Making a tutorial video in five steps

What steps are used to make a tutorial video? I make a video in the following order.

1. Gather the video clips. Some of the video clips are found in my personal video library; some must be created. During this part of video production, I must identify and gather together all of the video clips that I want to use in my video. When I forget a clip, it takes extra time to stop editing and switch back to setting up to create a clip.
2. Assemble a rough edit for the video. I put the video clips together, working to arrange clips in a logical order. Sometimes, the order is dictated by the procedure used in a tutorial. Sometimes, the order must be discovered during the editing process. I work to eliminate for wasted frames, frames that have no action or frames that waste time, such as watching a six minute download.
3. Capture the audio. I have a USB headset for capturing audio. Once the rough editing is completed, I write (or outline) dialog for the clip. On a good day, I play the video while I capture audio. On a bad day, I read the dialog from a script and edit the video to match the audio, rather than edit the audio to match the video.
4. Add the audio to the video. With the audio track completed, I add the audio to the video. I playback the video to make sure that the video and audio are in sync, so that key words go with key frames.
5. Export the video to a format compatible with the target distribution, such as YouTube.

As you can see, I did not include the many research and development steps that precede the actual making of a tutorial video.

1. Proposing a video topic.
2. Selection of a video topic.
3. Research on a selected video topic, including reading and viewing similar presentations in books, articles, tutorials and other videos.
4. Purchasing, downloading and installing tools for a software tutorial.
5. Development and testing of working application for a software tutorial.
6. Outline of steps in presentation.
7. Practice video/audio capture.

What is the most important step? Choose a tutorial video as the best way to present information. Choose to learn all of the skills needed to make a video, such as video capture, audio capture, video editing and export. Take action.

Thanks for listening!

Improve your next tutorial video

Have you suffered through some of the tutorial videos on the Internet? Anyone can create a video and it shows. But, enthusiasm is not enough. Here are a few suggestions on improving your next tutorial video.

First, you need a reasonable scope. You need to be specific when creating a video. In one hour of video, you will not be able to provide detailed instructions for everything you’ll ever want to know about your subject, such as a software product. What part of the product do you want to detail?

Be choosy. The focus of a tutorial is an important decision. Many tutorial videos try to cover too much material, provide too much detail, or wander way off topic. Shorter is better. When you have something to say, just say it. Learn to turn off the camera.

Second, you must assume certain skills are already given to your audience. Prerequisite skills can be addressed in a number of different ways. Instead of explaining every concept, point to another source of information. A video can make references to a generally available resource, such as a public library or Wikipedia.

Listen to comments. If you assume skills that some of your audience does not yet have, make yet another video to cover additional material. Instead of trying to fit everything into one video, think in terms of a video series. Provide a reasonable amount of consistency. Point of view and assumptions should be similar throughout the series. Encourage your audience to watch more parts if they are interested.

Third, understand how your tutorial will be used. Your viewers will look at your tutorial for different reasons. Some simply want to be entertained. Some are researching, working toward a purchase or download. Some may want to know more about how things are done without installing and configuring the product on their own equipment. Some may want to follow your video, step by step, on their own equipment.

Fourth, use basic manners. Avoid long pauses. Don't say "Um". Use  2x, 4x, 8x to speed a video clip that drags. Speak clearly. During your presentation, please be aware that a viewer can pause, rewind and replay. It is better for your tutorial to move too quickly than drag on and on and on.

Try some or all of these suggestions on your next tutorial video. Improve the quality of your video without sounding like a professionally produced infomercial.