Whether you are producing a “best practices” video for your employees or sharing instructional video for the general public, video tutorials are a key component of video offerings for most companies. All too often, though, videographers do not take full advantage of the opportunity video tutorial production offers and the result is boring content that fails to excite and, worse, goes unwatched..
With that in mind, here are six video tutorials from very different fields that get it right. Use these for inspiration and maybe a new perspective next time you’re producing a video tutorial of your own.
Fitness: Butt Workout by Equinox
Equinox is known for its sexy marketing. Your typical fitness “how-to” format would not jive with their brand. That doesn’t mean you won’t learn anything!
Set to energizing music, this video immediately grabs the viewer by jumping into action as the instructor moves fluidly through each of the moves. This video shows you no less than eight moves in just over two minutes! It also certainly gives you something to aspire to.
Tech: Grovo’s Import Your Music to Spotify
Grovo is a company focused on online training and video tutorials for all our favorite websites and apps. With all the offerings they have, it could be easy for their videos to get lost in the shuffle or become boring.
To combat that, Grovo does two things particularly well. In each video tutorial, they immediately state the problem they’re going to help you solve. Then, throughout the video, they tickle your funny bone.
By stating the problem right up front, the viewer can be sure the video they’re viewing is going to provide the answer they’re seeking. By keeping things light-hearted, Grovo sets you at ease, even if you’re addressing a problem that might have been stressing you out before.
Beauty: How to Define Your Lips
Lancome Studio’s videos are short and sweet – exactly what their target audience needs. Identifying their product both in name and in picture to begin, Lancome then illustrates the steps in a simple and straightforward fashion.
Note that they feature two very different models to showcase two very different looks that can be achieved using the same product in different colors. Also note that they eliminate all distractions. The focus is exclusively on the models with a clean, white backdrop.
Automotive: How to Replace Headlight Bulbs
Car and Driver utilizes a student/teacher dynamic to teach their viewers. This works well because the “student” is relatable to most viewers. The student also asks questions viewers would likely ask their own mechanic if they were trying to repair something on their car.
The “teacher” not only shows how to perform a particular task, but also has the opportunity to showcase his general expertise. By offering helpful tips not directly related to the task at hand, Car and Driver then comes across as a reliable resource for all your automotive needs.
Food: Sons of Essex: How to Make our Peddler’s Lemonade
Promotional Director Ronnie Flynn opens this timely video while standing outside and waxing nostalgic on warm weather days and everyone’s favorite summer beverage.
Sons of Essex is a very trendy yet gritty, very New York City brand. They stay true to that via music and imagery all the way through.
They make great use of subtitles to inform and assert their personality and, to close the video, remind you of all the ways to stay connected with them.
Honing Skills: Painting Mountains with Bob Ross
The quintessential how-to teacher, Bob Ross mixed calm and serene with focus. His tutorials guide you each step of the way as you paint. They also include information about the materials used and the techniques that are employed.
This way, the viewer learns about painting in general, not just how to paint a lovely landscape. While it’s probably safe to say most of us don’t end up with a painting as magnificent as Mr. Ross’, he makes it feel as if it’s possible that one day we will.
Have video tutorials you find inspiring? Share with us here, on Facebook, or on Twitter (@SproutVideo).
