How to Make Employee Training Videos That People Actually Watch

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Let’s be real: nobody gets excited about a dusty training binder or a mandatory all-day seminar. That’s why employee training videos are a game-changer. They’re a modern, practical way to handle everything from onboarding new hires to teaching new skills, giving your team the power to learn on their own time and at their own pace. When you let people learn visually, the information just sticks.

Why Traditional Training Methods Miss the Mark

We’ve all been there. Staring at a thick, unread training manual. Trying to stay awake after lunch during a long, drawn-out seminar. For too long, these were the only options, but they’re completely out of sync with how modern teams actually work and learn.

The core problem is that old-school methods fight against how our brains are wired. When you drop a massive manual on a new hire's desk or cram a year's worth of compliance training into an eight-hour day, you’re just creating information overload. This is where the "forgetting curve" kicks in—a well-known learning principle that shows people can forget up to 70% of new information within 24 hours if it's not reinforced.

The Real-World Frustrations

The pain points of outdated training are deeply frustrating for everyone. These methods create logistical nightmares and rarely deliver consistent results.

Sound familiar?

Scheduling Headaches: Trying to find a time for an in-person session that works for everyone, especially with remote teams, is a nightmare. It almost always leads to delays and people missing out.

One-Size-Fits-None Content: A single seminar can’t possibly speak to all the different experience levels in the room. You end up with advanced employees who are bored to tears while newcomers are completely lost.

Zero Flexibility: What happens when an employee needs a quick refresher on a specific task? They have to either dig through a huge document or try to recall a single slide from a presentation they saw weeks ago. The knowledge simply isn't there when they need it most.

The Impact on Engagement and Retention

When training feels like a chore, engagement plummets. It’s that simple. And if someone is disengaged, they aren't actually learning, which means all the time and money you invested goes right down the drain. This poor retention has a direct, negative impact on productivity, consistency, and even safety.

If your team can't easily remember the right way to do something, they'll either waste time hunting for the answer, interrupt a coworker (disrupting two people's focus), or just make a mistake. All those "small" inefficiencies pile up, creating a major drag on the entire company. This is exactly why a more effective, video-first approach isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have.

The Power of Video in Corporate Learning

If traditional training is a static, printed map, then employee training videos are your team's interactive GPS. Video doesn't just present information in a new way; it completely changes how your employees get the knowledge they need to do their jobs well. It transforms learning from a scheduled event into a resource they can tap into anytime.

This isn't just a trend. As of 2024, video-based learning is a core strategy for smart companies. The global workplace training market is valued at around $401 billion in 2024, with a huge chunk of that growth coming from digital formats like video.

It all makes sense when you look at the numbers. Up to 98% of corporations were planning to use eLearning by 2023, and a solid 70% of employees say they actually prefer self-paced online courses—which are almost always built around video. To dive deeper into these trends, you can discover more insights about employee training statistics on whatfix.com.

Benefits That Directly Impact Your Business

For any business leader, the real test of a training method is whether it delivers real-world results. Employee training videos offer clear advantages you can see in your team's performance and on the bottom line by tackling the classic training headaches: cost, consistency, and time.

Here’s how they solve real problems:

Significant Cost Savings: Think about the costs of in-person training: instructor fees, venue rentals, travel, printed handbooks. It adds up fast. Video cuts out these recurring expenses. You create a quality training asset once and can reuse it for hundreds of employees with virtually no extra cost.

Guaranteed Consistency: Let's be honest, in-person trainers have off days. Different managers might stress different points. A video delivers the exact same message—with the same tone and process steps—every single time. That level of consistency is gold for compliance, safety, and quality control.

Faster Onboarding and Upskilling: New hires can start their onboarding videos on day one instead of waiting weeks for the next scheduled group session. This self-service approach gets them up to speed much faster, shrinking the time it takes for them to become a contributing member of the team.

Empowering Employees with On-Demand Learning

Beyond the business metrics, the real magic of video is how it empowers your people. It respects their time, works for different learning styles, and puts them in control of their own professional growth. This employee-first approach is a massive driver of engagement and knowledge retention.

This flexible access creates a much more supportive learning environment. Imagine an employee who can't quite remember a step in a new software. Instead of feeling embarrassed to ask a coworker for the third time, they can pull up a quick two-minute tutorial. This "just-in-time" learning is incredibly effective for building confidence and reinforcing knowledge right when it's needed most.

