You can get great results by paying attention to a few details during recording that make all the difference. 

Creating Videos: How to Get Good Results with Few Money

With smartphones making it possible to create videos anytime, anywhere, video has become one of the most popular and consumed types of content online today.

Surveys show that 85% of Internet users in the United States watch video content. As a result, 87% of marketers are using this type of media to promote their products. And it works.

If a user has a positive experience with a video ad, this will increase their purchase probability by 97%, making this feature critical to your marketing strategy. 

For those who create and sell online courses, video classes are also a great public preference, being essential to attract students.

The good news is that creating videos is easier than you think – and it doesn’t have to be expensive. See the tips we’ve listed below!

1. Place your gear

You can create good quality videos with your iPhone or Android, as long as you keep a few simple tips in mind:

• Use the rear camera to get better quality footage.
• Shoot in landscape mode (horizontally instead of vertically).
• Place your camera at eye level. For best results, use a tripod.

If you have the budget for this, we recommend purchasing a camera stabilizer for more stable hand shooting, an external microphone to improve audio capture and quality, and a tripod to support the camera when you need your hands free. 

2. Plan your footage

When creating videos for your online courses, you have a lot of freedom to plan the entire production from start to finish. But be careful, without another critical look, planning and attention to detail are necessary in order not to end up with an unsatisfactory result.

To really do this like the pros, create your own storyboard with illustrations of your scenes in sequence. This will help you preview your final footage and outline the shots you want. It will also serve as your guide during filming and editing.

Next, think about where you can add onscreen text or other visuals to make your content really stand out.

Record short takes. This will allow you to film your lessons without having to memorize your entire script and makes editing easier.

– 7 Tips for Creating a Video Script

3. Ensure good lighting

One of the biggest secrets to creating videos with professional looking is good lighting. 

Determine the types of lights you need and where to place them to achieve the desired effect. 

Want to save money? Shoot your video where there is plenty of natural light. Make sure the light is positioned in front of you to illuminate most of your face. Prefer the morning or late afternoon sun for a softer light, as the midday sun can be very strong and create shadows.

If you’re shooting indoors, to complement the overhead lights, place a soft, bright light (for example, a lamp) beside or behind the camera. 

For more professional quality when creating videos, invest in ring light. Most professional Youtubers use a “ring of light”, which is a circular light that holds the camera (or smartphone) in the center. It can be attached to a tripod that supports both the light and the camera, so you can shoot hands-free.

Ring lights are a great option as they ensure a natural light effect and don’t strain your budget. 

4. Keep the background simple

Don’t film anywhere. Make an effort to use a simple, uncluttered background. Many use solid-colored backgrounds — whether it’s a wall, sheet, or wallpaper — and position themselves (or their objects) a few feet away to avoid casting shadows.

The key is to minimize the elements that will make the scene look confusing and distract from the subject. 

Shoot against a low contrast background for best results. Some neatly arranged items in the background can add depth to the video (a wall with frames, a bookcase, etc.).

Don’t use virtual backgrounds that have movement, this will distract your audience from your presentation.

Dress professionally, as if you were giving a live presentation at a conference. Avoid color clashes (ie, no overprinted pieces).

5. Attention to framing

A professional filmmaker or someone in the film industry may be able to identify an amateur’s work during the first few seconds of a video project, even if state-of-the-art equipment is used. What gives you away? Lack of proper framing and composition.

Composition is how you frame the subject (person or main object to be filmed) in the video to create the best possible experience for the viewer.

Start by following the rule of thirds by viewing a 3 × 3 grid in the frame and placing the subject in one of the grid boxes. Leave space above the subject’s head so it doesn’t get out of the frame, but don’t leave too much room either. If you’re recording yourself, it probably means you’ll be front and center on the grid.

What many beginners don’t realize is that creating videos involves more than just pointing your camera at your scene or subject. You need to organize and allow the visuals to tell your story. It also means changing the camera’s framing to make the scene aesthetically pleasing.

– How to set up a home studio to record videos

Multiple angles

If you can, shoot with a second device at a smaller angle or at a different

distance (eg wide shot and close-up). This can add energy to your presentation, and it also makes the cut between takes smoother.

6. Use manual focus

Although the auto focus feature on your camera can be very useful, it can ruin your recording when it goes in and out of focus when trying to locate your subject in poorly lit scenes. 

The key is to use the exposure/focus lock on your smartphone or switch to manual focus on your standalone camera, so you can use your own eyes and set the focus yourself.

Setting the focus also allows you to add interesting effects to your video, such as using the technique rack focus, where you can focus on different objects successively (with the help of a shallow depth of field blurring everything else) to direct the viewer attention. When used correctly, it can be a very powerful storytelling tool.

7. Set the white balance

A real challenge many professionals face when creating videos is temperature and color correction in filmed scenes.

If you are using more than one camera to record the same scene, they may have different default color temperatures. This is a problem when using cameras from different brands, for example, but it can also happen with equipment from the same brand. 

Set white balance on all cameras before recording to output more consistent and professional looking clips. This will help speed up the editing process.

The “correct” white balance is subjective and may depend on the desired result. For example, you can intentionally set it to feel cooler or warmer depending on the vibe you want to convey, or the subject being presented. 

8. Capture clear audio

One of the most important components of creating great video is audio. A smartphone can do a great job capturing images, but to ensure audio quality we highly recommend that you invest in an external microphone.

There are different options on the market. If you have a podcast or game microphone at home, this might work well. For outdoor recordings or for interviewing guests, a pair of “lav-go” lavalier microphones will work best.

And if you’re really on a budget, you can use the microphone that comes with most headphones. Although they have lower audio quality, they are better than no microphone and work well in tutorial videos, which are simpler and basically involve recording the computer screen.

– Record tutorial videos: tips to get the best result

If possible, record in a small space to reduce echo. Be sure to eliminate as much outside noise as possible. Closing windows and turning off fans and other devices helps reduce background noise. Don’t forget to silence your phone!

9. Always think about editing

This particular tip simply means that you should think like an editor when creating videos. 

When recording a scene, try to capture multiple angles and some “safety shots”. This means that you will have options later when editing the final material. This will save you time and effort that you would otherwise spend on remake. 

Using free video editing software, you can clear background noise, adjust lighting, cut out awkward pauses or errors, and add text and background music. 

Be sure to add subtitles to the finished video as well. Not only do subtitles make your videos more accessible to a wider audience, they are also more likely to attract the attention of users who are playing without sound. Plus, they improve your video’s SEO and engagement.

When finalizing edits, be sure to include elements of your brand identity. You can use some basic graphic design tools like Canva to create a cover page for your video or even add some graphic elements like your logo.

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

Create Videos and Sell More Online Courses

Using these tips for creating videos, you’re sure to get quality output, even as a beginner. Start slowly, record short scenes, analyze and adjust what you think you need to improve. Don’t just do this at the end, as the rework will be much bigger.

– 12 Quality Video Recording Apps

With creativity, dedication, and a little bit of investment, you can also create promotional  fun and engaging videos that will make your brand stand out and help you promote your online courses.

Once that’s done, your video is ready to be shared with the world. Plan a content marketing strategy and share it on social networks, email and website.

As for your online classes, all you need is a complete eLearning platform, like Coursify.me, to make them accessible to the public.

Learning Management System (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from video hosting platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

With Coursify.me you can easily upload videos, texts and other materials from your computer and from the main platforms, such as Dropbox, to your online school.

Visit our website, do a test and enjoy all the features we offer for you create and sell quality online courses.

The post 9 Tips for Creating Professional-Looking Videos appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

Today, it is one of the fastest growing social media platforms worldwide, with an ever-expanding user base and a significant impact on popular culture.

Why use TikTok to promote your business?

With one diverse and active user base worldwide, TikTok presents impressive data such as:

• 1 billion monthly active users;
• Of the 4.8 billion internet users worldwide, 20.83% use TikTok;
• More than 3 billion downloads are made on the platform;
• In 2021, the average time a user spent monthly on the app was 19.6 hours, according to data company data.ai. Well above Instagram’s 11.2 hours, or even WhatsApp’s 18.6 hours.

One of the great advantages of TikTok for brands is its virality potential. 

With content focused on short videos, such as Reels on Instagram, the secret to selling on TikTok is just one: producing creative and interesting videos. 

They are short recordings, with the possibility of different types of editing – filters, music, special effects, etc. The feed is infinite and the videos start automatically, causing the user to quickly fall into a loop and keep watching one after the other.

This type of content is widely shared on the platform, reaching a large number of views in a short time.

That means greater organic reach, perfect for boosting brand awareness, increasing your business visibility, and saving money on paid ads.

But be aware, TikTok is known for its relaxed and authentic atmosphere. To stand out on the platform, focus on creating genuine, fun content and show the human side of your business, so as to establish an emotional connection with your target audience.

– 10 tips for creating content for social media

How to use TikTok to sell online courses

TikTok can be a great platform to promote and sell online courses. See the tips we prepared below.

Create informational videos

Use short videos to provide valuable information related to your course topic. For example, you can share tips, insights, or demos on the subject.

