.
Video is a fantastic educational tool. You can use it to teach people how to do something, explain a concept, or even show off the value of a product in a creative way.
One type of video that is easy for any marketer to create is the screencast, or a video recording of action or movement on your screen. This type of video can be a great tool to provide visual instructions on how to complete a particular task on your website or perhaps even to demo your product. While the recording captures your screen, you can also record a voiceover to narrate what's happening to your viewers.
Check out a recent screencast I created to explain HubSpot's email marketing software. A screencast is both easy to create and can serve as a great complement to a sea of text on a web page.
Here Are Five Tips for Creating Expert Screencasts on Your Own:
1. Write the script. The time it will take to write out speaking points will be well worth it when it takes you only half the amount of time to record your video. Don't be fooled! Just because your face doesn't appear on camera, doesn't mean you won't stumble over your words and need to re-record. Save yourself the trouble, and arm yourself with a detailed script.
2. Use a tool like Camtasia or ScreenFlow. These are both reasonably-priced tools (99 bucks) that let you record your screen, record audio, and edit individual video clips. It also produces videos in a file type perfect for uploading to YouTube!
3. Don't multi-task while recording your screen. Why? Most likely, you'll move items in your browser or add/subtract tabs that you have to edit out later -- or worse -- you'll have to re-record completely! Focus on the task at hand and don't move around the items within the frame. Consistency is the key to professional-looking quality. You wouldn't want to distract your video viewers with a magically-appearing Facebook tab in your video.
4. Always keep your face the same distance from the microphone. Best practice is to position your mouth a hand's width away from the mic. It's very easy for your voice recording to go from loud to soft if you're not keeping the mic (and your face) in the same position. Also, try not to swap rooms while you're recording a project; background noise can vary, and your voice could echo differently. All of these things will save you a lot of editing time later.
5. Record in a quiet, non-echoey location -- like a carpeted conference room. Does your office have wall-to-wall tile? Record in your car. (It's true, HubSpotters have done this before!) Just make sure your car is parked ... ;-)
Have you created a screencast before? What other tips would you suggest?
Photo Credit: diebmx
Free Ebook & Kit: How to Use Online Video for Marketing