Look, I’ve been making videos for… well, longer than I care to admit. And you know what? Most training videos are terrible.
Like, really terrible.
But here’s the thing – they don’t have to be. Whether you’re running a small business in Melbourne or managing a team in Ballarat, a good training video can literally transform how your people learn. So let me break down what actually works.
## **Start With The End In Mind (No, Really)**
Before you even think about cameras or scripts or any of that stuff… what do you want people to DO after watching?
Not just “understand” something. What specific action should they take?
– Complete a task without supervision?
– Handle customer complaints better?
– Use that new software without calling IT every 5 minutes?
If you can’t answer this in one sentence, stop. Figure it out first.
## **The Attention Span Reality Check**
Here’s an uncomfortable truth: your employees have the same attention span as everyone else scrolling through TikTok.
Meaning… not much.
So here’s what works:
**Keep it short.** Like, really short. If you’re explaining one process, aim for 3-5 minutes. Max. Need to cover more? Make multiple videos.
**Hook them fast.** First 10 seconds matter more than the next 10 minutes. Start with why this matters TO THEM. Not to the company. To them.
## **Show, Don’t Tell (Because Nobody Cares About Your PowerPoint)**
You know what’s worse than a boring training video? A training video that’s just… someone reading slides.
Please. Don’t do this.
Instead:
– **Film the actual process** – If you’re teaching how to use equipment, show someone using it. Real person, real equipment, real environment
– **Use close-ups** – Can’t see what buttons they’re pressing? Your video’s useless
– **Add graphics sparingly** – A simple arrow or highlight can save 30 seconds of explanation
## **The Script Secret Nobody Talks About**
Write how people actually talk.
Not how you think professional training should sound. How. People. Actually. Talk.
Test: Read your script out loud. Does it sound like something you’d say to a colleague over coffee? No? Rewrite it.
And please… avoid corporate speak. “Leverage synergies to optimize performance metrics” makes everyone’s eyes glaze over.
## **Audio Is Half Your Video (Maybe More)**
I don’t care if you shot on the world’s best camera. If your audio sounds like it was recorded in a tin can during a windstorm, your video is garbage.
Simple fixes:
– Use a proper microphone (even a $50 lapel mic beats camera audio)
– Record in a quiet room
– Add captions. Always. Not everyone can or wants to use sound
## **The Engagement Trick That Actually Works**
Break things up.
Nobody wants to watch one person talk for 5 minutes straight. So don’t make them.
Try:
– **Multiple angles** – Even just 2-3 different shots makes everything more dynamic
– **B-roll footage** – Show what you’re talking about while you’re talking about it
– **Pattern interrupts** – Change something every 20-30 seconds. New shot, new graphic, new person… something
## **Make It Stick With Story**
People forget facts. They remember stories.
So tell one. Even a simple one.
“Sarah used to spend 45 minutes on this task. Then she learned this technique. Now it takes her 10.”
Boom. That’s more memorable than any bullet-point list.
## **Test With Real Humans**
Before you roll this out to everyone… test it.
Grab 2-3 people who actually need this training. Show them the video. Then watch them try to do the thing.
Can they do it? Great.
Are they confused? Note where and fix it.
This step alone will save you from creating beautiful, expensive, completely useless content.
## **The Distribution Game**
A brilliant training video nobody watches is… well, pointless.
So think about:
– **Where will people watch this?** On their phones during break? At their desk? In a training room?
– **How will they find it?** Clear titles, logical organization, maybe even QR codes at workstations
– **When will they need it?** New hire orientation? Just-in-time training? Annual refreshers?
Make it stupid easy to find and watch.
## **One Last Thing…**
Perfection is the enemy of done.
Your first training video won’t be perfect. That’s fine. A decent video that exists beats a perfect video that doesn’t.
Start simple. Learn what works for YOUR people. Then make the next one better.
Because at the end of the day, the best training video is the one that actually helps your team do their job better. Everything else is just fancy production.
Now stop reading and start creating. Your team’s waiting.
\- Bryce
