🎥 Best Practices for Filming Engaging Learning Videos
Creating great video content for digital learning is all about clarity, authenticity, and engagement.
Follow these best practices to make your videos short, impactful, and learner-friendly.
🎯 Purpose & Message
Think thumbnail first: A good thumbnail often decides whether viewers click Play.
Keep it short, real, and focused: Stick to one main message per video.
Aim for under 1 minute. This is microlearning — learners are used to Reels, Shorts, and TikToks.
Start strong: The first 3 seconds are crucial to keep attention.
Film mobile-first: Record in portrait mode 📱.
Make it relatable: Shooting with a phone feels more personal and authentic.
💡 Tip: Plan your key message before you start filming — one clear takeaway per video works best.
🎵 2. Style, Tone & Music
Match your style, tone, and background sound to your topic — it should support your message, not compete with it.
Serious topics (e.g. safety, compliance):
No music, calm, trustworthy tone.
Cultural, service, or motivational content:
Light, rhythmic music can add energy — but keep it subtle.
Background music:
Never overpower speech.
Works best during intros, outros, or transitions.
Sound effects:
Use sparingly to highlight points (e.g. a click or light “ping”).
🎧 Tip: If in doubt, record first without music
🗣️ 3. Speakers & Voice
Clear, natural, and personal voice: Ideally, the speaker should be the person behind the message.
Show people: Learners connect and retain information better when they see real humans.
Always add subtitles: Makes your video accessible in any environment (e.g. on the train, when the headphones was forgotten at home).
🗨️ Tip: Practice the delivery once or twice before recording to sound relaxed and confident.
🎬 4. Visual Dynamics
Keep your video visually interesting — something should be happening.
Show people moving, demonstrating, or interacting with something.
Use both A-roll and B-roll for a dynamic feel:
🎙️ A-roll: Main footage — interview or primary message.
🎞️ B-roll: Supporting footage — context, visuals, or atmosphere.
If you film in one take, choose an engaging setting.
Example: If interviewing a store manager, film in the store, not a blank wall.
🎥 Tip: A mix of shots — wide, close-up, movement — helps keep viewers visually engaged.
⚙️ 5. Technical Setup (Made Simple)
You don’t need fancy gear — but a few small tweaks can make a big difference:
💡 Video & Lighting
Record in 1080p (Full HD) or higher if possible.
Use portrait orientation for mobile learning.
Keep the lens clean and steady (use a tripod or rest your elbows).
Ensure there’s good lighting — natural light from a window is ideal.
Face the light source (e.g. a window). Avoid backlighting (don’t stand with bright light behind you).
🎤 Audio
Use earbuds or an external mic for clearer voice capture: you should be able hear what's being said without having to concentrate.
Always do a quick sound check before recording.
Looking for help creating learning content? Contact your Customer Success Manager to learn more about Custom content productions 🚀