There are several success stories of professionals who have used this strategy, such as that of pastry chef Rosana Maria, whose story was published in an article in the online magazine Você S/A.

According to the publication, owner of an artistic cake shop for seven years, Rosana used Instagram to publicize her work, posting videos of the production of her cakes, when she decided to start using TikTok as well.

In a short time, she saw her videos go viral, with people interested not only in buying the cakes, but also in learning her recipes. So, in addition to seeing sales increase by 25%, Rosana also created a recipe ebook and diversified her source of income.

– How to Create an eBook

Present course teasers

Create short teasers of your online courses to generate curiosity and anticipation.

Disclose an exciting snippet of content, highlight benefits students can gain, or share testimonials from past students. This will help spark interest and encourage people to learn more about the course.

Using Rosana’s example, you can show a piece of cake preparation to impact the audience and make them want to see more.

With TikTok features to edit video, it’s easy to create compelling material with the potential to go viral.

Demonstrate the value of the course

Highlight the value and benefits of your online course.

Show how it can help your students solve a problem, acquire new skills, or achieve specific goals.

Use stories, examples and testimonials to illustrate the results they can expect to achieve from the course.

Ask your students or colleagues to record a short video applying something they learned from you. If it’s a recipe, ask them to show you the result, it’s possible to do this without even showing up.

To encourage more people to share their experiences, you can offer something in return, like a discount on an upcoming course or some bonus material.

– Tips to get more Reviews for your course

Leverage the “edutainment” trend

“Edutainment” (education + entertainment) is an approach that combines transmission of knowledge with fun.

This methodology can be applied in any type of teaching, training or qualification in order to promote greater engagement, fixation and interest in the content. Therefore, in addition to schools and universities, edutainment has also entered companies.

TikTok is the perfect tool to promote courses using this principle.

Creating challenges, humorous videos with engaging storytelling, in addition to promoting your course, you make it more interesting for your target audience.

– 9 Benefits of Online Training for Employees

Take advantage of viral trends and challenges

As we said earlier, TikTok has high virality power, since it is a platform driven by viral trends and challenges.

An excellent way to gain visibility and sell on the social network is to identify which ones are and participate in the trends relevant to your niche.

Just do a quick search with keywords related to your business to find videos that can serve as an idea for you to create your own promotional content.

You can create and sponsor your own challenges or join existing popular challenges.

Include links in video descriptions

Despite not being a social network focused on text and subtitles, it is possible to create descriptions for your videos and, best of all, add links to them.

This is a point for TikTok when compared to Instagram, which only allows the insertion of one link that appears in the bio of the profile or page.

Take advantage of this opportunity and use this resource to direct interested viewers to your course sales page or to your website where they can find more information and apply.

Another piece of good news is that TikTok is implementing direct purchase features on the platform, allowing users to purchase products or services without leaving the app.

That facilitates the conversion process, making it easy for TikTok users to become your customers.

Invest in paid ads

Like other social media, TikTok offers paid ad options that appear directly in users’ video feeds.

These ads can be short videos or still images and can include links and call-to-action buttons.

They allow you to promote your products or services more directly to users and can bring excellent results.

With resources that allow for segmentation and easy adaptation of the campaign according to the results that emerge, investing in paid ads is a good option for those who are starting out and want to grow their audience faster, while working on their organic growth strategy.

– SEO X Google Ads: which offers more advantages for my business?

Do Lives and Q&A

Much more than just a channel with dancing videos, TikTok is a true sales tool, with high potential for promoting brands and customer relationships.

Proof of this is that the platform allows you to make live broadcasts to interact directly with your audience.

Take advantage of this feature and host Q&A sessions, product demos, online classes, tutorials, and even live events.

This creates a real-time engagement opportunity and allows you to build a deeper connection with your audience while promoting your course.

Remember that while TikTok is an entertainment platform, it is important to provide valuable content and be authentic. 

Focus on creating engaging and informative videos that pique users’ interest and desire to learn more about your online courses.

Try different approaches and evaluate the results to determine which methods are most effective for your business.

How to create videos for TikTok?

It’s work, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Get into the social network mood and let your creativity run free.

 Here are some steps to help you create quality videos for the platform:

• Planning: Before you start recording, define a clear idea for your video. Determine the type of content you want to create, such as a tutorial, lesson, challenge, dance, etc. Keep in mind the purpose of the video and the message you want to convey.

• Duration: TikTok videos have a time limit of up to 60 seconds.

• Pay attention to the technical parameters of the video: Videos should preferably be filmed vertically, with an aspect ratio of 9:16, resolution of 1920 × 1080 px and file format in MOV or MP4.

• Script or outline: Create a script or outline of your video to help organize the shots and movements. This can be especially useful for more complex videos.

• Enjoy TikTok tools:The app has tons of creative tools that you can use to make your videos more interesting. Explore the special effects, filters, speed up/slow down, time-lapse, slow motion and other features available.

• Choose the right music: Music is an essential part of TikTok videos. Choose one that fits the style and theme of your video. You can use popular songs or explore the app’s own sound library.

• Framing and angles: Try different angles and framing to add variety to your video. Alternate between close-ups, medium shots and wide shots to create dynamism.

• Edition: After recording the video, you can edit and enhance it in the app itself. Use features like cropping, adding captions, including stickers, adding text or overlaying images to create a more professional look.

– Record tutorial videos: tips to get the best result

Show your personality and be original in your videos. Experiment with different ideas, styles, and approaches to stand out on the platform.

Remember that practice makes perfect. The more you create videos on TikTok, the more skillful you will become, getting better and better results.

Sell ​​more online courses using TikTok

Social network that grows the most nowadays, even though almost half of the active users are up to 29 years old, the app is indispensable for small businesses, offering unique opportunities for entrepreneurship.

On TikTok, everything is decided by the algorithm, which quickly understands what types of content the user likes. In this way, any content can be successful without necessarily having a lot of followers.

For small businesses, this means that it is possible to have results translated into sales right at the beginning of use, says Ariadne Mecate, business consultant at Sebrae. “In that sense, Tik-Tok is more democratic for small business owners.”

Convinced and ready to create your online course sales strategy on TikTok?

– How to sell courses online

Great, now all you have to do is make sure that your course is hosted on the best teaching platform to make life easier for your students.

Complete eLearning platform, Coursify.me is the ideal solution for those who want to create, sell and promote courses on the internet.

Serving companies and professionals in more than 60 countries, the platform is a dynamic and customizable Learning Management System.

– Whats is a Learning Management System (LMS)

To know more, visit our site, test the platform and understand why we are the best option for your online course. 

The post How to use TikTok to sell online courses appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

To help, in this post we are going to talk about 5 free programs to record videos straight from your computer screen.

Find out which are the best free apps to record videos

There are several methods for you to record videos and produce quality material for your online classes.

You can use DSLR cameras, video cameras, your cell phone camera or even hiring help from a professional video maker.

But for those who are starting and prefer to go simple, there is the option of recording videos straight from your computer screen, a method widely used to create tutorials and online courses in general.

– Record tutorial videos: tips to get the best result

For that, you just need a good screen capture program. Check out five options of free apps that can help you in this mission.

1. Ezvid

Ezvid is a screen recording program that comes with a built-in video editor, with which you can split recordings and add texts between two clips.

This application has been on the market for a long time and is considered by many to be the best free software screen capture, video editing and slideshow maker for Windows. 

Among its features, we can highlight:

• Screen recording: allows you to easily record your computer screen, including microphone and system audio.

• Video editing: includes some basic video editing tools, such as trimming clips, adding text and images, and adjusting playback speed.

• Integration with YouTube: makes it easy to export the video to YouTube and offers some options to adjust video settings before uploading.

• Background music: comes with a free background music library that you can use when recording videos.

• Screenshot in games: Ezvid is one of the few free screen capture software options that supports full screen game recording without losing its quality.

As a negative point, Ezvid doesn’t offer as many features as other screen capture software options, and some functionality, such as advanced audio and video editing, is not available.

– 14 Strategies to get views on YouTube

2. FlashBack Express Recorder

Quite popular, the FlashBack Express it’s a software often used to create video tutorials, software demos, training videos, online courses, presentations and more.

Its ‘capture driver’ technology puts it ahead of other free screen recorders and is capable to record videos with high quality without affecting PC performance (exclusive to Windows), even on less powerful computers.

In terms of features, it offers several options:

• Screen recording: allows you to capture screenshots of full screen, selected areas and more.

• Video editing: you can add texts, arrows, shapes, highlights, audio and soundtracks.

• Webcam: allows you to record your webcam to add a personal layer to your videos.

• Zoom and Pan: allows you to zoom and pan your screenshots to highlight specific areas.

• Easy sharing: makes it simple to share your screenshots and videos on social media sites, YouTube, Vimeo and other services.

Overall, FlashBack Express is a solid option for anyone looking for free, easy-to-use screen recording software.

However, if you need advanced video editing features, then you will have to look for a more robust option.

– 5 Tips to Make Editing Your Video Easier

3. Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder

The great beauty of Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder is that it is a web application that allows you to record videos straight from your computer screen without having to download the software.

