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
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Nick Robinson 4:22 PM on July 07, 2011
What is your opinion of Jing? I've found it very useful and super cheap. The only thing lacking is the ability to zoom in on the key points you are talking about.
Lee Kirkby 4:39 PM on July 07, 2011
I find that it is very important to read over your script, out loud matching it to your intended video. it is really hard to setup the pacing of the presentation on the fly. Being familiar with how your script reads and sounds makes the process easier.
Rebecca Corliss 4:45 PM on July 07, 2011
Nick -- I have used it, but I found it very limiting. While it's easy to use, I prefer the full editing/audio adjusting/zooming features that Camtasia and ScreenFlow have.
Nick Robinson 4:48 PM on July 07, 2011
Yes, I figured I should just cough up the dough for Camtasia. So you said it's $99 flat, or $99/year?
Rebecca Corliss 4:53 PM on July 07, 2011
Pretty sure it's flat fee. You may need to pay more to upgrade, (if you want the upgrade). Not 100% sure though. The sales options are a bit beyond my more 'technical' knowledge. :-)
Kim Phillips | Lucid Marketing 5:19 PM on July 07, 2011
Can you recommend a type of microphone? I imagine an external mike would be best...
Tony Darrick Baker 6:34 PM on July 07, 2011
I use Screenium, Keynote and Garageband in a variety of ways to create my presentations and on-screen trainings. If I want to make them fancy, I'll throw introductions and background music later with imovie. All of this using an iMac and about $50 in (Apple) App Store software.
Jay Honeycutt 7:02 PM on July 07, 2011
You lost me at #4!
Unless you are married to having your beaming face and amateur voice as part of the screencast, get a pro to read the script you have prepared and run by at least 2-4 members of your team.
Then, go back and lose every superfluous or non-conversational word (words such as "superfluous").
At $5 per 60 seconds, it is a no-brainer to have a broadcast-quality voice-over.
Go to www.fiverr.com and hire a pro.
Strongly recommended:
Male - "deepmailvoice"
Female - "hostmary"
Top notch, quick and flexible.
Darren 9:11 AM on July 08, 2011
Wow, i didn't even know a site like that existed. Thanks Jay!
Rick Rys 3:06 PM on July 08, 2011
it would be really cool if someone made 'teleprompter' plug-in that would have a semi-transparent window appear over your screencast that only you can see/read during your presentation and would not be seen via Screenflow recording...kinda like a 'no-follow' tag...
i want dibs when someone figures that out...maybe i can get that done over at fiverr...
Lora Ullerich 10:03 AM on July 12, 2011
Can you recommend what screen capturing product works well with a mac? I have great editing software, microphone recording capability, etc. I just need the screen-shot recording option.
Rick Rys 8:52 AM on July 13, 2011
screenflow on mac OS X works great...quicktime has issues sync'n audio and video after compressing for youtube...
Michael Palko 12:52 PM on July 13, 2011
I use an inexpensive microphone and increased the quality of the audio by using this homemade "pop blocker" It cuts on the "pops" that p's and t's make when you are too close to the mic.
http://twitpic.com/poc9
Captivate is a good tool for screen captures. I've combined that with Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) and open source audio recorder/editor for some very professional-looking stuff.
Hit me up on Twitter if you want more info.
Michael Palko 12:58 PM on July 13, 2011
Almost forgot, the pop-blocker is simply a needlepoint hoop with a piece of nylon (i.e. breathable) material stretched across it.
I used a chip clip to connect that to a piece of metal I bent.
It's MacGyver-ish but it works.