Keep Them Awake

Audiences today are used to a sophisticated diet of television and cinema. So indifferent footage set to a dry voiceover isn’t go to arrest anyone’s attention, let alone keep them absorbed.

This is probably the reason why you’re embarking on your own training video production – because you know that off-the-shelf product isn’t likely to work very well on your audience.

The first rule of keeping the audience awake is to show what’s relevant to them. This shouldn’t be too difficult as the programme is about them, after all.

The second and perhaps more important rule for making interesting and watchable training videos is to keep changing around what’s on screen.

For example, if there’s a voiceover section, then cut to some graphics. Or insert a small drama. Or have a presenter step in to continue the story. You can even use animation. Or captions.

The message here is to keep changing it around.

For example: Don’t run a scene for longer than 7 seconds without a cut to a supplementary shot, unless the action specifically demands it.

Instead, use lots of cutaway shots from different angles to keep the audience’s eyes moving around with the action.

By doing it this way you’re involving your audience instead of obliging them to sit and wait for the next interesting thing to happen.

It goes without saying that change for change’s sake is not what’s being advised here.

We’re suggesting making regular and constant changes that enhance the storyline and sustain the flow of action.

Top Tip: Use diverse media to keep the audience interested in what you want to say. Keep changing the picture.

Next: Training Video Tip 3 – Audiences don’t Multifunction >>