To take it a step further, an LMS can be a game-changer. You can explore how a Learning Management System (LMS) can centralize your corporate training efforts, helping you manage, track, and deliver all your video content from one place. This ensures everyone has access to the most current materials, turning your video library into a structured, searchable knowledge base. By pairing on-demand video with smart distribution, you build a culture of continuous learning that fuels both individual and company-wide success.

Matching Video Formats to Your Training Goals

Deciding to use video is a great first step. But here's the thing: not all videos are created equal.

Think of it like a toolbox. You wouldn't use a hammer to tighten a screw. The same logic applies here. The format you choose has to match the specific learning goal. Picking the right one is the difference between a video that actually helps and one that gets ignored.

For example, a quick, animated explainer is perfect for a high-level policy change, but it would be a terrible choice for teaching a detailed, multi-step software process. The goal is always to make learning as easy and effective as possible.

This quick decision guide helps show why video is so often the right call for speeding up onboarding, cutting costs, and giving employees a format they prefer.

Common Training Video Formats and When to Use Them

Let's break down some of the most practical and popular video formats. Each one solves a different problem and is perfect for different types of content.

1. Screen Recording Tutorials

This is the absolute workhorse of software and process training. By simply recording your screen with a voiceover, you create a crystal-clear, step-by-step walkthrough that shows employees exactly what to click, where to type, and how to navigate a system.

Best For: Teaching software (like Salesforce or Asana), demonstrating digital workflows, or explaining how to fill out online forms.

Real-World Example: A 3-minute video showing your sales team precisely how to log a new lead in the company CRM, with a friendly voiceover guiding them through each action.

2. "Talking Head" Videos

This classic format features a person speaking directly to the camera. It’s perfect for building a human connection and delivering messages that need a personal touch. When employees can see the speaker's expressions, the message just lands differently.

Best For: Leadership announcements, company culture overviews, or sharing advice from an expert on the team.

Real-World Example: Your CEO records a 5-minute welcome video for new hires, sharing the company's mission and core values. It immediately sets a warm, welcoming tone.

More Advanced and Interactive Formats

Once you've got the basics down, you can explore formats that are great for higher engagement, especially for trickier topics like interpersonal skills.

3. Animated Explainer Videos

Animation is fantastic for breaking down complex or "dry" ideas into something simple and visually engaging. You can make topics like compliance policies or data security feel much more approachable and memorable.

Best For: Explaining company policies, illustrating abstract concepts, or simplifying complex data.

Real-World Example: A fun, 90-second animated video that explains the company’s new remote work policy in an easy-to-digest way, avoiding technical jargon.

4. Scenario-Based or Role-Playing Videos

This format is the gold standard for soft skills training. By showing people navigating a realistic workplace scenario, you can teach skills like conflict resolution or customer service in a practical, real-world context.

Best For: Soft skills training, customer service simulations, and leadership development.

Real-World Example: A video showing a customer service rep handling a difficult phone call, with on-screen text popping up to highlight best practices for de-escalation.

To make the choice even easier, here's a quick cheat sheet to help you pick the most effective video type for your goal.

Choosing the Right Training Video Format

Video Type	Best For	Key Benefit	Production Effort
Screen Recording	Software & process walkthroughs	Shows the exact "how-to" steps	Low
Talking Head	Leadership & culture messages	Builds a personal connection	Low to Medium
Animated Explainer	Complex or abstract ideas	Simplifies difficult concepts	Medium to High
Scenario-Based	Soft skills & interpersonal training	Demonstrates skills in context	High

By thoughtfully picking the right format, you ensure your content isn't just seen—it's understood, remembered, and actually used. This turns your employee training videos from a simple resource into a powerful tool for building a more skilled and confident team.

Your Step-By-Step Video Production Checklist

Diving into video creation can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Making great employee training videos isn't about Hollywood-level production; it's about clarity, focus, and having a solid plan. Here's a simple, three-phase checklist to guide you from a rough idea to a finished video, no guesswork required.

The good news is you probably already have most of the tools you need, like your smartphone and a laptop. The secret is just using them with intention.

Phase 1: Pre-Production Planning

This is where the real work gets done. A great video is the result of a great plan. Spending a little extra time here will save you hours of headaches later. This phase is all about nailing down your purpose and mapping out the content before you even think about hitting record.

Your first step is to answer one simple question: "What should the employee be able to do after watching this video?"

That one question shapes every decision you make. Keep your objective singular and focused. If you try to teach too much at once, you'll teach nothing at all.

Once you have your core objective, build out a simple structure:

Outline the Key Steps: Jot down the 3 to 5 absolutely essential points or actions. For a software tutorial, this could be as simple as "Log In," "Find the Dashboard," and "Export Report."

