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Boost Employee Productivity & Engagement With Training Videos

Video learning is no longer a new concept! 

It’s become one of the most preferred learning methods in recent times. Most of us prefer videos over text as it helps us retain information better and gives us the liberty to train ourselves at our own convenience. 

As more and more people prefer video-based content online, several SMBs and multinational corporations look forward to creating engaging training videos to train their employees. 

But, here’s the catch. 

Since video making seems difficult to get started and requires a learning curve, most organizations give up and just stick to text-based training materials and guides. Also, organizations find it difficult to juggle between multiple video making software at once. This makes them think twice before switching to video-based learning.

But, what if we tell you that creating professional training videos isn’t that difficult anymore?

Yes!

With the help of the right video making tools, anybody would be able to create engaging training videos in a matter of a few minutes. 

In fact, some video making tools like Animaker even provide you with a variety of customizable templates to make your video making process easier and quicker!

By choosing a video making software like Animaker that’s easy to use, you reduce the amount of time you spend learning about the software. Thus, your video making process becomes a lot easier. 1

So, before you get started, make sure you check whether the software you picked is both user-friendly and budget-friendly.

Here’s a list of the common types of training videos you can create as a total beginner. 

Here are 9 common types of training videos.

1. Animation Training Videos 
2. Screencast Training Videos
3. Animation + Screencast Training Videos 
4. How-To Training Videos 
5. Micro Videos 
6. Scenario-based Training Videos 
7. Instructor-led Training Videos
8. Interactive Training Videos
9. Presenter Training Videos 

How To Create Training Videos?  

All the training videos stated above are equally effective and can be experimented with from time to time. But, if you’re someone who’s new to video making, you can get started with screencast videos, animation videos or combination (Animation + Screencast) videos as they are engaging, require very little learning time and can be made in just a few minutes. 

Here’s a training video from Animaker that talks about how to create animation videos without Adobe.

Similarly, in the example below, we are going to explain how to create a combination (Animation + Screencast) video with the help of Animaker (an Animation tool) and Vmaker (a screen recording tool). With just these two tools, you would be able to create great training videos that will keep your audience engaged for a longer time. 

Animaker has a built-in editor, a text-to-speech translator, a stock library of more than 1000 ready-made templates, and 100+ copyright-free music tracks. 

Now, without further ado, let’s dive in and learn how to create effective training videos In the easiest way possible. 

1. Create a Script 

It’s always safe to plan things ahead and have a script at hand. 

Decide on how you’re going to present your video. Divide the content into proper sections. The script will help you create a roadmap outlining all your action steps and guide you throughout your journey.  

Even a great video with interesting graphical elements would fail without a good script. So, always have your video script ready before you start your video creation process. 

2. Start Creating Your Video 

Once you are ready with the script, you can start creating your training videos. 

Step 1: Sign Up For Animaker 

Create your own account on Animaker by signing up. 

Once you sign up, you’d be directed to Animaker’s dashboard. 

Here, you’d have access to everything you need to get your training videos done easily. 

If you feel a bit overwhelmed and aren’t sure about where to start, you can watch a few how-to tutorials on the left-hand side of the dashboard to help yourself.

Step 2: Get Accustomed To Animaker & Get Started

You can choose any of the ready-made templates and customize them, or create a new project from scratch. 

If you’re a beginner, we recommend you start experimenting with a few ready-made templates and then try creating a new project of your own. 

Start by clicking on the ‘Create’ button and select ‘Create a video’. 

You’d be directed to a dashboard of thousands of ready-made templates. 

When you choose any of these ready-made templates, you will be given a sneak peek of how you should be using all the basic features of Animaker via a small video. Watch the video to have a basic idea about the important features and their functions. 

In order to make the best use of the software, it’s important to clearly understand its features and use cases. 

So, let’s get to know some basic things about Animaker. 

There are five basic sections in Animaker. 

Workspace: The white space in the middle will be your workspace. This is where your videos come to life. 

Library: This is the section where you have access to all the assets like music files, icons, characters, props, etc. 

