In the spectrum of online shoppers, I’m what you call a “Shopping Super Sleuth”. I hate dealing with the hassle of returning products that don’t live up to my expectations, so I spend hours comparing different products to make sure I get exactly what I want.
So when I found myself finally purchasing a carry-on duffle bag for an upcoming trip to Georgia, I paused and asked myself, “What made me choose this duffle bag over the others I researched?” The duffle bag I picked was almost identical to the five other duffle bags I researched. It was even slightly more expensive than its competitors.
What sealed the deal for me (and made me pay a little bit more) was the product training video for my selected duffle bag. A smiling face walked me through every compartment of the sleek leather duffle bag, highlighting each hidden pocket, the durability of the double stitching, and the ability to hold more clothes and shoes than a standard hardcase suitcase.
Product training videos like the one I watched are just a small drop in the ocean of training video options. This might seem like a small detail, but believe me, it’s the type of detail that makes sales! Training videos stretch far beyond just showcasing products. They include everything from detailed tutorials that simplify complex processes to engaging employee onboarding sessions that get everyone up to speed quickly. In fact, studies show that over 50% of global internet users consume training videos each week.
The business world is catching on, and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s giving a grand tour of a product’s features, like my new duffle bag, or walking a new team through their roles, these videos are about more than just showing and telling. They’re about engaging and convincing. With our own clients, we’ve seen training videos transform operational efficiency, ramp up knowledge retention, and, yes, significantly boost their conversions.
So you can harness the power of training videos, we’re passing along our knowledge of the wide world of training videos to you. Take a look at their capabilities, see the different types of training videos, and get to brainstorming on what type of training videos could take your company to the next level of engagement.
What are Training Videos?
Training videos are not the average “how-to” you might stumble upon while scrolling through YouTube. These are the heavy hitters of the business world and are used across all industries. Training videos run about 2-5 minutes long and act as digital coaches. They guide the audience through a range of tasks and processes with ease, whether it’s onboarding a new employee on HR policies or demonstrating how your latest product works. Training videos can be found on almost any platform, from your business’s website and Learning Management System (LMS) to YouTube and Facebook. Here’s a rundown of the types you might encounter:
- Product Demos: These videos walk you through product features and benefits, showing you exactly how things work and why they matter.
- Employee Training: These videos act as interactive, engaging sessions that bring new hires up to speed and refine the skills of current employees.
- Customer Onboarding: Designed to help customers master new purchases quickly, customer onboarding vidoes ensure customers get the most out of your products or services from day one.
- Safety Training: Crucial for compliance and care, these videos keep everyone safe by outlining standard safety protocols and procedures.
- Skill Development: Tailored to help employees enhance their skills, these videos support career growth and greater proficiency in specific tasks.
- Marketing Videos: These do double duty by educating potential customers on your products while also enticing them with compelling narratives.
Each type of training video is crafted to address the target audience’s specific needs, ensuring that learning is not just effective but also engaging. Above all, training videos, while important educational tools, can help you accomplish two major business goals: streamlining operations and boosting user satisfaction.
6 Reasons Why Training Videos Are Worth Your Time
We get it—videos take time to script, set up, film, edit, and launch. But the time you invest in creating training videos is time you get back in customer retention, employee satisfaction, and so much more. Let’s take a look at why training videos are worthwhile of your time, attention, and budget:
1. Enhanced Learning Retention
Did you know training videos significantly boost retention rates? Viewers remember as much as 95% of video content compared to just 10% of text-based information. This increased retention means a world of difference for your customers and employees. It leads to better application and adherence to employee procedures and protocols. For customers, they’ll more easily remember your brand and products when entering the consideration and purchase stages of the customer journey.
2. Scalability
Imagine training an army one soldier at a time. Not the most efficient method, right? With training videos, you create the content once and deploy it across all your platforms, scaling your training efforts without additional costs associated with live sessions. Once created, the same material can be used to train countless employees or inform customers, growing with your organization and adapting to increased demands without repeated investments.
3. Accessibility
Got night owls, early birds, and everything in between on your team or in your client base? No problem. Training videos are not bound by time zones or schedules. They can be paused, replayed, and accessed from anywhere at any time. This flexibility allows individuals to learn at their own pace and on their terms, which not only makes the learning stick but also respects their time and personal learning style.
4. Reduced Support Queries
Here’s a fun scenario: fewer calls and emails asking for help because your users already have the answers they need at their fingertips. Training videos empower users to help themselves by providing clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to solve common issues or perform tasks. This autonomy can significantly lighten the load on your support teams, allowing them to focus on tackling more complex queries or improving other areas of service.
