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.

As simple as it is to produce videos today, the right equipment and some shooting techniques can make all the difference in the result, highlighting your material among the competition.

Recording videos: how to use your smartphone

It’s no secret that video content is the one that most attracts public attention today.

In the case of online courses, recording videos is often essential, both to facilitate the explanation and to attract new students.

However, asking for the help of a photographer, film maker or even a video editor, can mean an investment that you are unable to afford at the moment.

The good news is that nowadays it is possible to record professional home videos for your online course at a fraction of the cost. All you need to do is know what to look for when choosing your camera and other equipment.

–  Learn how to record videos at home

Below are some tips to help you find a camera that meets your needs.

Understand the possibilities of your smartphone

Before investing hundreds of dollars in a professional camera, start by becoming familiar with your smartphone’s camera. By better understanding the tools you have, you can get a sense of the resources needed to create content for your online course. 

Here are some techniques to achieve the best results using the equipment you already have: 

Optimize camera settings 

Many smartphones today come with cameras that are true professional machines, just know how to configure and use them to the maximum exploitation of their capacity. 

From iPhone 6 onwards, for example, all devices are equipped to record in HD and 4K. Many Android phones, such as the Google Pixel, also record at high resolutions. Play around with the settings and test to see if the results meet your expectations.

Make sure your camera lenses are clean 

Smartphones nowadays have very powerful lenses and one thing that can hinder their performance is dirt, which we usually don’t even notice is there.

If you find that the quality of the images captured is below average, even under perfect lighting conditions, try cleaning the lens with a soft microfiber cloth. You would be surprised at how often this simple step is overlooked and the difference it makes.

Flip your smartphone and record videos horizontally

There are no strict rules on the best way to record videos. However, unless you’re recording videos for social media content, like Instagram Reels or TikTok, horizontal images tend to be more aesthetically pleasing to watch. 

This also saves time and headache when moving the video to a platform where horizontal orientation is the default, such as YouTube.

– How to promote your business on YouTube

Use a cloud-based system to store your content

The only disadvantage of using your smartphone for recording videos is that your device’s memory can fill up quickly. 

Using a cloud-based system, like iCloud or Google Photos, is a way to store and organize content while preserving some space on your smartphone, while ensuring that the material is saved regardless of what happens with your device.

– How to create videos for online courses

Recording videos: how to choose a camera 

If you still prefer to have a professional quality camera, suitable for recording videos in high resolution, there are some factors that you must consider before making your choice, mainly because this type of equipment is not cheap at all.

The decisive resources for you to decide between one model or another may vary according to the results you want to achieve. However, the basic steps you must follow when purchasing a camera are essentially the same.

Set a realistic budget

Buying a camera is an investment, but ideally, you should spend within your means. 

Many factors can help you determine an acceptable budget, but make sure that whatever you decide to pay will not break the bank or take the funds you need for other things, such as promoting your course or investing in other necessary equipment. .

The ideal is to set your budget taking into account these complementary items that help with video production, such as a tripod, an external microphone, a BlueTooth remote control and even different lens options. Generally, buying a camera is not just limited to the camera, so do a good research of everything you will need.

– 4 Great Voice Recorders for your Business

Analyze the different types of camera

Like anything today, there are hundreds of camera options on the market.

To help you narrow down these options, here is a quick overview with some of the main types of cameras for recording quality videos.

Point and shoot (compact camera)

A point-and-shoot camera is usually the most affordable, but it also has minimal features for adjusting settings. 

Although automatic cameras are the easiest to use, you may need to upgrade to another sooner, compared to DSLR and mirrorless camera options, which allow you to upgrade lenses and other add-ons to improve their quality over time.

DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)

This type of camera is prevalent among photographers and video producers because of the superior image quality it captures. A DSLR, which is a type of digital camera that uses a series of mirrors to reflect an image in the viewfinder, consists of a body (the real camera) and a lens (which are interchangeable). 

A major advantage of this product is the long battery life. In addition, DSLR cameras perform better when shooting in low light conditions, have superior autofocus features and a more comprehensive range of accessories.

– Know what equipment to use to produce videos

Mirrorless

Mirrorless cameras show better what you actually see, making it easier to play with the settings while shooting. This generally means that your content will require less editing in post-production.

In addition, this is a lighter and more compact camera than the DSLR. If you need a camera that travels well, easy to carry, a mirrorless may be the best solution.

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

Study lens options 

In a distant time, “megapixels” was the reference that creators used to determine the quality of a camera. Today, megapixels do little or nothing to evaluate this factor, unless you want to print large images. 

Many experts suggest that the lens used to capture photos and videos really does make a difference in the quality of the material.

The interchangeable lenses are what make the cameras like DSLRs and Mirrorless attractive even for beginners. As you become more comfortable with your use, you can purchase lenses as you see fit to increase the quality of your material without having to get a brand new camera. 

A lens kit (the standard lens that comes with the camera) will do the job initially. However, as you start recording videos more often, looking for more professional results, interchangeable lenses become necessary.

However, before you buy new parts, which are not cheap, it is essential to understand the following terms.

• Aperture: refers to the amount of light that passes through the lens, which is usually expressed as an “f-number” or “f-stop”. Aperture affects the exposure (brightness) of your photos and the depth of field, also known as the sharpness of your images background and foreground.
• Focal length: expressed in millimeters, the focal length determines the amount of scene or subject captured and how it will be enlarged.
• Zoom lens: allows the variation of the focal length, allowing a change in the framing of the photos without the need to reposition the photographer or change lenses. 
• Primary lens: it has a fixed focal length and tends to be more compact than a zoom lens.
• Shutter speed: refers to the amount of time the camera’s shutter is open before capturing an image. A faster shutter speed allows you to capture a moving subject without blurring.

Define what functions are necessary to produce your content

Obviously, you will not need all functions of a camera to record videos for your online courses.

However, it is better to keep an active list of the “mandatory” items when choosing your camera, that is, those essential to achieve the results you want.

Examples of features to include:

• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi: These connectivity options allow easy file transfer and remote control of the camera via a Bluetooth remote.
• Microphone input / output: To record great videos, you also need to think about the audio quality. Having the option to add a microphone can be essential for the moments when you speak in front of the camera.

– 7 tips for speaking well on video

• Rotating LCD screen: If you are recording content that requires you to be in front of the camera, consider purchasing a camera equipped with a rotating screen to help you see what you are recording in real time. If something is wrong, you will soon know, instead of having to re-record everything later.
• Eye + face tracking: This feature refers to the camera’s ability to track the object as it moves (without going out of focus).

Look for reviews before making a purchase

Reviews of those who have used and tested the product can be a real salvation for your pocket.

Look for customer testimonials and reviews of those who have already purchased. Nowadays you can find videos on YouTube that show the pros and cons of almost every camera on the market. 

Don’t rush out and watch as many reviews as you can to see the camera in action and determine which features are most important and useful for recording videos and ensuring a successful online course.

Host your videos on Coursify.me 

By following all these tips, you should be able to record better and better videos.

Start slowly, creating smaller footage to test your camera and become familiar with its features. 

With time and dedication, the quality of your videos will surely attract your audience and impact your course sales.

– How to sell online courses

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 Tips for choosing the right camera for recording videos  appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.