Scenes: The scenes section is where you find all the scenes included in the video. Scenes are similar to what we call slides in a presentation.

Menu bar: This is the section where you change the title of your video, play, publish and share the video with others.

Timeline: There are 3 different timelines in Animaker.

• Animation timeline: It allows you to edit your entry and exit timings for your video. 
• Camera timeline: It allows you to edit the timings of your camera effects. 
• Video timeline: It allows you to edit the music tracks and video files added to your video. 

Step 3: Create Your Animated Video in Animaker

Now, it’s time to create your training video. 

Once you’ve chosen a template/a blank project to work on, you can customize each and every element according to your own preferences. You can change the background image, add moving animation characters to your scenes, upload your own files from your computer, add background music, graphical elements, text, etc. 

Just click on the element you’d like to change and choose the alternative from the library on the left-hand side. 

If you’re a beginner, remember to choose the right template category from the list of templates. (If you’re customizing an already existing template, remember to just change these 3 basic things – Images, Text, and your organization’s logo.)

 Step 4: Record Your Screen Using Vmaker & Insert It Into Your Original Video 

Once you’re done making the animated video, you can capture the screen recording part and insert it into your original video. Just follow these simple steps.

1. Head over to your Animaker dashboard and select Vmaker.

2. You’d be taken to Vmaker’s sign up page. Sign up for Vmaker.

3. Once you sign up for Vmaker, you’d be directed to Vmaker’s dashboard. Click on the ‘Record’ button on the dashboard. You’d be presented with two options to install the software. You can either choose the chrome extension or macOS application. 

4. Once you’ve successfully installed the application, pin the software to your chrome browser. This ensures you have easy access to the software.

5. Navigate to the web page you’d like to record and click on the Vmaker icon. You’d be presented with a small pop-up box asking you to select your recording preferences.

Here, you can choose to record your screen alone, webcam alone, or both your screen + webcam. It also provides you with an option to either record your entire screen or just your current tab. 

Select all the other recording requirements on the page. 

Note: If you wish to add a voice over to your screen recording, you can do so while recording the contents of your screen. Since Vmaker records both internal (system audio) and external (microphone audio), you can easily add voice narrations to your recording. 

Once you’re ready to record, you can click on the ‘Start Recording’ button and proceed to record. 

But, if you’d like to customize your preferences further, click on the horizontal dot matrix on the top right corner of the pop-up box and select ‘Preferences.‘ 

 

 

 

Depending on your requirements, you can turn on features that’d be helpful for you. If you’d like to capture background noises to record gamestreams, tutorials and screencasts, you can enable the noise control feature. 

You can also experiment with different fun elements to enhance the quality of your videos. 

For instance, you can try changing your background, add frames and filters to your webcam bubble, or try adding your brand name to your videos. 

Vmaker provides a ton of impressive features that help you experiment with different fun elements. 

Here’s a list of the two most used features on Vmaker: 

• Virtual Background: This feature allows you to change, blur or remove your background effortlessly. Plus, you can even set your own background image by uploading it from your computer. This would be a huge advantage for business owners who’d like to add their brand images as their backgrounds
  
• Screen annotation & Mouse Emphasis: While recording the video, you can make use of Vmaker’s screen annotation and mouse emphasis features. While the screen annotation feature helps you draw and highlight important sections on your computer screen, the mouse emphasis feature highlights your clicks on your computer screen.

5. When you’re ready to record, you can hit the ‘Start Recording’ button. A timer starts, and your actions on the screen start getting recorded.Once you’re done with the video, you can stop the recording by clicking on the ‘Stop Sharing’ button.
   The recording will automatically get exported to Vmaker’s dashboard from where you can access it. Now, you can ‘Download’ the recording to your computer.To add this recording to your original video, head over to your Animaker project and click on the ‘Upload‘ button in the library section.Note: Vmaker will very soon be integrated with Animaker. Post the integration, you’d directly be able to import videos from Vmaker to Animaker.Go to the scene you’d like to insert it and click on the upload button.

 

3. Create the Voiceover For Your Video 

Now that you are done creating your entire video, you can add voice-overs to your animation characters.