To make it clearer, it is possible to download the app, but if this is a one-time project or you are in a hurry, just hit record and start.

Practical and easy to use, some of its main features are:

• Screen recording: allows you to record your computer’s full screen or just a specific part.

• Audio recording: allows you to record sound from your browser, applications or microphone.

• Webcam: enables recording your webcam while recording your computer screen.

• Output formats: supports multiple formats including MP4, WMV, AVI, FLV, MPEG, VOB and ASF.

• Video editing: you can add texts, arrows and other shapes, as well as cut unnecessary parts.

• Sharing: allows you to share your recording directly on platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo and Google Drive.

• No time limit: the app does not impose a time limit on recording.

It is important to remember that, being a free web application, it may have some limitations compared to paid software.

However, for those who are starting to record videos and have little experience, this is certainly an excellent option to develop their skills and achieve faster results.

4. DVDVideoSoft Free Screen Recorder

One more app that is quite simple to use, Free Screen Recorder it presents nine icons.

The first four are for capturing the screen, the next four are for organizing your screen and the last icon brings the main settings.

The program provides four types of capture to record videos and features a built-in editor for you to make some adjustments to the image before saving it.

Look some of its features:

• Screen recording: allows you to capture the entire screen or just a selected part.

• Video formats: allows you to record your screen in different video formats, including AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV and others.

• Advanced settings: allows you to configure many advanced recording options, such as frame rate, video quality, screen resolution, and more.

• Editing tools: includes basic editing features like adding texts, images and lines.

• Webcam recording: is it possible to record the webcam simultaneously with the screen.

• Scheduling of recordings: enables scheduling the start and end of a recording at specific times.

• Easy sharing: allows you to easily share the recorded videos on social media sites and other services.

Another positive point of this app is that it enables you to include in the file name the specific date and time the video was recorded. This feature facilitates the organization of material.

Overall, DVDVideoSoft Free Screen Video Recorder is a good option for anyone who needs basic screen capture and video recording features, but doesn’t offer as much functionality as other similar programs.

– 9 tips for recording professional-looking videos

5. Krut Computer Recorder

Open source screen recorder easy to use, Krut was developed in Java and it has a very simple interface.

The software presents the “Follow Mouse” option that causes only a small area around the mouse to be recorded, making the rest of the desktop not appear.

It’s possible to export files in MOV format, an excellent choice for presentations, demonstrations and other materials with educational purposes.

Here are some of the features offered by Krut Computer Recorder:

• Screen recording: allows you to capture the entire screen or a selected area, including audio and video.

• Video edition: does not include built-in video editing features, but allows you to export the recorded videos in different file formats so that they can be edited later in other programs.

• Audio recording: allows you to record system or microphone audio for adding narration to your videos.

• Advanced settings: the software allows you to configure various recording options such as frame rate, video quality and screen resolution.

• Video formats: enables you to record videos in different formats, including MOV, OGG and AVI.

• Zoom and Pan: you can zoom and pan your screenshots to highlight specific areas.

• Easy sharing: you can easily share the screenshots and videos on social media sites and other services.

In short, Krut Computer Recorder is a free and complete option to record videos, with several configuration options.

Record videos and start selling online courses 

These five programs, in addition to being free, are quite simple to use, excellent for those who are starting to record videos and have no experience in the matter.

If you are looking for more robust and complete options, Movavi Screen Recorder and Camtasia are good choices. Both software are paid but offer a free trial period.

Our advice is that you study a little more about their interfaces and test at least two softwares to find out which best suits your needs.

Once your recording is done, just upload the video to our elearning platform and that’s it, your students will have immediately access to the material.

Platform for hosting online courses (LMS), Coursify.me has all the features you need to import content from your computer and from sites like Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Instructors can embed their videos hosted on any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me, making their classes even better and more complete.

Visit our site, take a test and enjoy all the features of our platform to create and sell quality online courses. If you have any doubts, just get in touch!

The post 5 free apps to record videos straight from your computer screen appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

A well-crafted promotional video can be the difference between someone signing up for your course or not. Therefore, in this post we are going to talk about what steps you should go through to produce a quality video.

How to Create Promotional Videos for Your Online Course

If you are looking for an effective way to publicize your course, promotional videos are the best way to go. 

Creative solution to capture potential students’ attention and show what your course has in store, videos are one of the most impactful and quickest forms of communication to generate results.

So how can you make an engaging promotional video for your course? Here’s our suggestion:

• Start by planning what aspects of your online course you want to promote in your video. Think about what will make your course stand out and appeal to your target audience.

• Then start planning the video script. What points need to be addressed and in what order?

• With the script ready, start thinking about the recording process. How and where are you going to film? What kind of equipment will you need?

• Move on to editing, see what needs to be cut and what needs to be included in terms of effects, animation, text, background music, etc.

• Share your video on your main channels.

This is the short walkthrough that the best content creators use to develop their promotional videos. 

Now, to help beginners, let’s explain better what to do in each step.

1. Planning

When starting to plan your eLearning video, it is essential to consider the following questions:

1. Who is your target audience and what do they want?
2. What are your video goals?
3. How will your video help your audience?

Your target audience should be the main factor to keep in mind when creating promotional videos.

If you don’t know who your audience is, that’s the first thing you have to find out. Research and define your buyer persona well.

Who is your video aimed at? What are that person’s needs and how can what you have to offer help them?

Think about it and write it all down on paper. If you sell a sales clerk course, for example, you may be targeting an audience looking for their first job or who need some qualification to find a new job quickly.

Present your course proposal, talk about what will be covered and show how this content will help them get a job placement. List its advantages and the transformation it offers.

Write it all down and you’ll have a first sketch of what your video will look like. 

– How to create buyer personas?

2. Create a video script 

In this second step, your outline needs to evolve into a well-defined script. 

Believe me, this is very important to ensure a coherent flow for your video and to structure it in the most attractive way before investing money and time in production.

Keep in mind that promotional videos need to be short, engaging and to the point. 

A script will help you make the video as short as possible while still communicating essential information. It also helps to preview the images and other visuals that will be needed to keep the content interesting for the viewer.

Focus on creating a 500-700 word script for a 2-3 minute video.

Remember that people have a short attention span on the internet, so your promotional video needs to grab them in the first 3-5 seconds.

You can accomplish this by asking a question that is of interest to your target audience, such as:

“Are you looking for a new job or extra income?”

After capturing their attention, keep their interest by pointing out the advantages of what you are selling:

“I created a practical course to help you achieve this quickly. There are ten video lessons that will teach you everything you need to know to enter the job market. You study on your own time, clear your doubts and even leave with a certificate to improve your resume.”

The next step is to awaken the desire to acquire the transformation you are offering. For this, paint a picture of how the student’s life will improve after completing the course.

“We have already trained hundreds of students who got their first job right after taking our course. See some testimonials!”

If you already have graduates, ask them to write or videotape testimonials for you, telling about their successful experiences. If this is your first online course, talk about your qualifications, the results you’ve already achieved and how your students can improve their.

Finally, take action:

“So what are you waiting for? Sign up and start changing your life right now!”

It ‘s important to end with a clear call to action. Tell your potential student exactly what they need to do to enroll. Keep it simple and straightforward. 

“Click the red button below. The application process takes just 30 seconds.”

Doing this you will have used the AIDA formula: (A) attention, (I) interest, (D) desire, (A) action. 

Using this formula makes scripting promotional videos a simple and efficient process.

– How to get more Reviews for your business

3. Record your promotional video 

Script ready, it’s time to move on to video recording.

Your budget, goals and target audience will influence the type of video you make.

You can create many types of promotional videos, from a simple screencast to a more elaborate animated video. 

The type of video that generates the best engagement is usually the one you appear talking to the camera, as this shows that there is a real person who is selling the course, which gives more authority and confidence.

To record this video you will basically need a camera (it can be the one on your smartphone) and a microphone.

–  Meet 12 quality video recording apps

Other than that, there are some considerations when creating promotional videos that you should know:

• Before recording, check your camera settings to ensure a good resolution of the captured image.

• If necessary, use a tripod or other camera support to ensure you appear centered in the footage.

• Make sure that the environment you will be shooting in is well lit, and there is no shadow on you or the subject being filmed.

• Record in a well-organized, clean environment that has to do with the message you are going to convey.

• Do your best to isolate any noise, it’s important that nothing gets in the way of your audio.

• Keep emotion and spontaneity in your tone of voice, avoiding monotony.

It’s also important to keep in mind that although your video will be seen by countless people, you should speak as if you were addressing one at a time. 

When recording your message, be personal. This is very important to create a connection with your audience.

– Tips for Speaking Well in Video

4. Edit the content

We can’t stress enough how editing is an essential factor to make promotional videos. 

Editing your video helps to compose the story and remove any rough edges, ensuring that all the technical aspects are in order, such as file format and resolution. 

Images

Use compelling visuals such as images and graphics to help make the end result more enjoyable and persuasive. 

Remember to keep the video moving, as variety increases engagement. Prevent the same video or photo from being on the screen for more than 5 seconds.

