Screen recording software is very popular for recording training and support videos.  Right out of the box you can easily produce videos by recording computer screen movements and your narration.  But, just because you can record screen movements and record audio on your computer microphone, doesn’t mean that your audience will be engaged with your content.  Here are some tips we suggest to our clients when producing videos with screen recording software like Camtasia and Captivate.

1. Plan your video – What are you recording and why is it important? You are obviously creating a video to demonstrate something on your computer, but before you start recording plan your video.  Identify each step of the process and write down the narration for each step.  The narration doesn’t have to be dry and boring, but make it relevant to what is important.
2. Introduction/Closing– Remember to do an introduction narration of what you will be demonstrating and a closing summary in your video.  Using the consistant title screens and closing screens can help you build brand identity.
3. Keep it short – If your video is longer than 3 minutes, break it into segments.  Your audience will be grateful that they can view only the information they need rather than watch a 15 minute video hoping and waiting you will show them what they want to see.
4. Use a good microphone – Do not use the $10 microphone you bought at Wal-Mart.  Sound is critical to screen recording videos.  Form my experience, if the sound is bad I will not endure through a video just to see it. Please invest in good quality microphone.  There are many quality USB microphones you can find for $99 – $299 that will really make a difference to your video.
5. Choose an appropriate screen size – Screen recording videos are very tricky if you have to resize the content to stream from a web page or YouTube.  The best rule is to record smaller than 1024×768.  That is an average laptop viewing area.  Screen recording at a larger viewing area will create a huge video file that will look horrible when compressed to a smaller size.  Record at the smallest size possible.
6. Narration Pace – Speak clearly, slowly and follow your script.  Do not ramble on or feel like you have to say something all the time.  Show the process and provide clear narration.
7. Rehearse, Rehearse and Rehearse – Do several dry runs to test your script and timing.  Create a demo for feedback from your coworkers.  Use the feedback to make changes to your script.
8. Keep your Screen Clean – Turn off all reminders and popup screens.  Look at your browser’s toolbars and turn them off.  Sometimes toolbars and bookmarks reveal too much information about you!
9. Record in a quiet location – Try not to record your narration in a pod. Reserve a conference room away from the normal office traffic. Remind your coworkers that you are recording and to be respectfully quiet.
10. Start your Applications Before you Record – Some applications take some time start.  There is nothing more boring than watching an application take 20 seconds of your recording time booting up.  If it isn’t critical to your instruction on how to launch and application, have the applications ready to go and use the alt tab keys to cycle through the applications.  Make sure when you switch to an application it is loaded in your screen recording area.

Building a library of training and support videos is important to any organization.  Screen recording software is affordable and easy to use.    Keep ahead of your competition by creating quality videos rather than good enough videos.