Write a Conversational Script: Don't write a formal essay. Write like you're explaining it to a colleague sitting next to you. Use short sentences and simple language. Then, read it out loud to make sure it sounds natural.

Gather Your Assets: Do you need to show a specific webpage, a PDF, or a graphic? Get everything ready and organized in one folder. This little bit of prep saves you from scrambling around while recording.

Phase 2: Production and Recording

With your plan locked in, it's time to capture the raw footage. Don't stress about getting a perfect take. The goal here is to get clear, usable footage that you can polish up later. The two things you absolutely need to get right are your audio and lighting.

If you can, use a simple external microphone. Even the one on your headphones is a huge step up from your computer’s built-in mic. Find a quiet room and do a quick test recording to listen for any echo or distracting background noise.

For lighting, just keep it simple. Sit facing a window to get soft, natural light on your face. Avoid having a bright window behind you, which will turn you into a dark silhouette. If you're recording your screen, just make sure the brightness is turned up. If you want to get a little more advanced, it's worth mastering camera angles and shots to make your videos much more engaging.

Phase 3: Post-Production and Editing

This is where you assemble your raw clips into a polished, professional training video. You don't need to be a film editor; modern software is surprisingly easy to use, and you only need to learn a few basic functions.

Your main editing tasks are:

Trimming the Fat: Cut out long pauses, mistakes, and all those "ums" and "ahs." Snip out any repetitive bits. Keep the pace moving to respect your viewer's time.

Adding Simple Graphics: Use on-screen text to highlight key takeaways or important terms. You can also add your company logo in a corner to give it a branded, official feel.

Balancing Audio: Make sure your voiceover is at a consistent, clear volume. If you add background music, keep it turned way down so it doesn't compete with your voice.

Exporting Your Final Video: When you're happy with the edit, export the video. A common format like MP4 with a resolution of 1080p is a safe bet for high quality and compatibility on almost any device.

By following this simple checklist, you can create high-quality employee training videos that are clear, helpful, and actually get the job done. This structured approach takes the intimidation out of the process and lets you focus on what really matters: sharing valuable knowledge with your team.

When to Choose Interactive Guides Over Video

Standard employee training videos are fantastic for explaining the "why." They can share a vision, break down a new company policy, or get the team excited about a project. They’re great for storytelling.

But when you need to teach the "how"—especially when it involves software or a specific digital workflow—just watching a video often isn't enough.

Think about it this way: watching someone else click through a process on screen doesn't build real muscle memory. It’s like watching a cooking show. You can see a master chef chop an onion a hundred times, but your own knife skills won't improve until you actually pick up a knife and start chopping.

The same is true for your company's software. An employee can watch a video on how to use your CRM, but they won't truly get it until they're the one clicking the buttons and navigating the menus. This is the exact problem that interactive guides are designed to solve.

The Power of Learning by Doing

Interactive guides, or walkthroughs, shift the employee from being a passive viewer to an active participant. Instead of just watching, they are prompted to perform the exact actions needed to complete a task. They have to click here, type there, and follow on-screen instructions, which turns learning into a hands-on experience.

This active involvement is a game-changer for retention. A study by the National Training Laboratories found that people retain as little as 5% of what they hear in a lecture. That number skyrockets to 75% when they learn by actually doing the task themselves.

For pretty much any task that requires an employee to use a digital tool, an interactive approach will almost always deliver better results. It closes the gap between knowing what to do and having the confidence to actually do it.

Key Use Cases for Interactive Walkthroughs

While video has its place, some training scenarios are practically begging for an interactive guide. These are the situations where practicing the steps hands-on is the only way to ensure success. This is exactly what tools like Guidejar are built for—turning complex digital processes into simple, follow-along instructions.

Here’s a quick look at how an interactive guide breaks a process down into clear, manageable steps.

This visual, step-by-step format leaves no room for confusion and lets employees learn at their own pace. Here's where this approach has the biggest impact:

Software Onboarding: When a new person joins, they need to get up to speed on your entire tech stack—Slack, Asana, your internal sales platform, you name it. Interactive guides can make them proficient in hours instead of weeks, without needing a senior team member to look over their shoulder.

Documenting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): How do you approve an expense report? What are the steps for requesting time off? Instead of a dense PDF, an interactive walkthrough ensures the process is followed perfectly every time, which cuts down on errors.

Creating Self-Serve Support: Your IT team is probably tired of answering the same "how-to" questions over and over. By building a library of interactive guides for common tasks (like resetting a password), you empower employees to solve their own problems and free up your support staff for more complex issues. To see how different platforms stack up, you can learn more about interactive walkthrough software and its role in creating this kind of on-demand help.

