How to Make Training Videos More Engaging [Your Ultimate Guide]

Training videos are one of the most effective methods to deliver knowledge, ensuring employees not only absorb essential content but also stay engaged throughout the learning process. But what separates engaging videos from ones that are quickly forgotten?

In this blog, we'll dive into key strategies for making your training videos more engaging and impactful. We will also showcase successful examples of corporate training videos and highlight the role of AI tools like Smartcat’s AI training video creator to automate and enhance your video training efforts.

Video training is a highly versatile method of educating employees or customers using video content. It should be an integral part of your employee training programs. It can range from instructional tutorials to live demonstrations, offering a flexible way to present both simple and complex information. Understanding the basics of video training is crucial to appreciating its advantages and how it can drive engagement and learning retention.

PwC's "Blind Spots: Challenge Assumptions" training video demonstrates how powerful video content can evoke emotions, pushing viewers to reflect on their biases and behaviors. This strategy makes it a great training video.

When designed well, training videos can provide several benefits to both businesses and learners. From engaging viewers more effectively to reducing the time and cost associated with traditional training methods, training videos are a must-have for modern organizations. Let’s explore some of the top benefits that make them indispensable.

Training videos can engage viewers in ways that traditional, text-based content often fails to achieve. By using visuals, narration, and interactive elements, videos can capture and hold the attention of the audience. Engaged employees are more likely to absorb the material and retain it longer, making training more effective overall. Incorporating storytelling, personal examples, and engaging visuals, such as animations, enhances this engagement.

According to studies, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual , and learners retain 83% more information from videos compared to text.

Videos can effectively reduce the time it takes to deliver essential training. Instead of scheduling multiple in-person sessions, a concise video can be distributed to all employees, ensuring they receive the same training in a fraction of the time. This time-saving factor makes video training especially valuable in fast-paced environments where quick updates and learning are necessary.

For example, PwC was able to reduce a 4-hour compliance training session to just a 1-hour video, freeing up employees' schedules for more productive work.

Save Costs and Resources

Training videos are a long-term investment that can save businesses money and resources. Once a video is produced, it can be reused countless times across different training sessions. There is no need for instructors to repeat the same lessons, nor for logistics to arrange physical classrooms. This scalability makes video training an efficient and cost-effective solution.

Studies show that businesses can save between 50% to 70% when they switch from in-person training to video-based training. The reduced cost of instructors, materials, and travel makes video training an ideal solution for organizations looking to maximize their resources.

One of the key advantages of training videos is their accessibility. Employees can access these videos on-demand, whether they’re working in the office or remotely. This flexibility is especially important in today's global workforce, where team members may be in different time zones. Video training allows learners to go at their own pace, revisit content, and ensure they fully understand the material.

This on-demand aspect also supports just-in-time learning, where employees can refer back to the videos whenever they need a quick refresher, ensuring continuous learning and application.

Training videos are incredibly easy to distribute. Whether your team is located in a single office or spread across multiple regions, video links can be shared via email, internal communication platforms, or a Learning Management System (LMS). This enables companies to ensure that every employee has access to the same high-quality training material, regardless of their location.

Using a cloud-based LMS allows businesses to track who has completed the training, ensuring compliance and employee development goals are met efficiently.

Consistency is key when it comes to training. Videos offer a standardized learning experience, ensuring that every employee, regardless of their location or role, receives the same information in the same way. This is particularly important for compliance training or processes that need to be followed exactly. A well-produced video ensures that no information is lost in translation or overlooked.

For global organizations, this standardized approach is essential for ensuring that processes are understood across various locations, helping to maintain high standards of performance.

High-quality training videos not only benefit employees but also reflect positively on the company’s brand. Professionally produced training videos demonstrate that a company values its employees and is willing to invest in their development. This boosts the company’s reputation as a responsible employer, making it more attractive to prospective hires and improving retention rates.

A strong employer brand that prioritizes learning and development through modern training methods like video is more likely to cultivate a motivated and engaged workforce.

Public-facing training videos can also act as marketing assets. If your company posts training videos on platforms like YouTube or your website, they can attract organic search traffic. Well-optimized videos with relevant keywords, titles, and descriptions can increase visibility in search engines, driving traffic to your website and raising awareness of your brand.

