watch quickly, like tutorials or video blogging.*

So, how do you create a video like this?

• Pick up a small video camera – even the flip would work. You just want something that will tape, and not require a huge camera crew. You will want to invest into a stand too – this will eliminate camera shaking.
• Buy (or rent) a clip on microphone. Most videos fail because they are too hard to hear. Having a strong, clear voice will help the clarity of the video. Also, choose someone who is easy to understand!
• Pick a location in your office with a simple backdrop. Choose either a blank wall, or a wall with only a few pictures on it. You don’t want people distracted by your background.
• Practice. Practice. Practice. With a script! Just because it is an amateur video does not mean you can sound awful You need to know what you are saying, and be concise. Editing can only do so much.
• Use editing software to make the video clean, put it together well and feel free to add text. If there are parts that need more explanation, add diagrams on top of the speaker.
• Store the completed videos on youtube. Creating a youtube channel where all your videos are is a great social branding strategy and will allow your visitors easy access to all your clips.

Finally, remember that no body is perfect, and as long as the videos are clean, clear and concise, it will benefit your business to create them!