Here are some simple steps you can follow. 

Click on the animation character you’d like to add a voiceover. You’d see a bunch of options appearing in the item menu.

Click on the voiceover option in the item menu, and you will get three options to choose from. 

1. Record Voiceover

This option allows you to record your voiceovers directly and sync them to your video.

2. Upload Voiceover 

When you choose this option, you can add pre-recorded audio to your video. 

3. Text-To-Speech Translation 

To convert your written script to professional voiceovers, you can select the text-to-speech option. 

You’d be directed to a dashboard where you can enter the text you want to convert as a voice-over. On the right-hand side, you’d be able to select the gender, language, etc. 

Additionally, you can also adjust the pitch, volume, and speed of your voiceovers by clicking on the icon on the left. 

By clicking the dots in between the words, you can customize the break and breath effects. 

Once you’re done, you can sync the audio to the original video by clicking on the ‘Sync’ button. 

4. Review, Edit & Share

As soon as you’re done with all the above steps, you can watch a preview of your video, see if it needs any editing, and make a few changes. 

Once you’re completely done, you can either share the video as a link or download it to your computer. 

And, that’s it. You’re done!

Now that you’ve learnt how to create effective training videos incorporating animations and screen recordings, you can now easily create any number of tutorial videos, how-to videos, screencasts, etc. 

So, what more are you waiting for? 

Start creating those training videos in a jiffy! 

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How To Make YouTube Shorts on iPhone?

YouTube Shorts is slowly cementing its place as one of the newest jewels in the social media crown. Today it is known to be among the quickest ways to garner the attention of millions of people organically within a short span. If your need is to know how to make YouTube Shorts on iPhone, you have come to the right place. 

But, before jumping into the “How to?” part, let’s take a quick look at why the second largest search engine launched Shorts in the first place.

A Short History Lesson On Bite-Sized Videos

Smartphones and the internet paved the way for the evolution of many on-demand video streaming platforms. It initially started with people experimenting video content on YouTube. Back then, people didn’t have a lot of on-demand video content available to them. So YouTube was able to do well even though people generally posted longer video content there.

But this started changing with higher internet penetration and loads more video-on-demand platforms being available to the internet users. Just like how people switched channels on their TV, ppl started jumping between different social media platforms.

While that was happening in the background, a new type of content started appearing online in 2013. They were bite-sized videos hosted on Vine. These videos were short and crispy. This resulted in high virality for good quality bite-sized content.

Things went to the next stage when TikTok entered the market in 2016. TikTok managed to attract millions of users almost immediately and this made the rest of the tech world take a run at the short video format.

Instagram did it with reels. YouTube is now doing the same with Shorts.

Shorts was launched on March 18, 2021. Since its launch, the spike in the number of creators and viewers has been steadily rising.

Now that we have the stats, it’s time to get into business. This article covers a step-by-step making process of a fantastic YouTube Shorts video using an iPhone.

• How to make YouTube Shorts on iPhone from a template
• How to make YouTube Shorts on iPhone from scratch

Creating a high-quality video is easy today because of tools like Animaker. It’s available in the iOS Appstore and it helps create swashbuckling videos in just a few taps. 

Animaker app for iOS gives you access to 1000s of templates that can be used to create eye-catching YouTube Shorts in just a matter of mins

Go to the Appstore, just click on the install option, and wait for a few seconds for the app to get downloaded. 

Animaker iOS App has the quick sign-up/login feature.

You can find and pick a size among the predetermined dimensions of videos (horizontal, vertical, square) available or create a video from scratch.

For YouTube shorts, the ideal size would be a vertical video. Here’s why.

Not sure how long a YouTube Shorts video can be? We are here to help you with that too. Check out this article on How long can YouTube Shorts be.

Now that we know the ideal dimensions and duration of the YouTube Shorts video, the next logical step is to go ahead and create one. So, let’s dive right in!

First, let’s start by learning how to make YouTube Shorts on iPhone from a template.

How to make YouTube shorts on iPhone from a template:

Let’s look at a template for an antique shop, understand how a pre-designed template is well packed with all the items and effects, and learn how easy it is to edit a template. 