Charts are a powerful tool to emphasize the key benefits and outcomes of enrolling in your course. They also help keep the video dynamic.

Remember, varied visuals make the video interesting and increase engagement.

Sound Effects

Including music or other sound effects can be a good idea to make the content more attractive.

If you’re going to use this feature, it’s important to avoid monotonous music and use a change of pace. Why? Because when we listen to the same rhythmic music for 3 minutes our mind wanders more easily, making us feel less connected to the subject being presented.

Call to Action

Be sure to end your video with a clear and direct call to action. Don’t distract or confuse your audience with multiple steps or actions.

Include a CTA at the end of the promotional video so viewers know what to do next, such as a link or button to the enrollment page or your email list. 

To make your CTA even stronger, use a sense of urgency and words full of emotion.

– 5 Tips to Make Editing Your Video Easier

5. Promote your video

The final step in producing promotional videos is getting them to your audience.

How are you going to get people to watch? Will you embed it on your website or share it on your social media? 

Four simple outreach strategies are:

• Post your video to your social media channels with persuasive text and a link. 
• Add the video to your YouTube channel and embed it in a blog post, guest posts, etc.
• Use video in your email marketing strategy.
• Create a landing page to sell your course and place the video at the top of the page.

– 14 Strategies to get more YouTube views 

Create promotional videos and sell more online courses

Creating compelling promotional videos for your online courses doesn’t have to be difficult. Focus on sending one clear and persuasive message to your audience. 

Use a microphone to ensure everyone can understand what you are saying perfectly. Use an online editor to enhance the result, and finally, ensure the video is mobile-friendly. 

For sure the first one will be more difficult to make and maybe not as good as you hope. But don’t give up and don’t stop publishing, the next ones will definitely be much better.

Elearning platform (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from sites like Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System (LMS)

Instructors can embed their videos hosted on any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me, making their classes better and more complete.

To know more, visit our website, test it out and enjoy all the features of our platform to create and sell quality online courses. If you need any help, let us know!

The post 5 Steps to Create Promotional Videos for Your Online Course appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

The options are numerous and to help you select which ones are the best, we have made a list of the top 12 of the year.

Why record videos for your business?

A few years ago, video consumption entered a continuous growth curve. In 2019, users spent an average of six hours and 48 minutes a week watching videos online – a 59% increase from just three years ago (Limelight, 2019).

In 2020, 96% of consumers increased their consumption of online videos and 9 out of 10 viewers said they wanted to see more videos from brands and companies. In fact, starting in 2022, the average person is predicted to spend 100 minutes a day watching videos on the internet.

– 5 ways to sell online courses using videos

The easy access brought by the use of mobile devices and the amount of material available online, considering that more and more companies and professionals produce content in this media format to interact with the public, justifies this accelerated growth.

Just to give you an idea, a survey by Statista shows that by 2021, 3.8 billion people were using a smartphone.

According to Strategy Analytics CEO Neil Mawston, by 2030 around 5 billion people will use smartphones worldwide.

Do you understand why recording videos is essential for your business?

Now, if you’ve never done this before, don’t despair, we’ve put together a list of 12 video recording apps to help you make this task easier.

12 quality video recording apps

The numerous video recording apps that exist in the market differ mainly by the functionalities they offer.

We’ve made a selection of 12 apps that are among the most used (and approved) today to produce professional-quality content, without you needing to be an expert on the subject. Check out!

1. Adobe Premiere Rush

One of the favorites among those who work with video creation and editing Premiere Rush is a robust and very complete tool.

This program aims at agility, and for that it has a very intuitive interface. Getting started is very simple, like any other application, select the file you want to work with from your computer, Dropbox, etc. 

The app’s professional camera allows you to make high quality videos and immediate editing. Add music and titles, apply effects, organize videos, audios, graphics and photos by drag and drop. Its tools also allow you to cut videos, use speed controls to adjust time, adjust audio, enhance colors with presets and customization.

Additionally, the app includes a powerful photo editor that allows you to apply filters, crop, adjust brightness and contrast, and add text to your images.

• Available for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows
• Free with option of paid plans 

2. Apowersoft

One of the most popular video recording apps, Apowersoft is a great solution for recording games and making tutorials. 

– Recording tutorial videos: tips to get the best result

Easy to operate, just shake the screen to start and shake again to stop recording. It supports screen recording with internal sound and audio via phone speaker.

The app allows you to display your phone’s screen on your PC; It allows you to share the recorded video clips through other apps and comes with the “Privacy Protection” function, to prevent private information from leaking while recording.

• Available for Android 
• Free with option of paid plans 

3. Movavi Screen Recorder

Movavi Screen Recorder can capture video from screen and webcam and capture multiple video and audio streams simultaneously. It also has a recording scheduler, so that you never miss an important event to capture.

To create video instructions and broadcast with a desktop demonstration, it is convenient to use the indicator of keystrokes, cursor, and the function of drawing on top of the picture. After recording, you can open the video in the built-in editor to cut out unnecessary parts.

The resulting video can be converted to any format and saved in Full HD or 4K quality. You can also upload your recording to YouTube and Google Drive directly from this screen recorder for Mac and Windows.

• Available for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows
• Free trial version

4. iMovie

We can say that one of the only drawbacks of this app is that it is developed exclusively for use with Apple products, such as iPhone, iPad and Mac.

If you are the happy owner of one of these devices, know that iMovie lets you add solid backgrounds, gradients and standard colors to movies; slow down or speed up any clip; use PIP, green screen and split screen effects; select from over 80 soundtracks that automatically adjust to the length of the video; add sound effects, your own narration; between others.

Want more? The app allows you to share your creations on social media without the slightest effort, the integration is beautiful to see.

• Available for iOS
• Free

5. EZ Screen Recorder

Another celebrity among video recording apps, the EZ allows you to record what happens on your device’s screen easily and smoothly. 

Just one tap to take a screenshot. You can set different video resolutions, frame rates and automatically choose the best settings for your device.

When the video recording or screenshot is finished, you can easily share the content with other apps like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

– How to promote your business on YouTube

• Available for Android
• Free

6. ProCam 8

We don’t want to exclude anyone, but we need to talk about ProCam 8, even if it also only works on iPhones, as it brings DSLR camera level features.

Easy to use in the world of the video recording apps, it has features that appear when you tap the settings icon. A single touch gives you manual control over focus and exposure. And it’s easy to change video formats or add a grid overlay before shooting.

Although paid, its cost is low (around 10 dollars) and as you evolve in the use of the application, you can buy new features to get even better results.

• Available for iOS
• Paid 

7. VideoShow

Want to record full videos, create different, fun and unique content for your social networks, online courses and much more? VideoShow is your app!

The program offers more than 50 themes designed to generate a music video, hundreds of background music, various text styles and fonts for subtitles, filters, gifs, memes, emojis, as well as advanced editing functions. 

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

Perfect for making creative videos, you can find the app at  App Store and on Play Store.

• Available for Android and iOS
• Free 

8. Open Camera

Open Camera brings features from the world of professional video production and editing to the palm of your hand, unless you have an iPhone, because this open source application is only for Android.

Its great advantage is that it has an extensive list of features to leave your images with good quality, even if your cell phone doesn’t have an excellent camera.

The app has several exposure-related features such as focus, color effects, white balance, ISO, exposure compensation/lock, face detection, torch and antibanding. It also has an inverted view option for use with attachable lenses, support for external microphones, among others.

• Available for Android
• Free

9. AZ Screen Recorder

Easy to use, the AZ screen recorder allows you to record your screen in FullHD and QHD videos, and is the only screencast app on the market that can be paused and resumed while recording.  

Excellent for making tutorials, this application allows you to configure the video resolution, screen orientation, share or delete recorded videos, does not have a watermark and time limit and even offers the option of live streaming to social networks. 

– Live video streaming: 5 ways to make money

To improve, the app does not display ads and does not require root access. 

• Available for Android
• Free

10. Movie Pro

A solution that cares about your pocket, Movie Pro offers robust features without making you pay what they’re really worth.

Among the features that the app offers, shout out to recording videos with time lapse; capture photos while recording; zoom speed control; MultiCam recording; automatic white balance and much more.

The app is currently priced at $9,99.00 on the App Store (yes, we’re talking about an Apple-exclusive product again), and it’s perfect for anyone who wants even more impressive results.

• Available for iOS
• Paid

11. MAVIS

We can’t deny that Apple is very friendly with those who want to record videos. Another option for branded devices, MAVIS  has numerous advanced features and allows recording in HD, 2K and 4K.

It provides professional grade filming tools including focus peaking, waveform monitor, vectorscope, false colors and zebras.

The app also offers audio controls, audio metering, custom resolutions, frame rates and recording formats. Features natural interface to provide full flexible manual control while shooting.

• Available for iOS
• Free

12. DU Recorder – Screen Recorder 

DU Recorder is a high quality screen recorder that can be downloaded for free. 

Simple to use and packed with cool features, you can enable the front camera, record external sound, make cuts, combine your videos, add background music, make animated GIFs, and even share the content as a live stream on major video platforms. 