5. Conversion Improvement
Why just inform when you can also transform? Training videos placed strategically on your site can guide visitors through your product benefits and features, leading them smoothly toward making a purchase or signing up. Nearly half of marketing professionals report that video helps them engage more effectively with their audience, enhancing their understanding of products and services.
6. Enhancing User Experience
If your employees and customers are happy, you’re happy—right? By integrating videos that answer common questions or explain your products or services, you’re effectively minimizing frustrations and boosting satisfaction. Sites with helpful video content often see longer visit times, better engagement rates, and higher return visits. After rolling out training videos, many businesses notice a substantial improvement in these areas, reflecting a more satisfying and supportive user experience.
How You Can Make Wow-Worthy Training Videos
You’ve peeked behind the curtains and seen the power training videos hold, and now probably have a few ideas for videos you can create for your business. This is a great place to start! So you can get the b-roll rolling and start creating videos, here are a few ways you can make your training videos the best they can be.
- Identify Clear Objectives: Begin by defining what each video aims to achieve. Whether it’s to train staff on a new software tool or to show customers how to assemble a product, having a clear goal will guide the content and structure of your video.
- Focus on Simplicity and Clarity: At their core, training videos should simplify complex processes. Use clear, jargon-free language and break down information into manageable steps. Visual aids, like diagrams or screen recordings, can further boost understanding and information retention.
- Use a Professional Tone: You want your audience to trust their teacher, right? So the audience can feel confident in you and the information you’re presenting, maintain a professional yet approachable tone throughout the videos.
- Incorporate Interactive Elements: If possible, include interactive elements such as quizzes or clickable sections for online platforms. These features engage the viewers and help reinforce learning. not only engages the viewer but also helps reinforce learning.
- Tailor Content for the Audience: Customize your videos to the needs and knowledge level of your audience. Employee training videos might delve deeper into technical aspects, while customer-facing videos should focus on ease of use and troubleshooting.
- Create High-Quality Visuals: You don’t need a Hollywood budget, but you do need clear, appealing visuals that communicate your message effectively. Use a decent camera, play with good lighting, and keep your graphics sharp and professional. Remember—visually pleasing content keeps viewers engaged!
- Get Clear Audio: Poor audio is a big “no-no” in any industry. Invest in a good microphone, minimize background noise, and consider layering in some subtle background music to enhance learning and retention. Clear and crisp audio keeps your audience focused on your message, not on straining their ears.
Ways to Maximize Your Training Videos’ Impact
Once you’ve created your videos, now comes the finessing work, the fine-tuning that takes your training videos to training heroes. The first step: tailoring your content.
Tailor Content for the Audience
With training videos, one size definitely does not fit all. You want to tailor it to impress each unique audience that will view your views. For example, your team will want to dive into the nitty-gritty technical details they need to excel in your task management software. But when you’re talking to your customers, keep it slick, simple, and focused on solving their problems. Keep this in mind when you’re editing the final version of your videos—the story you tell could make or break whether you accomplish your video goals.
Promote Engagement
With training videos, you don’t throw them into the wild and hope they survive. Engage with your audience! Encourage them to give you feedback or share with others. That way you can gauge whether your video is clicking with the audience or isn’t quite hitting the mark. Remember: any feedback you receive, whether positive or negative, is excellent for refining your future content efforts.
Check Your Analytics
Your data tells the best story of whether your videos are working or not. Track who’s watching, how much they’re watching, and where they lose interest and click away. This is all excellent information you can use to amp up your content or trim away any areas that don’t quite live up to expectations. Data can also help you better spotlight hot topics that need more coverage or confusing bits that need a clearer explanation.
Keep Your Videos Updated
Let’s face it—your business grows and changes, which means your videos need to grow with you. Schedule a regular review of your materials, tweaking and tuning to ensure they stay relevant and effective. It’s about keeping pace with the latest in your field and ensuring your audience always has the best and brightest information at their fingertips.
Need a Training Video Partner? We Can Help!
If you’re looking to take your website to new levels of engagement or streamline how you onboard employees, chat more about training videos with our digital marketing experts. At Big Storm, we combine a personal touch with tried-and-tested techniques for engaging audiences through video. We listen to your needs and see how we can surpass them through video, content strategy, and beyond.
Reach out today and let’s get the cameras rolling—we’re ready to make your training videos shine!