Introduction

Employee training videos serve as a powerful tool for onboarding new team members and enhancing the skills of existing staff. These videos offer significant value to employees aiming to advance their careers and provide a competitive edge in an environment where new tools and technologies emerge almost daily.

However, crafting training content that captivates employees and ensures retention can be more challenging than it seems. By mastering the art of creating engaging training videos, you can transform your training program into a vital asset, significantly contributing to your company's success.

What is video training ?

It's important to note that video training is not meant to replace meetings or Q&A sessions where interactive communication is vital. Nor should it be treated as a medium where written materials and presentations are simply transferred without considering the unique nature of video content.

Instead, video training is a valuable resource designed to save time while delivering detailed and often complex information effectively. It serves as a powerful tool for employee engagement, providing a visual learning experience that enhances both retention and practical application of the material.

The Importance of Creating Training Videos

Today, I want to highlight why creating training videos is essential for our company's success. While each organization's training needs are unique, there are several common scenarios where training videos are particularly effective.

Firstly, for regular or recurring training sessions like onboarding new employees or addressing frequently asked questions, video content is a much more efficient medium. It ensures consistency in the information delivered and saves valuable time for both trainers and employees.

Secondly, video training excels in conveying technical and complex topics that are challenging to explain through written manuals or live sessions. For example, setting up multi-factor authentication or understanding intricate product features can be easily demonstrated through videos, allowing employees to pause or replay as needed.

Additionally, with today's workforce often being remote or hybrid, online training videos ensure that all employees, regardless of location, receive consistent, high-quality training.

Types of Training Videos

Training videos typically fall into four categories:

• Onboarding Videos: These provide new employees with a comprehensive introduction to the company, covering topics like culture, policies, and procedures, helping to create a strong foundation.
• Compliance Videos: These educate employees about legal and regulatory requirements relevant to their roles, helping mitigate risks and ensure adherence to critical policies, including workplace safety and data protection.
• Tutorial Videos: These offer step-by-step guidance on specific tasks or processes, such as using new software or equipment, making them ideal for complexprocedures that employees can refer to as needed.
• Upskilling Videos: These address skill gaps by focusing on developing new roles or responsibilities, mastering technical skills, and other topics like leadership, promoting continuous learning and career growth.

By incorporating these types of training videos into our training programs, we can enhance efficiency, consistency, and overall employee engagement.

How to Create Effective Employee Training Videos

Creating training videos for employees involves multiple approaches beyond just considering the budget. A robust and efficient training program leverages various methods to suit different needs.

• Presentation Recordings
  Starting with recorded presentations is often the easiest approach for most employee training videos. Using common tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Canva, you can create visually appealing content that conveys straightforward information. This method is particularly useful for regularly changing content, such as certifications or financial regulations. However, these tools often lack post-recording editing capabilities, meaning any mistakes might require starting over. Therefore, recorded presentations are best for topics with shorter lifespans.
• Video Platform Editors
  For more dynamic content, online video platforms (OVPs) offer features to seamlessly stitch together clips, music, and slides. These platforms allow for different camera angles, graphics, and B-roll footage, making the content more engaging.
• Professional Productions
  For high-quality initiatives, using professional production equipment and editing software can greatly enhance the impact of your training content. Professional productions allow for recording separate video and audio tracks, making it easier to edit and create a polished final product. Higher production quality also captures nonverbal cues like facial expressions and eye contact, making the content more engaging and easier to understand. Moreover, professional quality signifies the value and importance of the content, reflecting its priority and seriousness within the company.

Boosting Engagement in Employee Training Videos

A common mistake in corporate training videos is thinking “engaging” means “fun.” While a playful approach can suit some brands, effective learning and development prioritize clarity over entertainment. Here are some strategies to enhance your training videos without unnecessary distractions:

• Begin with a Clear Concept
  Start by setting your training objectives. Ask: What do we want employees to learn? What actions should they take afterward? How long will the material stay relevant? These questions will shape your training video's foundation. Initially, outline bullet points instead of writing a script to maintain creative flexibility.
  Cater to different learning styles by varying your methods. For instance, auditory learners benefit from voice-overs and music, while visual learners appreciate detailed graphics and features like Slide Sync.
• Reflect Your Brand
  Align your training videos with your brand's personality and culture. Use real employees and company-specific stories instead of stock footage and hired voice-overs. This approach immerses new hires into your brand and reinforces your company identity through branded elements and templates.
• Highlight Experts
  Feature internal experts who are knowledgeable and passionate. Their enthusiasm and expertise will make the content more engaging. Involve these experts during the scripting and concept stages to ensure depth and accuracy.
• Maintain Authenticity
  Authenticity is crucial for retaining viewer's attention. While humor can make content engaging, it's important not to overdo it. The natural passion and knowledge of internal experts will resonate more effectively with viewers.
• Incorporate Interactivity
  Interactive videos can boost engagement through two-way communication. Include quizzes and knowledge checks to reinforce key concepts. Links to related content and story branching can make the training experience more immersive and personalized. Add supplementary content, such as bios and LinkedIn profiles of senior leaders, to help viewers feel connected.

Empower Your Workforce with Effective Training Videos

Creating impactful training videos is more than just sharing information. Engaging training videos are essential for motivating and empowering your workforce, whether onboarding new employees or upskilling current ones. Strive to balance informative content with engaging delivery to educate and empower your employees effectively.

Cadjin Cadjin can help you in enhancing your online employee onboarding and engagement process through its easy to use, white-labeled streaming solutions . Book a demo with one of our expert to more about it.