When shared publicly, these videos can also demonstrate your company’s expertise and thought leadership in your industry.

Customer training videos, like product tutorial videos or service guides, help customers understand your products better and reduce the need for frequent customer service inquiries. Empowering customers to learn on their own time increases satisfaction and loyalty, as they can get the answers they need quickly and conveniently.

Well-trained customers are also more likely to make full use of your product or service features, leading to higher retention and potentially lower churn rates.

Compliance training is essential in many industries, and videos make it easier to ensure that all employees are up-to-date on the latest regulations. Video training is particularly useful for communicating complex compliance issues in a more digestible format, making it easier for employees to understand and adhere to necessary guidelines.

Videos can also serve as a reference for future compliance checks, ensuring that employees always have access to the information they need to remain compliant.

There are various types of training videos to choose from, depending on the content and audience. Each type offers unique advantages, helping you deliver your message in the most effective way.

How-to training videos are among the most common formats for corporate training. These videos guide viewers step-by-step through a specific process, whether it's using a software tool, assembling a product, or following a procedure. They are straightforward, making it easy for employees to follow along and replicate the tasks being taught.

These videos are especially useful for onboarding new employees who need to learn the ins and outs of their role efficiently.

Explainer videos are designed to simplify complex ideas, making them more digestible for the viewer. These videos often use animations or graphics to break down topics, making them ideal for teaching abstract or complicated concepts. Explainer videos are effective for conveying high-level information in a clear, concise way.

For example, a financial company may use an explainer video to describe investment strategies or financial products to its employees or customers.

Screen-capture videos are used primarily for software training, where the instructor demonstrates processes directly on their computer screen. These videos are perfect for walking employees through the use of specific software, troubleshooting steps, or explaining how to use a new system. Screen captures are practical, allowing learners to see exactly what they need to do on their own devices.

Pairing screen captures with voiceover narration makes the learning experience even more accessible.

Presentation videos involve recording narrated slideshows or infographics that walk viewers through information. These are great for conveying information that’s typically delivered via PowerPoint in meetings. Adding narration to slides makes the presentation more engaging and easier to follow, and it allows for asynchronous viewing.

You can also edit and annotate presentation videos to emphasize key points and enhance comprehension.

Live training videos are recordings of real-time training sessions, webinars, or workshops. These videos can be shared with those who couldn’t attend the live session, ensuring that all employees receive the same information. They often include a mix of lectures, Q&A sessions, and interactive components.

These videos are beneficial for companies that conduct large-scale training events, as they can be repurposed and reused for future training needs.

Asynchronous videos are pre-recorded and allow employees to learn at their own pace, on their own time. These are ideal for busy work environments where employees may not be able to attend scheduled training sessions. Asynchronous videos can also be watched repeatedly, ensuring that learners fully grasp the material.

This method is particularly effective for organizations with employees in multiple time zones, as everyone can access the content when it’s most convenient for them.

Chick-fil-A’s Service and Hospitality Training Video is a live-action video that uses real-life examples to teach customer service principles. By incorporating personal stories, the video keeps employees engaged while reinforcing the company’s values.

Creating effective training videos requires more than just turning on a camera. You need to plan, script, and execute the video in a way that holds the viewer’s attention and delivers the material clearly. Here's how you can create a training video that resonates with your audience.

Start by selecting one specific topic for each training video. Trying to cover too much in one video can overwhelm your audience and dilute the message. Focusing on a single area ensures that the content is clear and manageable, making it easier for viewers to absorb the information.

For example, instead of creating a general customer service training video, you could focus on one specific aspect, such as handling customer complaints effectively.

Understanding your audience is key to creating an engaging video. Tailor your content to the knowledge level, role, and preferences of the learners. For instance, a training video for new hires will likely need to cover basic processes, while a video for experienced employees may delve into more complex material.

Additionally, using language, examples, and visuals that resonate with your audience will help maintain engagement.

Choosing the right video format depends on the content you're delivering. For instance, a screen-capture video is ideal for software tutorials, while an animated explainer video might work best for abstract concepts. Think about how your audience will best engage with the material, and select a format that complements the content.

A well-thought-out script and storyboard are essential for ensuring your video is clear, concise, and effective. The script should outline the key points to be covered, while the storyboard visualizes how these points will be presented. This preparation ensures that the video has a logical flow and that nothing is left out.