When finished, you can save the video to your smartphone’s memory or share it directly on any social network.

• Available for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows
• Free

– Meet the best free screen recorders

BONUS Tips for Online Course Creators

Camtasia Studio

Well-known application, we cannot say that Camtasia is the simplest option to use, nor the cheapest, but it is certainly among the most complete.

With Camtasia, you can record virtually anything on your computer screen, such as websites, software, video calls, or PowerPoint presentations. Also, it has a built-in editor so you don’t have to export your videos to other software for editing.

Among the video recording apps, this is one of the favorites of online courses creators, thanks to its numerous features that facilitate the development of teaching material, such as turning presentations into videos, including captions, quizzes, arrows and annotations to highlight important points, and much more.

When finished, the app lets you instantly upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, Screencast or your online course.

• Available for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows
• Paid 

FiLMic Pro

FiLMic Pro is another favorite one between the video recording apps, for its high performance and ease of use. With well-designed screens and buttons, it’s easy to feel like an expert when recording videos.

Features standard, manual, and hybrid shooting modes; portrait or landscape shooting orientations; variable zoom speed; slow and fast motion special effects options; adjustable time-lapse recording; etc.

Recorded video, you can even adjust settings (exposure, contrast, saturation, hue, color temperature) and save presets. 

• Available for Android and iOS
• Paid

Final tips for recording quality videos  

Choosing between video recording apps is already a big part of the way, but to record video with quality you need to think about a few more factors that influence the final result.

To begin, take a good look at your surroundings. Think of the need to prepare your movie set or, in other words, set up a home recording studio.

–  Learn how to record videos at home

Make sure you organize the environment around you, so that you show the identity of your business and convey to your audience the image you want. 

In any image work, lighting is everything, so pay extra attention on this, making the most of natural light and making sure there aren’t any shadows cast over you or whatever the “star” of the shot is.

As we’ve talked about numerous times here before, invest in a microphone. This is not an expensive piece of equipment and makes all the difference in audio quality.

– Meet 4 Voice Recorder Models for your Business

Use a tripod to give your smartphone better stability and always record with the back camera. These simple precautions will save you many hours of editing.

Video ready, all you need to do now is select a platform to host your content in order to make it available to the students of your online course.

You can then add the video to your website or LMS without slowing down page load times.

– How to Choose the Right Video Hosting Platform

Elearning platform (LMS), the Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from sites like Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Instructors can embed their videos hosted on any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me, making their classes even better and more complete.

To know more, visit our website, test it out and take advantage of all the features of our platform to create and sell quality online courses. If you need any help, let us know!

The post 12 best video recording apps [+ BONUS tips] appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

With the right tips and little equipment, you can get great results. 

Recording Videos: How to Set Up a Home Studio

To record videos, before you start, you need to prepare the environment and the equipment you will be using. 

Fortunately, you can create an amazing studio on a budget, as long as you’re prepared to be a little creative.

Here’s how to turn your home into a professional-grade studio:

1. Camera 

Since most people don’t have a professional video camera, using a smartphone, laptop, or webcam is the second best option.

The good news is that most modern smartphones are capable of recording videos with excellent resolution. If this is your option, make sure your phone is capable of capturing images in 4K resolution.

Now, if you’ve got the money to invest and want to shoot videos with the highest quality, get a DSLR, especially ones where the screen can swivel outward so you can see yourself as you shoot.

– How to choose the right camera to record videos

Camera

The next step is to position the camera at the perfect angle mounting, and for that you will need a stand, something that will keep the camera stable.

It’s always possible to lean the camera on a pile of books and things like that, but if you want to make your life easier and ensure a good result, here are some options to consider: 

Tripod 

The tripod is a simple and practical support that makes all the difference when recording videos, giving stability to the footage and allowing you to adjust the height and angle of the camera. On the internet you can easily find options that fit the most varied budgets. Believe us, it’s worth the investment!

Gorillapod 

This type of stand has flexible legs that you can attach to different types of surfaces (such as tables, pillars, etc.), which is really useful for positioning your camera at the perfect angle, no matter in what environment you’re shooting.

Desk Mount

This phone mount is perfect for top-down shooting as it mounts to the surface you’re working on and features a flexible neck for setting the framing. An excellent option for those who need to film manual tasks, for example, preparing a recipe or assembling a product.

If you’re not sure if the framing looks good, or are afraid to get out of it while recording, another tip is to shoot with your smartphone’s front camera, so you can look at yourself on the screen while you’re recording.

Now, see a basic step by step to achieve great results:

• Stabilize your camera with the help of a tripod or support on a stable surface.
• Position the camera so that it is at eye level, if possible.
• Leave enough space around the subject (main object/person to be filmed) so that the video can be easily cropped on different platforms (e.i. a 16:9 video for YouTube can be cut into a 9:16 video for IGTV or Reels). 
• Leave some distance between the subject and the background. This helps add depth to the video.
• Check your phone / camera / laptop settings to make sure you’re recording at the highest possible resolution.
• Make sure you have enough memory space before you start recording.

– Record tutorial videos: tips to get the best result

2. Lighting

Don’t underestimate lighting, it makes a big difference in the final result, especially to record videos using a smartphone or laptop. 

Here are some equipment that help improve lighting when shooting:

Softbox 

A softbox is a simple piece of equipment that illuminates a large area with a softer light. 

This method works well if your space is big enough (in a smaller area, it can make everything look hard and overexposed). 

A tip is to buy LED bulbs to use together, as LED lights don’t heat up.

Light fixture

If your space is small, you may not have the option to use a softbox. 

To work around this, point a light fixture at a white wall so the light reflects back at you, creating a wider, softer light source.

Natural lighting 

Want to save the most? Natural light is your greatest ally.

Instead of investing in a softbox, you can stand facing a window. The cheapest and easiest way to set up a recording studio is, without a doubt, to record videos with your laptop or cell phone using natural light. However, you need to consider where the light comes from to avoid exposure problems.

The best position in case you use light that comes from a window, is to stand beside or in front of it. Make sure there isn’t too much light behind you, otherwise only your silhouette will appear. 

If you can’t get away from a window behind you, a good tip is to cover it with an opaque white curtain to soften or diffuse the incoming light. 

The tricky part of this setup is that the sun moves throughout the day, so if you’re shooting for a long period of time, your lighting might be inconsistent.

Here are some tips for getting the best results:

• Shoot in a well-lit place with natural light during the day, if possible. If it is possible to diffuse the light through translucent curtains, so much the better!
• Turn on all indoor lights along with natural light, the more the better.
• Avoid strong shadows on the subject. Try to get even, flat lighting.
• If you have access to artificial lighting, such as a ring of light, feel free to use it – but be careful to avoid shadows or reflections on the glass. 

3. Audio 

Audio quality is indispensable for creating online courses, as your students need to hear everything you say clearly.

For best results, use an external microphone and synchronize the audio during the editing process. 

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

Microphone

Even if you have great content, if the audio quality is poor, the learning experience of your students will suffer, so our advice is to use the best microphone you can afford.

Snowball microphone 

You can use a snowball microphone to record videos over a wider area (like a room) or even with several people talking (like a podcast). 

This is also a good microphone if you plan on adding narration to already recorded video or streaming it. 

Lapel microphone

The lavalier microphone is extremely directional and can clearly capture your voice. 

Easy to carry, it’s perfect if you’re shooting outdoors, broadcasting live, or moving around a lot while shooting. 

These are some microphone options, but there are several others on the market at different prices. Do good research and see which best suits your needs.

– 4 Great Voice Recorders for your Business

To ensure the best result, see the following tips:

• Record videos in a quiet place, with doors and windows closed to avoid unwanted noise.
• Shoot in a carpeted space or somewhere with a lot of upholstery. This helps to “dampen” the sound and reduce echo. Likewise, avoid recording in an empty room with bare walls, as this can make the audio sound diminished.
• If you are using an external microphone, clap your hands at the beginning of a take. This will help you synchronize the audio with the footage. 
• Position an external microphone slightly away from the audio source (ie, your mouth). If the microphone is too close, it can distort the sound. 
• If you are using a clip-on microphone, clip it to your clothing and position it pointing up toward your chin. 

4. Background

The location you choose to shoot can have a big impact on the professional look of your video.

You don’t want to record videos with an ugly or messy background, so plan what’s going on behind you.

Small decorative details like plants and pictures can help a lot to improve the quality of your production.

Look for cozy corners of your home that are intimate and “fit” what you have to say. An office, garden or even a kitchen can be excellent backdrops if they are organized and related in some way to the subject you are addressing.

– 7 tips for speaking well on video

Use plants, tables, ornaments, chairs, books and pillows to add personality to your videos, but not all at once. You want your students to pay attention to you, and not end up lost in the confusion that is the room around you.

If you don’t have a viable space, use a seamless paper backdrop in a color that aligns with your brand. And, of course, always look for a room where you don’t risk being interrupted.

And that’s it! With these simple tips, you are able to record videos at home with professional quality.

Publish your videos on a learning platform

The next step is to edit the recording until the final result is perfect.

Then, simply upload the video to a elearning platform, where your students can purchase your online course and watch your classes.

