Getting started with a video project

"Minimum viable product" and the "good, better, best" approach

Imagine you offered a webinar and recorded it. You've heard a lot of questions on the topic from people who didn't attend. You want to make and share a really great video on the topic, but you don't have the time to put into it right now and/or you want to make sure the topic stays viable for a while before finding the time. What to do?!

Good

Consider the minimum viable product approach.

 Start with what you have or could easily complete today.

 You have a recorded webinar. If it's reasonably good quality, cut out things like wait time before the presentation starts, an intro on how to participate in the chat, etc. and share it on YouTube. (Don't forget to edit the captions.) Have questions? Get video editing support. That's a good place to start!

Better

You're a few months down the line. You've noticed a steady stream of views on the video. But, you're not getting people watching the whole thing. That's not surprising. What can you do to make your video a little better? Chunk it. If you can, look for places where your webinar answers a specific question or teaches on a discrete item that can stand on its own, break it into 3, 5, 15, or even 20-minute segments. Add a branded slide introducing the topic with a topic title or a question that will frame the conversation. (You can get video editing support for this too.) That's better!

Best

A year later, you're seeing this topic has only grown in interest. Additionally, your shorter videos are getting more views, and more people watching them in their entirety. It may be time to consider a more fully-produced video! Bring an iPad video kit into the (literal or metaphorical) field to gather live demonstrations and/or "B-roll." Reach out to ELT for planning and/or hands-on video production support. Now you'll have a video (or series of videos) that was created FOR the YouTube audience. That's best!