Length is a critical factor in maintaining viewer engagement. Try to keep your videos under 10 minutes, as viewers are more likely to stay focused during shorter videos. If you have a lot of information to cover, consider breaking it up into a series of shorter videos rather than one long session.

You don’t need expensive equipment to produce high-quality training videos. Many companies use smartphones or basic cameras to record videos. Paired with a simple microphone for clear audio and basic video editing software, you can create professional-looking content without breaking the bank.

After recording, it’s essential to edit your video to keep it engaging. Trim out unnecessary content, add transitions, and incorporate visuals like text overlays or animations to highlight key points. Good editing can turn a straightforward video into an engaging learning experience.

Adding interactive elements such as quizzes, polls, or clickable options throughout the video can increase engagement. These elements encourage active participation from the viewer, reinforcing the material and making it more likely that they’ll retain the information.

Finally, provide additional resources alongside your video, such as documents, links, or quizzes, to deepen the learning experience. Supplementary materials can offer more detailed explanations, practical applications, or follow-up exercises that reinforce the key takeaways from the video.

Gong’s "Find Your Hustle" Video demonstrates how a well-scripted, interactive training video can engage sales teams by pairing real-world examples with engaging callouts that keep the material dynamic.

Creating engaging videos as a part of your online courses at scale doesn’t have to be daunting. With tools like Smartcat AI, you can transform existing content into engaging, AI-driven videos with minimal effort. Smartcat AI allows for customization and automation, ensuring your videos are professional and tailored to your audience's needs.

Smartcat AI offers AI-generated voiceovers, allowing you to convert text-based training material into fully narrated videos. This feature is particularly useful for creating localized versions of your training videos, ensuring that every employee, regardless of their language, can access and understand the content.

By automating the voiceover process, Smartcat AI saves time and ensures consistency across all your videos.

With Smartcat AI, you can incorporate AI-generated avatars into your training videos. These avatars can serve as virtual instructors, adding a personal touch to your content without the need for on-camera presenters. AI avatars can also be customized to fit your brand’s image, making the training videos more relatable and engaging for your employees.

One of the standout features of Smartcat AI is its ability to localize training videos. By dubbing videos into multiple languages, you ensure that employees in different regions can fully engage with the content. Localization goes beyond simple translation, adapting the content to cultural nuances to make it more relevant for local audiences.

With Smartcat AI, you can easily scale your video training efforts globally, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their location, receive the same high-quality training.

1. Getting Started with Smartcat AI

First, access Smartcat AI's learning content creation tool by signing up. Once in, you can upload your existing training materials to Smartcat Drive or start creating from scratch. By clicking Create new course, you can input the necessary course details, such as learning objectives, language, and course duration.

Smartcat AI allows you to generate course descriptions and titles automatically, which can be further refined or regenerated for better results.

2. Structuring Your Training Content

After defining the course objectives, Smartcat AI helps you structure the course around learning outcomes. These outcomes form the foundation for each training module. Smartcat’s AI can generate these outcomes, which you can edit, add, or reorder based on the specific needs of your course. This structured approach ensures that your video content is well-organized and meets the targeted learning objectives.

3. Generating Video Scripts

Once the course structure is finalized, you can begin generating video content. For each video segment, Smartcat AI allows you to specify the video duration and generate key points for the script. You can edit, reorder, or delete these points before generating the final script. If you're not satisfied, Smartcat’s AI can regenerate alternative scripts, giving you flexibility and creative control over the training content.

4. Creating and Previewing Videos

After the script is ready, use Smartcat AI to generate the training video. The video generation process uses your script, and the video will be available for preview directly in the editor. This built-in preview feature ensures that your video is aligned with your expectations before finalizing.

You can invite your team or subject matter experts from Smartcat Marketplace to review accuracy in any language.

5. Enhancing with Interactive Elements

Beyond simple video creation, Smartcat AI allows you to enhance your training videos with interactive elements such as quizzes or flashcards, which increase engagement and retention. You can generate quizzes with multiple-choice or single-answer questions, helping reinforce key learning points throughout the video course.

6. Export and Distribution

Once your training video is complete, you can export the course in SCORM format, which is compatible with most Learning Management Systems (LMS). This ensures seamless distribution and tracking of employee progress through your organization's LMS platform.