Learning Management System (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from video hosting platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Instructors can embed their hosted videos in any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me, leaving their lessons even better and more complete.

Visit our website, make a test and take advantage of all the features of our platform to make videos and create quality online courses.

The post How to set up a home studio to record videos appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

With a script in hand, you avoid prolonged pauses during narration, repetition of words and possible language addictions, such as excessive interjections and slang.

Reasons to write an audio script before recording videos

For those looking for a more professional result for their videos, writing an audio script is essential. 

Here are three reasons why improvising might not be the best idea.

Less recording time

If you are already an expert in video production, or if your audience doesn’t really care about you eating words, stuttering or repeating interjections like “ah”, “right” and so on a thousand times, maybe you be able to finish a recording after only two or three tries. However, if that’s not your case, you’re likely to spend hours trying to get better results.

Writing an audio script before recording ensures that you know the flow and structure of your class, preventing you from fumbling in the middle of the filming session, forgetting important information or repeating yourself. 

– Learn how to record videos at home

Less editing time 

Editing is the part of creating an online course that brings together all the recorded content and makes corrections and changes accordingly, so that the final product looks great. It’s also a rather tedious task that can take hours of your time. 

Having an audio script during recording can help you minimize the time spent in post-production, as you will have a structured recording that follows a clear order, needing only to cut out the parts where you stumbled over the words or committed some mistake. 

Remember: a little extra time spent in advance can save a lot of effort later.

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

Consistency

Consistency is a crucial component of any business. When students buy your online course, they expect to receive a product that is well produced and cohesive in every aspect, in a way that is easier for them to understand.

A well-crafted audio script as a foundation helps ensure that the overall quality of the material is consistent. When writing and editing scripts, you have an overview and greater control over everything being presented, ensuring consistency of content.

Also, you can create a pattern and use the same structure for each module or lesson. This helps even more in the understanding of the course by the student.

How to Write a Great Audio Script

Whether you have some experience with writing or not, everyone can easily learn how to make a great audio script. 

Here are the five steps we’ve listed for you to be able to script your online course videos:

1. Define the course structure

The key to quality informational video is organization. Each of the videos in your online course must have a clear and simple structure, with an introduction to the topic that will be covered in the video, the body with the explanation of the content and the conclusion.

Creating a well-planned video script is essential so that you don’t forget anything you’d like to talk about, and end up redoing the entire recording later.

– How to create videos for online courses

The first thing you need to do is plan your class by creating a rough outline. If you’re not sure where to start, try answering these questions as you plan:

• What is the purpose of this video?
• What problem/need do my students have?
• How can I help them solve this with the topic / module / lesson covered in the video?

Knowing the purpose and key point of your lesson will make writing the audio script easier. 

After answering these questions and knowing what this particular lesson or module will be about, you can outline the structure of the video. There are many different ways to do this, but we recommend following the easiest formula:

• Introduction: Quickly tell your audience what the video will cover and what students should learn from it. 
• Body: Enter the actual lesson, explaining the content.
• Conclusion: Finish by highlighting the main points of the lesson, recapitulating what students learned. 

If relevant to the material and type of content presented, add calls to actions that your students can take once they have finished watching the video or completed the module. Example: Access the next module to learn more about the subject, or download the support material at the following link.

This type of call helps keep the student engaged and coming back for more content.

2. Use Narrative

An entire class based on “naked and raw” information can be quite tedious.

If you want to keep your students interested, we suggest you add some narrative to the video script. What does that mean? Stories!​ All good teachers use this strategy to make their classes more exciting. 

When writing a script for your online course, think about what stories from your own personal experience you can use to further prove what you’re saying.

For example, if you are teaching your students how to develop creative writing, provide information and practical tips they can use. But also tell them a story of techniques you yourself used when you were having a writer’s block, or how you usually save a text that doesn’t have a very fun theme. 

When you’re recording course material without preparation, it can be difficult to incorporate the narrative because not everyone has a story or two in their pocket. But when writing an audio script, you have the opportunity to think, remember, and tell something that will make the course material more engaging and inspiring for your students. 

3. Cut out slang and jargon

After writing the audio script, it’s time to move on to edits. This is the part where you’ll examine the grammatical errors and also the words that “got away” and that you prefer not to use.

We always recommend to avoid using regionalist slang and expressions, as an online course can be attended by people from all over the world.

When editing, also pay attention to industry-specific words that are difficult to understand, especially if your course is for beginners. If possible, replace them, if not, be sure to add a brief explanation of their meaning. 

You are an expert on the subject, so it is natural that you know all the terms and jargon. But if there is a possibility that your students do not have this knowledge, it could cost you an audience.

– Ways to communicate with the student in online classes

4. Don’t forget to include CTAs

You want your students to take action after they finish the video, right? After all, you need to keep selling your course to grow your business.

When writing an audio script, think of the best sentence you can include at the end that would be compelling enough to convince your students to take action and, if possible, help you in attracting new students. 

Your CTA can be anything, such as:

• Share this lesson with a friend
• Secure your registration for the next module
• Refer the course to a friend and get a supporting workbook

One effective idea is to leave a teaser for the next module in your course. When summarizing the current lesson, mention what you will teach next to get students’ attention and, if feasible, offer a discount coupon to first-timers.

5. Read your audio script out loud

Reading something in your head can sound very different from reading it out loud. So the first thing you should do when you’re finished with the audio script is just that.

This practice will allow you to notice small grammatical errors, pauses that off paper seem too long, if the audio follows the transition of screens and images presented well, etc.

This will also allow you to better master your tone of voice. Remember to show energy and enthusiasm, if you’re not awake for class, no one else is.

– Tips for speaking well on video

Reading your script aloud helps you see if your instructions are easy to understand and if the text sounds conversational. If you want to go further, record yourself as you read so you can listen to it later and see which parts of your script still need tweaking.

When you’re satisfied, read aloud to a friend and ask for their feedback. Public opinion is cruciall.

Publish your course online and start selling

Remember to constantly check the sound quality while recording. Currently there are numerous free software that fulfill this function very well.

– 12 apps to record quality video

Finally, upload the video to the platform on which your online course is hosted. 

If you use Coursify.me, this process is quite simple, just upload the material directly from your computer, Dropbox or any other platform where it is saved, such as Vimeo or YouTube.

Videos that contain audio with the teacher’s voice, even if they are just tutorials, create greater proximity with the student, since they convey closeness and affection through intonation. 

– Record video tutorials: tips for getting the best result

This is a practical and simple teaching method that brings several advantages for learning.

Learning Management System (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from video hosting platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Serving companies and professionals in more than 60 countries, Coursify.me is a dynamic and customizable elearning platform.

We have three options of plans for you to decide which one best suits your needs. Visit our website, test the platform and start creating and selling online courses right now.

The post 5 Steps to Writing a Great Audio Script for Online Courses appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

So we’ve put together some tips in this handy guide that will help you record quality videos at home.

How to record videos at home with professional quality 

Learning how to record videos at home is a good start for those who are starting in the e-Learning market. 

Online courses that include videos are preferred by the public and therefore are more valued and sell easier.

– How to create videos for online courses

For those who never went far beyond recording videos on their cell phones to post on social networks, the production of videos with professional presentation can seem complicated. But with today’s technology, we can say that this is not true. 

If a few years ago it was necessary to invest in expensive cameras to have a good result, nowadays most smartphones have built-in cameras capable of recording in high quality and resolution.

In addition, there are several free software on the internet that assist in editing the material and inserting additional resources to make the result even better.

You can produce videos in which you appear explaining the content, which is great to help you create a connection with the student, as well as tutorial videos, using programs that allow you to record your computer screen.

– Record video tutorials: tips for getting the best result

All of this helps to make your online course interesting and effective with minimal investment.

Following some basic tips, it is possible to record videos at home with equipment you already own, such as a computer and smartphone. 

– Meet the best free screen recorders

10 practical tips to record videos at home 

Check out 10 tips to achieve a good result saving and without having to leave the house.

1. Film with your computer / smartphone

Most people have a cell phone and a computer, or at least have a friend who has one of these devices to borrow. 

If you choose your smartphone, remember that the rear camera has better quality, has a higher resolution and offers more features in the app. 

2. Film with your phone horizontally or laptop vertically

When recording videos at home with equipment positioned in this way, you will create a widescreen video, so no one will even notice that you shot with your own equipment in the comfort of your home.

If using a laptop, make sure you are shooting with the camera at a 90° angle. If it is tilted it can distort the image a little.

3. Use a tripod or elevate your computer

You will want the camera lens to be well stabilized and at the height of your face, as this creates a better angle and favors your image. 

If using a smartphone, buy a small tripod. If it’s a computer, improvise and place it on a pile of books and whatever else is needed to reach the ideal height.

4. Never record with zoom

When you want to get a close view of something, it is tempting to press the zoom button on your camera. But, most devices only offer digital zoom, which can degrade the quality of your image.

So, to get a greater focus on your face or other element you want to present, instead of zooming, get closer to the camera. 

5. Film at 24 frames per second

Using this setting to record videos at home ensures smooth image flow.