In the end, this isn't about replacing all your employee training videos. It’s about choosing the right tool for the job. For high-level concepts, stick with video. But for any hands-on process training, let your team learn by doing with interactive guides.

How to Measure Your Training Content's Impact

So, you’ve created a fantastic new training video. That's a huge step, but it’s only half the battle. The real win comes when you can prove your videos are actually making a difference. Measuring their impact is about more than just counting views; it’s about tying your training efforts to real business results.

Think of it this way: launching a training video without tracking its performance is like a ship leaving port without a destination. You're moving, but are you headed in the right direction? To figure that out, you need to look beyond the obvious numbers.

Moving Beyond Vanity Metrics

It's tempting to get excited about view count, but on its own, it’s a pretty meaningless metric. A high view count doesn't tell you if anyone paid attention, understood the material, or learned anything. To get a true sense of your video's impact, you have to dig deeper.

Instead of chasing views, focus on these practical metrics:

Completion Rates: What percentage of people actually finished the video? A high completion rate—aiming for over 80%—is a great sign that your content is engaging and useful.

Comprehension and Retention: Did the information actually stick? You can figure this out with a simple follow-up, like a quick two-question quiz or a practical task that asks employees to apply what they just learned.

Behavioral Change: This is the big one. Are employees actually doing the task differently (and more correctly) now? Seeing people change how they perform a process is the clearest sign your training worked.

Connecting Training to Business Outcomes

The most powerful way to prove the ROI of your training videos is to draw a straight line from them to key business metrics. This shifts the conversation from "people watched our videos" to "our videos are saving the company time and money."

Start by looking at the specific pain point your video was made to solve, and then measure what changed after you released it. For example:

Fewer Support Tickets: Did you create a video on how to reset a password? Check if you saw a 25% drop in related IT help desk requests.

Faster Task Completion: Did your screen recording on the new expense reporting system cut the average submission time in half?

Reduced Error Rates: After publishing a video on the right way to process an order, did costly fulfillment mistakes go down?

When you track these kinds of real-world outcomes, you can clearly show that your employee training videos aren't just a budget item. They are a powerful engine for boosting efficiency and productivity across the entire organization.

Common Questions About Employee Training Videos

Even with a solid plan, questions are bound to pop up. Let's tackle some of the most common ones that managers ask about creating and using training videos.

How Long Should an Employee Training Video Be?

This is the number one question, and the answer is almost always "shorter than you think."

The sweet spot for most topics is in the microlearning range of 3 to 7 minutes. This respects your team's busy schedules and aligns with how our brains actually absorb new information. Keep it short, focused, and to the point.

If you have a complex subject, resist the urge to create a 30-minute epic. That's a surefire way to lose your audience. Instead, break it down into a series of shorter, bite-sized videos. This makes the material feel less intimidating and allows employees to easily find and review a specific step later without scrubbing through a long timeline.

What Are the Essential Tools for Making Training Videos?

You can breathe a sigh of relief—you don’t need a fancy production studio. The tools you need are probably already within arm's reach.

Here's a simple setup to get you started:

A good camera: Your smartphone camera is more than powerful enough to shoot clear, high-quality video.

Clear audio: This is non-negotiable. Use a basic external mic or even the one on your headphones to make sure your audio is crisp and free of background noise.

Basic editing software: There are tons of free and affordable tools out there that let you trim clips and add simple text.

A screen recorder: For any kind of software tutorial, a screen recording tool is an absolute must-have.

How Can I Make My Training Videos More Engaging?

Engagement starts with relevance. Before you show how to do something, explain why it matters. Start every video by telling your team what they'll be able to do once they're finished watching. This immediately answers their "what's in it for me?" question and gives them a reason to pay attention.

Once you have their attention, keep it with clear visuals, on-screen text that highlights key takeaways, and a friendly, conversational delivery. And please, edit out any long pauses or dead air. A brisk pace keeps the energy up.

For anything that involves a step-by-step process on a computer, you can take engagement to a new level with an interactive guide. Instead of having someone passively watch a video, an interactive walkthrough requires them to physically click through the steps themselves. It's the difference between watching someone ride a bike and actually getting on the bike yourself. That’s when the learning really sticks.

Stop showing, start guiding. With Guidejar, you can turn any process into a simple, interactive walkthrough in minutes. Create better onboarding guides, SOPs, and product demos that empower your team to learn by doing.