{"id":70882,"date":"2021-05-13T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elements.blog-cms.envato.net\/?p=837"},"modified":"2025-11-11T17:50:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T06:50:09","slug":"how-to-make-a-tutorial-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/how-to-make-a-tutorial-video","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips for Crafting an Engaging Video Tutorial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the world where information is provided and consumed in a multitude of formats across a variety of channels, your content needs to be original to stand out from the crowd. You can\u2019t simply play by the rules \u2013 you have to think outside of the box too, and video tutorials<\/a> are no exception. If your tutorial is engaging and catchy, then your audience will want to watch it \u2013 they’ll be attracted by your product and your brand<\/a> for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how do you craft a video tutorial that your viewers will want to watch? The seven tips below will tell you just that. From developing your message to delivering it through the medium of video<\/a>, these pointers will help you keep your audience hooked on your tutorial from the intro to the final CTA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Know Your Audience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It all starts with the viewer. Who will watch your video? Where do they work and live? How do they consume content? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more you learn about your target audience<\/a>, the better your content will be. So before creating your first video tutorial<\/a>, you should do extensive research into your prospective and current users. Here\u2019s what you can do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a Survey<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Ask your audience about their needs. Your survey can be anonymous, or you can collect each responder\u2019s name and email address so you can follow up with them and ask additional questions if needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tools like JotForm Survey Maker<\/a> or plugins like Gravity Forms (and Gravity Forms alternatives<\/a>) will help you create a survey that not only gathers whatever info you need, but also represents your brand through custom background, logo, and corporate colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interview Your Customers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An interview is probably the most personal and human way for a brand to connect with its customers. Set up an audio or video interview, ask your questions, and hear out the suggestions or concerns your audience might have. In fact, a good video tutorial will respond to what your customers might not understand about your product, so try to get to the core of their problems during your interview, and then cover them in the video. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Email Your Audience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Not everyone will be open to a survey or an interview, so you can simply shoot them an email<\/a>. Include 5\u201310 questions in it, or ask for their feedback around a certain topic. Use whatever they share to form a deeper understanding on what kind of videos<\/a> will help them get to know your product better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, you probably already know how to reach out to your audience and request their feedback. Just make sure the feedback is topical and relevant to the videos you want to create. The better you answer your viewers\u2019 questions, the more likely they are to watch the tutorial from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Find Your Voice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just about what you say, but how you say it \u2013 and how you show it. Your brand voice should be clear throughout your video tutorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How You Say It<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make sure the words you use correlate with the content on your website and in your product. A perfect script will reflect your brand values<\/a> and house style. Include subtitles to cover a larger segment of your audience: people with hearing impairments, those who prefer to read rather than to listen, or those who aren\u2019t native speakers of the language in your video. You can also add subtitles in other languages, if you have an international audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How You Show It<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s vital that your visuals represent who you are as a company. That\u2019s why the graphics you use in the tutorial should be in the same recognizable color scheme<\/a> as the graphics on your website, blog, or social media<\/a> accounts. Don\u2019t separate the user experience on the site from that in the video<\/a> \u2013 turn it all into one interconnected story with a clear message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your tutorial comes with a screencast of your interface, the story doesn\u2019t have to be a boring step-by-step guide. You can easily take bits of your interface that you need to focus on, and enhance them graphically. Use highlights or vector images together with supportive graphics<\/a> and animation. Single out specific elements, for instance, by zooming in on them, and show them to the viewer for better understanding. Monday.com<\/a> applies some of these ideas in their video tutorials, creating videos that instantly identify as part of their corporate story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Also, along with deciding how you show your message, you should think of the overall format of the tutorial. Is it a graphically-enhanced screencast with audio instructions in the background? Or will a person be facing your audience and explaining everything to them one-to-one? Choose whatever approach will best support your narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Find an Actor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Once you\u2019ve settled on a format, it\u2019s time to find a suitable actor for your tutorial. Don\u2019t underestimate this step: sometimes a poor actor choice is what affects the views and reach of your video tutorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If an actor, or perhaps a colleague, will be speaking in front of the camera, explaining the ins and outs of your product, you have to consider various factors before you make a decision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decide On a Number<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How many people should be the face of your tutorial? Perhaps you want not one, but two experts teaching people about your product? Then follow the lead of Constant Contact<\/a>. Their insightful tutorials are hosted by a powerful team of two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare the Set<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even if your actor is sitting in front of a camera in Zoom, the corporate background<\/a> should look cozy and welcoming. The same goes for what the actor should wear. It might be a good idea to get acquainted with color psychology<\/a> before shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider Personality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course the personality of the speaker, and their voice, should be friendly. Smiles, laughter, engaging narration \u2013 those are the ingredients of a successful tutorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rules are quite similar for voice-over actors, with the exception of having to set the scene. You just have to make sure the person dubbing your tutorial sounds genuine, friendly, and open. And most importantly, they should seem confident in what they\u2019re saying \u2013 no meaningless, emotionless instructions! If they sound like they know what they\u2019re talking about (and perhaps even love it), then your customers will want to hear what they have to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Use the Right Tools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get technical. Clearly, to craft a video people want to watch, you\u2019ll need various tools to polish it. One crucial aspect is planning your shots effectively, which is where shot list software<\/a> comes in. We\u2019ve made sure you don\u2019t lose focus when creating your video. Just pick a suitable tool from the list below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Script<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like it or not, if you start working on a video tutorial, you have to become a writer, too. When your script flows, so does the viewer\u2019s attention. Avoid stylistic errors in the whole story and grammatical errors in your subtitles. Make sure any captions appearing on the screen are correct as well. Proofreading tools, such as Grammarly<\/a> and Essay Tigers<\/a>, will guide you toward a well-crafted script that will convey your message<\/a> exactly how you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Screencast<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Almost every video tutorial requires a screencast, if you offer software as a service (SaaS). Camtasia<\/a>, created by TechSmith, is a pretty straightforward and user-friendly tool that will help you shoot the on-screen manipulations with your product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Animation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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You will want your video to stand out and attract viewers, and motion design<\/a> is just the thing to consider. Add animated<\/a> info bubbles for instructions, animate parts of your interface, visualize every click of a mouse, highlight what\u2019s important. Adobe After Effects<\/a> can do all of the above and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sound<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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