Too long, too impersonal, too bad sound – many things can go wrong in a learning video. We present to you 7 typical mistakes when creating learning videos and give tips on how to avoid them easily!
Whether it's a "selfie" video, screencast, or scene recording – there are many ways to go wrong when shooting learning videos. But don't worry! Most mistakes can be easily avoided. Today, we present to you 7 typical mistakes that can happen in learning videos – and how to avoid them easily:
7 typical mistakes when creating learning videos
You are too perfectionistic.
Your video is too impersonal.
Your video is too long.
You do not engage your viewer.
The sound in your video is too poor.
You use too many special effects.
Your video has no call to action.
Errors when creating learning videos are not a reason to panic! We provide you with tips to easily avoid 7 typical mistakes.
How to avoid the typical mistakes
1. Mistake: You are too perfectionistic.
Stumbled briefly? Just keep talking! You can always delete the recording later. Perhaps the small slip-up will not even be noticeable in the entire video – it may even seem more authentic rather than unprofessional.
Also in planning your video, you can spend as much time as you like. Focus on the important things to save time and not fall into perfectionism! A calm background, a stable camera position, and good sound are truly important – everything else often consumes unnecessary time.
Tip to avoid: Create a very brief concept before your shoot – we have prepared a template for you to download for free. And also allow for small mistakes that make you and your video likable!
2. Mistake: Your video is too impersonal.
This mistake is particularly to be avoided by coaches and trainers for whom personal contact is usually important in training. If this applies to you, your learning video should also show your personal touch.
Tip to avoid: Speak as naturally as possible, dress as you would for your training or coaching sessions, and use your normal facial expressions and gestures. And: Why not just show your video to a friend or good colleague at the end – they can best tell you if you seem as natural as always.
Info page: Creating videos for online courses
Learn on our clear info page how to create a rough concept for your video, what to pay attention to during the shoot, and how to quickly and easily edit your video at the end.
3. Mistake: Your video is too long.
If you research "good length for learning videos", you will find, among other things, sites that recommend 5-10 minutes. But that's already too long! Ideal is 2 minutes. The reason is simple: by 3-4 minutes, most viewers lose their attention. And even in a 2-minute video, you can convey content concisely and clearly.
Tip to avoid: Limit yourself to one central statement per video. Your participants can’t process more in the long run. To stay "on track", a cheat sheet in DIN A5 helps. If it doesn’t fit on there, it’s too much! We have also prepared a template for you to download for free.
By the way: Our name – blink.it – comes from the brevity of content! Each content (“Blink”) should be manageable in two minutes, so as not to overwhelm or bore the viewer.
4. Mistake: You do not engage your viewer.
Diving directly into the topic can sometimes be a good stylistic device. But generally, you should briefly "pick up" your viewer at the beginning. This means: Say in one or two sentences why they should watch your video now.
Tip to avoid: If your video is part of an online course, you can briefly refer to the previous content. Also, mention the goal of the video, for example:
"In the last video, I explained why time management is so important for leaders. Now you will receive three tips on how to better manage your time starting today."
5. Mistake: The sound in your video is too poor.
Your viewers will forgive a slightly unclear image – but never poor sound! If you are hard to hear or your video has annoying background noise, participants will likely switch off quickly.
Tip to avoid: Good sound quality does not have to be expensive or complicated – we recommend the Rode SmartLav Lavalier Microphone for about 50 euros.
Downloadable List
Equipment for shooting video with a smartphone
Videos are our passion – and over the years we have gathered a lot of experience with technical equipment. We have compiled our recommendations in the "blink.it kit": Much more than a good microphone, tripod, and light is needed. All tools can be found clearly in a downloadable list!
6. Mistake: You use too many special effects.
This mistake often arises in combination with mistake 1 – too high perfectionism. Usually, a very simple video, in which you speak to your participants, is sufficient. Too many overlays and effects detract from the content, so handle them sparingly.
Tip to avoid: Think beforehand about what you want to convey – and which effects are really useful for that. For example, displaying a model can help visually support your words. As a guideline, you should try to use only one type of effect per learning video.
7. Mistake: Your video has no call to action.
If you've already read a few articles from us, this point will seem familiar to you. The call-to-action is a call to action from you to your participants. It is an essential part of every learning content and tells the participant what to do with the new knowledge afterwards to solidify what they learned. In videos, the call-to-action is often quickly forgotten, especially since inexperienced speakers tend to concentrate on many things at once.
Tip to avoid: What a call-to-action looks like and what you should avoid in this case is explained to you by blink.it founder Konstantin in this blog post: Increase the value of your training in 4 steps – formulate clear calls to action!
Would you like to take your first video steps under professional guidance? Then our workshop "rocketday" is right for you. Find out about available dates in your area now!
A final, extremely important tip: As with all other things, practice is the key to success. In your first learning video, you will surely make a few mistakes, but with some time, practice – and patience, you will soon become a “video pro”!