Upon selecting a template, you can step into editing as per your needs or preferences. 

Step 1: Background

First comes the background. There are various ways to set your background as per your wish. Let’s explore all those options here. 

Hit the + icon on the bottom left corner of your screen. Then, select the Background option in the toolbar to find many eye-catchy backgrounds. 

Here you can find a variety of backgrounds such as solid bg, gradient bg, image bg, and video bg. Let’s look into them one by one.

• Gradient Background

In the search bar, type ‘Gradient,’ and you will be presented with different gradient backgrounds. Here you can select the desired one for you. 

Note that you can even change or add colors to the gradient. Upon selecting the gradient bg, you can find the ‘colors’ option below, where you can add extra colors or remove any.

This is how a gradient background looks.

 

• Solid Background

If Gradient is not your style, go for classy solids. Then, under the edit color option, press and hold the color you want to remove and select the small ‘x’ mark on top of it to remove that particular color.

This is how a solid color background looks.

 

• Image Background

Set your own picture or any stock image as a background by typing the right keyword in the search bar or uploading from your device. 

Once you select an image, this is how it gets applied to the background.

 

• Video Background

Similarly, you can add a video background from the library or add your own video and set it as a background. This moving background can create a magical effect on your video.

Once you select a video, this is how it gets applied to the background.

Step 2: Images

The pre-designed template comes with all the essential items like images, text, music, etc. Select the item to swap and replace or make a change manually.

First, let’s start with the image. To replace an image on the template, click on it to select and find the swap option on the bottom toolbar. The swap option allows you to replace the particular image with any other stock image or your own image. Utilize the search bar to find a specific image by entering the right keyword.

You can also remove the existing image and add a different image to the scene. To do that, click on the + icon in the bottom left corner. You can find all the in-built free stock asset access at Pixels, Pixabay, and Unsplash. However, for Premium stock usage, you can upgrade your plan anytime. 

Select the app you want to pick an image from, scroll down to find a relevant stock image, or enter the keyword in the search bar. Select the image, and it automatically gets placed on the workspace. 

Here, I have selected Pexels.

A new image has been successfully added to the scene.

Step 3: Text

Now that the image has been changed, the next step is to edit the text. Select the text on the template and find the ‘Edit Text’ option on the bottom toolbar to edit the text on the template. Here you can change the font, size, and color of the text.

Here’s how the text looks after editing,

Step 4: Scene & Asset Duration, Transition

Each template is already set with a fixed scene duration. However, you can determine how long the scene should last. By using the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ options at the bottom of each scene, you can simply increase or decrease the scene duration. 

The purple section in the timeline represents the asset’s overall duration. At the same time, the pink section represents the duration of the asset’s effects. You can adjust the pink section to adjust the duration of the effect. 

Also, the screen transition is all pre-set. You can either use the effect from the template or change the transition effect by clicking on the small box between the two scenes. Or, you can click on the + icon at the bottom and swipe left to find the screen transition option. 

Select any transition effect from the list provided.

Step 5: Music

Finally, you can either go with the existing music or change the music track by clicking the music icon on the top right corner. Find a suitable music track from the options provided and replace the existing music. You can also access the music on your mobile and upload them easily. 

 

Apart from music tracks, you can also add quick sound effects for different actions such as punch sound, water pouring sound, and many more. 

You can also add your own music from your device by providing access to the device’s music. The music you upload from your device always stays in the Uploads section for future use.

All your uploaded music gets listed for you to use anytime later. This is how your music uploads are shown, 

Step 6: Export

The export icon right next to the three dots at the top can help you find the download and social sharing options. You can even share the video as a link with your fellow Animaker peers.

You can click on the “download video” button to export your project as a video. This will allow you to name your project and select the download options and file type. 

Also, in the Animaker app, you can download a particular scene as an image by clicking on the download as image option. 

 

How to make YouTube Shorts on iPhone From scratch?

Without any further ado, let’s dive in to know all the steps and tricks to create a fantastic video from scratch.

Upon signing up, the first thing you will have to do is select the dimension of your desired video. 

