By David Roberts
Using video as a learning resource is the fastest and most effective way of repeatedly training staff, clients, students or visitors.
Video gives the same precise information for every viewer.
This is especially important in training resources, because it allows the viewer to go back over areas they missed.
You also have complete control over the message. Viewers are presented with only the information you want them to receive, in the exact order you want them to receive it – this is essential with training so they are taught the right way to do things in the right order.
Benefits of filming seminars, conferences and other training events
In regards to adding value for the training, not everyone can always make it to your event, so having a video of the day is a fantastic way of reaching those people as well (and saves you money on training your own staff as you dont have to pay for the trainer again)
For the individuals who attended, it is a great learning resource that they can go back to again and again, rather than just trying to find their notes from the seminar!
If you want to sell the videos, one of the main benefits of producing training videos is that by selling the videos your website, the videos will eventually pay for itself and then go on to make you profit.
When selling them online, you should have a ‘members only’ section to your website which people pay a monthly, yearly etc subscription for a unique user name and password to get access to your members only section with all your training videos (some people actually have silver and gold subscriptions with better videos for people who pay more.
When filming, we use 2 cameras – camera 1 is for a wide shot of the presenter which always follows them around the room & camera 2 is for close ups of the presenter and shots of the audience when they ask questions.
Then we edit it all together, inserting graphics of the slides used in the presentation on the day.
Using one camera can be a pain to the viewer as they have to watch you constantly zooming in and out as well as not being able to see (or usually hear) people asking questions – making it frustrating viewing for the audience, so always try to use a couple of cameras.
You can actually grow your audience for the events on a global scale – by adding subtitles to the video in a variety of languages.
A production company will be able to do this, you just might have to point them in the direction of a good translation company.
So if any of your clients have joint ventures with foreign partners and want to make sure their training is at a acceptable level, they can be sent a DVD or web link.
In regards to growing awareness for the training, videos are obviously an excellent marketing tool – edit a ‘highlight’ reel of the event, only a couple of minutes long, add it to your website and then you can send email shots to your client list with the link which can draw people in to to find out when your next event is (this is always a good ‘teaser’ video if you are going to sell the videos themselves, giving a overview of the training but not giving away any secrets, leaving them wanting more!).
Always film and add testimonials to highlight reels so you can get sound bites from attendees who say how much help the event has been to their organisation, proving how effective the training is.
Once you have sold a acceptable amount of the video and you are about to organise another seminar (which you are going to film and sell again), a great marketing tool for the new seminar is to explain that visitors get the old video (worth xxx pounds) for free when they leave! This reassures them that they are going to be able to take away great content (content people usually pay for) before even hearing the training itself on the day.
Then you can produce a new video from the new seminar and start selling that too!
The videos should be used in a variety of formats or as a package
Web video – rather than one long clip which may slow a site down, provide several videos of the event, a video for each section of the presentation. This is always helpful if people are going back to the training just to find a certain point rather than going through it all again as it can be found more easily.
Trailer / highlight reel – 60 seconds to 2 minutes, showing some of the points covered on the day (include a couple of visitor testimonials to say how informative the day was.) this is great for marketing your next event – add them to your website, you can send out links to it on facebook, twitter & linked-in, you can send a link out in a large email shot, you could play the clip in presentations and at other events).
Podcast – You can rip the audio from the video to produce a audio version which can be provided with the slides from the day (we would edit out any silent parts) so people could listen in their car etc).
Instructional videos
If you have a product or technique that has a level of complexity and you want to show clients how to use it, a instructional video can save you thousands in travel expenses and consultancy fees.
Having a video also allows a client to watch your training again and again, not just when a instructor is available to show them.
You can also have the video in several languages so you can sell your product globally!
Give out some FREE Content
I always feel some of the best marketing you can do is to give out free training and advice.
WAIT! Before you take this book and throw it out a window please hear me out.
Placing yourself as a expert in your field makes you more approachable than a salesman.
Its that simple.
You should do this yourself by just giving out little 60 second videos (doesn’t have to be any more than someone talking to camera) where you provide interesting & helpful advice. This could then be forwarded on to people becoming a viral marketing hit. This is especially important if you provide training for a living, why would anyone fork out hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds before they have ever had chance to hear how helpful you training is? If they have already had a piece of advice from you that was helpful, don’t you think it would be a easier sell on your part to get them to pay for your training? I would always suggest having different ‘tiers’ of training – little nuggets of helpful advice you can give out for free and the gold that people have to pay for to see. I think keeping ALL of your secrets close to your chest is a mistake and is a big reason why a lot of training companies fail as no one is going to give lots of money to people they don’t trust the advice of.
Using video as a learning resource is the fastest and most effective way of repeatedly training staff, clients, students or visitors.
Video gives the same precise information for every viewer.
This is especially important in training resources, because it allows the viewer to go back over areas they missed.
You also have complete control over the message. Viewers are presented with only the information you want them to receive, in the exact order you want them to receive it – this is essential with training so they are taught the right way to do things in the right order.
Yellow Video Production 2019 – Video Production Liverpool
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