Localization is key when training a global workforce. Translating your videos into the local language ensures that employees fully grasp the material and stay engaged with the content. But effective localization goes beyond just language—it includes adapting cultural nuances and ensuring the content resonates with different regions.

Training videos in the local language help employees connect with the content, making it more relatable. When employees feel that the content is relevant to their local context, they are more likely to stay engaged and absorb the material. Videos localized with Smartcat AI ensure that learners are comfortable and confident in their understanding of the content.

Studies show that employees are more likely to retain information presented in their native language. Translating training videos into local languages not only increases comprehension but also boosts retention. This leads to better application of the material in real-world scenarios, improving overall job performance.

Smith+Nephew, a global medical device manufacturer, needed to accurately translate training videos into seven languages for their multinational workforce. By adopting Smartcat AI , they significantly improved the speed and quality of video translations, making the content more engaging for global employees.

1. 4x faster translation time : Reduced from 10 days to 2-3 days.

2. 70% workload reduction : Streamlined reviews with Smartcat’s translation memories and glossaries.

3. Enhanced engagement : Localized training videos made content more relatable for diverse teams.

Smith+Nephew previously struggled with inconsistent quality, high costs, and slow offline workflows in video translations. Smartcat AI’s centralized platform enabled real-time collaboration and efficient subtitle editing, ensuring accurate, context-driven translations.

By using Smartcat AI, Smith+Nephew delivered high-quality, localized training videos faster, improving global employee engagement and making training more accessible and relevant across all regions.

To ensure your training videos are effective, there are several key factors to consider. Clarity, length, and personalization all play a major role in how well your audience absorbs the material. Additionally, adding interactive elements can further enhance engagement and retention.

The content of your training video should be easy to understand and follow. Avoid overcomplicating the material with jargon or too many details at once. A clear, concise message ensures that viewers can absorb the information without becoming overwhelmed.

The length of your video is crucial for maintaining engagement. Videos that are too long can cause viewers to lose focus, so it’s important to keep them under 10 minutes whenever possible. Breaking longer content into smaller, more digestible segments can help keep viewers engaged throughout the entire learning process.

Tailoring your content to your specific audience makes the material more relevant and engaging. Personalization can include using specific examples that resonate with your audience, addressing their unique challenges, or incorporating brand-specific elements that make the video feel customized for your organization.

Adding interactive elements to your videos, such as quizzes, polls, or clickable buttons, can increase engagement and retention. These elements encourage active participation, making the learning experience more dynamic and memorable.

Ensure that your videos are accessible to all employees, including those with disabilities. This can include adding captions or subtitles, ensuring the video player is compatible with screen readers, or offering translated versions for employees who speak different languages.

You can measure the effectiveness of your video training through various metrics. These metrics help you evaluate how well the video is performing and highlight areas for improvement.

Tracking the percentage of employees who complete the video is a key metric for understanding engagement. If many viewers drop off before the end, this could indicate that the video is too long or not engaging enough.

Engagement metrics, such as likes, shares, and comments, can provide insight into how well the video resonates with your audience. High engagement indicates that viewers are actively interacting with the content, which is a strong sign of effectiveness.

Quizzes or assessments following the video can help gauge how much of the material employees retained. High retention rates indicate that the video was effective in delivering the key messages.

Collecting feedback from employees is one of the best ways to understand how the video performed. Ask for input on the video’s clarity, length, and relevance, and use this feedback to improve future training sessions.

Engaging training videos are critical for effective learning. Whether through interactivity, personalization, or localization, these videos ensure employees stay focused and retain the information they need. Tools like Smartcat AI can make the creation and localization of training videos much easier, allowing you to create dynamic content that speaks to a global audience.

For more information on how to streamline your video creation, check out Smartcat’s AI training video creator.

Who should make training videos?

Anyone responsible for onboarding, customer education, or employee development should consider video training.

When should you create training videos?

Training videos are ideal for rolling out new procedures, ensuring compliance, or educating employees on new tools and processes.

How can Smartcat AI help with training video creation?

Smartcat AI can turn your existing content into AI-powered videos, complete with dubbing, avatars, and localized translations to make your training content accessible and engaging worldwide.