For this, you can either select the horizontal, vertical, or square blank project or customize the size to create your own workspace. In another few mins, the blank space is going to be turned into a wonderful video.

Since we have proof that the ideal size for YouTube Shorts is a vertical video, with no further doubts, let’s select the vertical blank canvas.

Step 1: Background

First and foremost, let’s add a relevant background to the scene. Click on the + option at the bottom left corner and find the Bg option on the toolbar below. Here you can find a variety of backgrounds such as solid bg, gradient bg, image bg, and video bg. 

Scroll through the list of BGs to select one. Or search for any background by entering the keyword in the search bar.

Click on the background to apply it to the workspace. This is how it looks…

 

Step 2: Add Props

Wow, you have passed your first step. Now let’s add the details. Make use of the free stock assets, gifs, props, and text. 

Click on the + icon and choose the prop option. Next, type the right keyword in the search bar and scroll through the options to find the right prop.

For instance, if you want to add a panda to the video, this is how you search for it… 

The cute panda has been added to the hills background now!

Step 3: Add Text

Adding text to your video is at your fingertips. Click on the + icon, select the text button, and find a variety of pre-designed text designs or manual typing options.  

Pick any of the texting styles, and a text box will appear on your workspace. Here you can enter your text and choose the font or text color. Upon entering the text, select the ✔️ icon on the top left corner. 

Step 4: Effects and Edits

Smartmove

You might have added a number of elements or Props in a particular scene, but did you know that you can even make those elements move on the scene? Click on any element and find the smart move option below to make the elements move on the scene. 

Let’s try applying the smart move to our text. First, select the text and click on the “smart move” option.

Once you click on the smart move option, you will see a list of options. Let’s select the “Landing” smart move.

Align the start and end position using your fingers, and you are good to go. 

You can even set a movement duration by dragging the green section in the timeline below.

Enter & Exit Effects

Select a particular item on the scene and click on the effect option to add the entry and exit effect.

You can find the entry and exit effects tab on either side, where you can set how the item has to come in and out of the scene. 

Let’s select the panda and decide how it enters and exits the scene.

Duplicating a Scene

We have added all the necessary assets such as background, properties, and text to the first scene. Furthermore, we have even refined it by adding effects to those assets.

Now, shall we start creating the next scene from scratch? 

Nope! Here is a shortcut. You don’t have to recreate the previous scene from the beginning. Instead, upon completing scene 1, select the tab-like icon at the right bottom corner to find the “Duplicate scene” option and create the exact replica of the previous scene that you can edit easily. 

Transition effects

The transition from one scene to the next scene plays a crucial role in the video’s flow. So keep in mind to add a smooth transition effect after each scene. You can either click on the blue icon between the two scenes or find the ‘transition effect’ option in the toolbar, to add an impressive transition effect. 

Free Stock Assets

Animaker iOS app has scores of stock assets that are both paid and free. You can use Unlimited free stock assets from Pexels and Pixabay directly from the app. Also, note that Animaker offers premium assets credit at a count of 5 assets and 3 music tracks per month. 

Step 5: Add Music

Once you are done carving each and every scene, the final step is to add music to your scene to make your video more appealing. Animaker offers 3 free music tracks per month, which you can make use of. Grab your free trials now!

Type any keyword related to your video to find relevant music tracks available.

Step 6: Export

You made it! Showcasing your video is just a tap away. 

• Hit the export icon next to the three dots on the top right corner 
• Select the download video option to save your video to your device.

That’s it, folks! We’ve successfully learned how to make YouTube shorts on iPhone both from a template and also from scratch.

In essence, 

The Gen Z cybernauts spend much of their time on their smartphones, watching and sharing a limitless number of videos. The new marketing trends revolve around short videos. Looking at all this, it is evident that getting into the short-videos drift can gain quick reach. 

Now that you are aware of all the steps involved in making amazing YouTube Shorts on the Animaker App, it is time for you to start creating your Shorts video and attract a huge fan base in no time. 

Have any suggestions or queries running through your mind? Then, skip the wait and feel free to drop a comment.