A lower definition can leave the image with a slightly lower quality and, even if few people realize it, there is no reason to compromise the quality of your material for a simple matter of configuration.

6. Use one device to record video and another to record audio

This makes things a little more complicated than using the microphone on the device you are already using, but it makes a big difference in the audio quality of your video. 

Place a cell phone / computer in front of you to record the image and position another smartphone (if you have a microphone, better) closer to your face to capture a clearer sound. Later, in the editing process, you will be able to combine audio and image.

– Tips for speaking well on video

7. Clap your hands to mark the beginning of a new scene

What? Why? To replace the famous clapperboard? That’s right! Hit your hands hard before starting a new scene. This will create a noise that will appear as a peak volume when editing. 

The loud sound generated will act as a reference for you to be able to synchronize the images from one camera with the audio captured by the other, when editing the material.

8. Use a sheet in the background

To record professional looking home videos, creating a backdrop with a neutral background is a good idea in most cases.

Just lay out a white or black sheet so that it covers the entire background of the scene that appears in the video. Tip: black works better than white, especially if you use bright lights.

9. Use soft objects to avoid the echo

Noise that can compromise the quality of your video, the echo is generated when recording the sound in large rooms, empty spaces or even because you removed furniture to create a studio. 

A simple solution is to use pillows, rugs, and anything else that absorbs this unwanted noise. 

10. Enjoy natural light

The best solution to record videos at home without spending on lighting equipment? Shoot near a window and enjoy natural light. 

If you think you need more light, use light fixtures and whatever else you have at home that can provide support. The important thing is to ensure that your face is well lit and without shadows.

Now, related to the recording location, there are some more tips that can contribute to the quality of your video.

Record videos at home: how to set up a home recording studio

Having your own studio to record videos at home offers two main advantages:

• Low cost and high return
• Semi-permanence

For those who create online courses, recording videos is a path of no return and, even if you only start with equipment you already own, don’t be surprised if you decide to invest in a tripod, microphone and so on in a short time.

Once you start buying more professional equipment, you can consider using part of your work area or some space in your home as a permanent studio or one easy to put together when you need it.

That’s the beauty of these DIY studios. You have the option of leaving everything installed or simply taking it apart until you want to use it again.

Interested in the idea? We have organized a list of the main equipment for recording videos at home that will make a difference in the quality of your video and, consequently, can bring greater return on your investment.

Microphone

It is true that hanging a smartphone from the ceiling using a fishing line is a good way to improvise a microphone. But even better is to use a real microphone and take your video quality to the next level. 

There are several brands of microphones and voice recorders that you can use. Features and values ​​vary from model to model, so we recommend that you do a good research of what best suits your needs before purchasing one. 

– 4 Great Voice Recorders for your Business

Clip-on Lamp

To make the studio lighting, we keep our tip that using natural light is always the best choice. However, if you live in a place that gets low light, a lamp is a great option. 

It is possible to find lamps to buy anywhere for a very affordable price, but give preference to those that have a clip system and can be attached to table corners and other types of support.

Remember that you will need the light to be positioned at a 45 ° angle to the object / person being filmed.

To complement and improve the result, place another light source in the background to get rid of the shadows.

TIP: If you bought lamps especially for lighting your studio, it is not necessary to open the windows. Rather than helping, in this case natural light can hinder the effect you have created with the strategically placed lamps. 

Camera

Buying a camera is the obvious next step to record videos at home with the best possible quality.

As well as microphones, there are many camera options that you can purchase, such as those from Canon or Nikon. 

Do your research and find the one with the best cost benefit for your goals. When you buy the camera, don’t miss the chance to buy the corresponding tripod.

These are the main equipment to raise the level of your video production and create quality content for your online course.

If you decide that you want to invest in even better equipment, the next items we recommend are the following:

• Professional background: the famous green screen opens up a new world of possibilities for you to record videos at home.
• Sound panels: to ensure greater clarity of the sound, buying and installing some sound panels to muffle noise is a good option.
• Even better cameras: the most expensive investment, but the one with the highest return.

Video editing

Serious editing requires knowledge and practice, but a little basic editing can help make your videos more professional.

With the help of some free editing softwares, you can remove unwanted parts from your video clips. In addition, these tools allow you to merge multiple clips and photos, add soundtrack, video filters and create mini-movies that are worth sharing.

Stopping the beginning and end of a clip generally enhances the result, as well as share a longer clip into several shorters.This is especially true for something you want to share online.

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

Host video lessons on Coursify.me

You now know what you need to create videos compelling, professional-looking.

Ready-made material, get feedback from some friends, make the necessary improvements and when everything is perfect, upload it to video platforms or go straight to your online school at Coursify.me.

– How to Choose the Right Video Hosting Platform

ELearning platform (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from video hosting platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System (LMS)

Instructors can embed their hosted videos in any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me, leaving their lessons even better and more complete.

Visit our website and take advantage of all the features of our platform to make tutorial videos and create quality online courses.

The post Learn how to record videos at home appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

If you are remotely aware of the way people consume content on the internet today, you already know that videos are the big favorites of the moment. 

Not sure? Think for a moment: how many videos do you usually watch daily?

Why to use Video Marketing

Video marketing is all about marketing through audiovisual content. It uses videos to publicize a product or a service and to attract, convert and retain customers.

Why videos? Just to give you an idea, 90 percent of consumers reported that video helps them to make buying decisions, while 64 percent say that seeing a video makes them more likely to buy.

Much of this result is due to the social networks, which gave a new impetus to the transformation of consumption habits caused by the internet.

Currently it is proven that the video dominates the public’s preference. It is the type of media most watched on social networks and not just on YouTube.

– How to use YouTube to promote your business

In fact, four of the top six channels that global consumers use to watch videos are social channels.

And it’s not like things are slowing down: the technology conglomerate Cisco, reports that 82% of all consumer traffic on the Internet will be video by 2021.

What does all this mean?

In short, companies need to make video marketing an integral part of their business strategy or risk falling behind.

The power of video marketing 

As Facebook’s director of engineering, Srinivas Narayanan, said: “If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is a library.”

Videos are consumers’ favorite content for viewing a brand on social media and, to help, modern targeting techniques allow video marketing to be highly relevant to individual consumers.

Adapting video content to your target audience can increase your retention rate by 35%. And since 71% of consumers consider sponsored videos to be relevant or highly relevant, it is definitely worth investing in a paid campaign to ensure your videos are seen by the right eyes.

Video marketing is not only good for capturing attention and entertaining, but it is also an effective tool that you can use to get consumers through your sales funnel.

– Hot to create a sales funnel

For example, a study by Eyeview Digital found that using video on landing pages can increase conversions by 80%.

In other words, video marketing should not be something that companies do occasionally to increase brand awareness.

Instead, videos should be employed for a variety of purposes at all stages of the customer’s journey.

– How to create a Customer Journey Map

Another interesting fact is that, according to HubSpot Research, consumers prefer an “authentic” video of inferior quality to a high quality video that seems inauthentic and artificial.

Simply put, viewers prefer raw authenticity to super manufactured production.

That means you don’t need a huge budget or production studio to create your video marketing. Especially considering that nowadays it is possible to record high quality HD and 4K videos with smartphones.

–  Learn how to record videos at home

In short, videos are an attractive and powerful tool, accessible to companies of all sizes. 

13 types of Video Marketing 

Video marketing can be very versatile and you can you can carry this strategy out in different channels and formats.

To help, we’ve listed thirteen types of video marketing that you can use to grow your business.

1. Brand videos 

These types of videos are often used as advertisements on social media to generate brand awareness and increase traffic.

They aim to communicate the personality, culture, mission and vision of the brand, or products and services.

A good example is the video that Emirates airline produced with actress Jennifer Aniston, presenting its services and brand quality.

2. News and updates videos

Another type of video marketing ideal for attracting the attention of your audience and consolidating your authority in your field.

Record videos commenting on recent news on a subject related to your product or service. Give your opinion, make an analysis, encourage debate. In addition to stimulating interest, it helps you create a connection with your audience.

3. Tutorial videos

Type of video marketing used to explain how something works, step by step. 

Through a detailed demonstration, the video teaches the viewer how to use a product or service, or perform a task. 

– Record tutorial videos: tips to get the best result

In the video below, Think Media shows how to Make YouTube Videos on Your Phone through a simple tutorial. Notice that anyone can record this type of video marketing without even leaving home.

4. Event videos

Does your company hold or participate in events? Showing this to your audience helps to boost your brand’s authority.

Event videos are a great way for companies and professionals to document their experiences and produce footage with highlights.

5. Live videos

All major social networks allow users to broadcast live videos – whether on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter or Facebook Live.

Broadcasting to the public allows you to engage viewers in real time. It also provides a unique creative opportunity that allows brands to promote interviews, presentations, events and more.

– Live video streaming: 5 ways to make money

6. Stories

Everyone remembers that Snapchat was a pioneer in the video format that stays online for a period of time and then disappears. Since everything that works is copied, it didn’t take long for Instagram and Facebook to launch the same feature called “Stories”.

Videos that disappear can add a great deal of urgency, which helps to capture the attention of your target audience. In addition, the format itself inspires brands to be more creative and bold with their content ideas.

Vans, for example, is a brand that uses this feature to promote its products and its live events!

7. Making of videos

Another effective way to create a connection with your audience and create interesting promotional material is to record some scenes from the making of your course as video marketing.

While this may not be appropriate for everyone, adding a little humor and reality to your promotional material can bring expressive results.

8. Educational videos

Use this video marketing format to teach your target audience something they want to know. 

In the case of online courses, to make the content even more interesting, you can address something very specific, which is a general curiosity. A math teacher, for example, can create a video in which he solves a complicated problem, or proposes a riddle to be deciphered. 

– How to create videos for online courses

9. Demo videos

Demo videos are focused on presenting your product / service. While tutorial videos tend to stay at the top of the sales funnel, attracting leads and introducing people to your brand, demo videos go deeper.

They aim to highlight all the main benefits of your product or service and usually include a call to action to encourage viewers to make a purchase.

GoPro has the best examples of this kind of video marketing.

10. Interviews with experts videos

Interviewing experts and influencers is a fantastic way to add value to your promotional material and your audience.

In addition, this type of video marketing helps you to position yourself as an authority in your niche and build confidence in your target market, harnessing the power of social proof.

11. Customer testimonials videos

Disclosing someone speaking well about your online course is an idea that always brings good results, because, as mentioned above, this type of video marketing also acts as social proof.

Besides giving your opinion on the content, your guest can talk about your method of teaching and advantages, which helps influence your audience to move further into the sales funnel.

– How to Get More Reviews for Your Business

12. Animated videos 

Animation allows total creative freedom. For this reason, it can be the perfect format for explaining difficult or abstract concepts related to the content of your online course.

In addition, animations can be extremely attractive and fun. With software like Animaker, anyone can achieve high quality results.

Coca-Cola is an example of a brand that uses this type of video marketing to capture the attention of the audience through animated stories focused on a bigger message.

13. Sales videos

This type of video is focused on telling the customer what they will gain by purchasing your course, inducing the person to act and make the purchase. 

The sales pitch should tell a story and end with a call to action. For this, the content must have emotional appeal, which requires you to know what your target audience needs and wants.

– How to sell online course

Video Marketing to sell courses online

After publishing your video marketing campaign, check back periodically to evaluate its performance.

Also, look for ways to improve it and take this into account when creating your next video.

Finally, don’t worry!

Remember that viewers really prefer videos that are more authentic than those with a rehearsed and advertising-looking presentation.

Ready-made material, get feedback from some friends, make the necessary improvements and when everything is perfect, upload it to video platforms or go straight to your online school at Coursify.me.

– How to Choose the Right Video Hosting Platform

ELearning platform (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from video hosting platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Instructors can embed their hosted videos in any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me, leaving their lessons even better and more complete.

Visit our website and take advantage of all the features of our platform to make tutorial videos and create quality online courses.

The post How to use Video Marketing to sell online courses appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

Of course, for a good result, turn the phone’s camera to your face and start talking is not enough. But with proper planning, you can create better videos than you think.

Why you should create videos for online courses?

First of all, video content is a general preference of the public.

According to a survey by the IAB Interactive Advertising Bureau, 1 in 5 people consume audiovisual content on their mobile phones while watching TV.

According to the same survey, 36% of respondents said they watch videos lasting five minutes or more.

The second most accessed platform in the world, YouTube, played an important role in this massive video distribution and certainly continues to contribute to this scenario.  

– How to promote your business on YouTube

Over 1 billion users view hundreds of millions of hours of video content daily on YouTube.

Secondly, video lessons are presented in a very instructive manner, which makes it easier for the viewer to absorb the content. 

By uniting images and sounds, it is possible to approach students and make them more interested in what is being taught.

And thirdly, today you can create videos with few resources.

Newer smartphones can now capture HD video images needed to create a professional online course.

– Step by Step to Create Online Courses

6 Tips for Creating Attractive Videos to Sell Online Courses

If you are already familiar with the universe of online courses, you know that video is one of the most effective ways to teach and engage students.

As this is a material that people will pay to watch, it is imperative to make a great work.

That’s why, in addition to delivering great content, you also need to deliver a great user experience, which means putting effort of video production.

See a step by step to create videos.

1. Plan the content and format of your classes

Let’s consider that you have already chosen the right niche and subject for your online course, okay?

– 10 Best Niches for Online Courses in 2019

Now grab your content and write a lesson plan, subdividing it into topics for each video lesson.

How many episodes will it take to teach all the content without making the classes too long or tiring?

This script will also help you maintain a coherent line of thought when creating videos so that there is an understandable continuity between your classes. 

– 7 Tips for Creating a Video Script

Also plan how you will approach content according to the subject and audience you want to reach.

If the goal of your lessons is to provide entrepreneurship tips, for example, and you want to reach a young crowd, being formal and using complex vocabulary may not be the ideal way.

This is why you need to make the message format appropriate for the people you want to reach.

2. Make your best in speech and presentation

To make good videos, it’s important to be comfortable on camera.

Of course, this is not a skill that everyone is born with, but there are techniques to help you talk well in video.

– Tips for speaking well on video

A lot of practice and speaking techniques will be your allies. 

You can also ask a friend to watch you and tell you what needs improvement.

And remember that the more you master the subject, the more natural your speech and posture will be.

Students will realize if you are confident or not, so you need to study hard and be fully prepared to create videos for your online courses.

Here are some tips to keep your presentation going:

• Don’t move your arms and hands too much to avoid distracting students.
• If you have a strong accent, try reducing it to avoid compromising understanding.
• Warm up your voice and stretch before recording.
• Wear comfortable, neutral clothing. You must express your personality, of course, as long as it does not distract students.  
• Watch videos of people whose presentation you admire and see what you can learn from them.

3. Set the scene

You don’t have to go to a professional studio, but you need a place that suits your video class needs.

The fewer objects in the scene and the brighter the environment, the better. 

Arrange the scene in which you will record so that it looks professional, organized and neutral, to attract the public’s attention to you and your content, not to the unusual decor around you.

Sitting or standing, you should be as comfortable as possible.

Choose a noise-free environment as possible, remember that any noise can interfere with audio quality and damage the end result.

–  Learn how to record videos at home

4. Prepare the necessary equipment

To create videos, you will need video equipment (a memory card and camera), audio equipment (microphone ), possibly a tripod and good lighting.

– 4 Great Voice Recorders for your Business

If you don’t have the necessary equipment, you can rent it or borrow it from someone.

Editing is a big help in improving the bottom line, but the better done your video, the less work for you and the better quality for your material.

If your budget allows, hire a professional. You may have a friend with knowledge in this area who may help to reduce some costs.

5. Edit the video

As anxious as you are to begin your course, take some time to edit as it plays a crucial role in the final outcome of your material.

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

If you can, hire an editor, someone who knows how to edit a video and can include features that will make the material look even more professional.

But if this is not possible, do not despair. You can find a lot of free video editor online that makes editing a lot easier.

In that case, the best thing to do is to research the available tools to see which one best fits your needs.

We recommend some tools, such as Windows Movie Maker, which comes with the Windows operating system and iMovie for Mac computers.

– Meet the best free screen recorders

Creating tutorial videos is also a good choice for novice instructors, very simple to produce and with a good learning outcome. 

– Record video tutorials: tips for getting the best result

Other visual aids such as gifs, icons, subtitles and more can add value to your video lessons.

This supplemental media helps keep students focused and makes your material more fun.

You can also use a soundtrack, but make sure the music doesn’t compete with your voice.

6. Host Your Online Course

Once you have completed the course, it is time to put it up for sale.

You should pay close attention to this step as it is important to choose an elearning platform with all the necessary resources to support your business.

– ELearning platform: what is it?

You will basically need:

• Customization: Easy customization of the visual identity of your online courses.
• Online payment system: For all the transactions accept integration with different credit card companies and are made automatically.
• Automatic delivery of content: Once payment has been confirmed, the client should have access to the course to start classes.
• Growth charts: Charts that show the number of sales and give you a clear picture of how your online course is growing.
• Support: It is important that the platform you choose to provide customer support if you have any questions.
• Student management: It is important to track each student’s progress and performance in real time.
• Discussion forum: A space where your students can communicate and you can answer questions and contribute to the discussion.

These are some of the features you should consider when choosing a platform, especially if you want to build a professional business from the start.

Video Lessons With Coursify.me

You now know what you need to create videos compelling, professional-looking.

Remember that proper planning will help you to reduce costs and develop high quality material.

Ready-made material, get feedback from some friends, make the necessary improvements and when everything is perfect, upload it to video platforms or go straight to your online school at Coursify.me.

– How to Choose the Right Video Hosting Platform

ELearning platform (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from video hosting platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Instructors can embed their hosted videos in any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me, leaving their lessons even better and more complete.

Visit our website and take advantage of all the features of our platform to make tutorial videos and create quality online courses.

The post How to Create Videos for Online Courses  appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.