You have a great idea for a video, but you don’t have the time or the money to hire a third party to do the work.  All is not lost!  You can create the video yourself and it will look like a professional made it.  Don’t be afraid, even beginners can make a video using the steps and tools described below.

Step 1: Write the Script

Begin by writing a clear and concise script.  Try to stay on point and convey your message in as few words as possible. Ideally the finished video should be under 5 minutes and closer to 3 minutes or less. Remember you will have visuals to support the commentary. 

Step 2: Record the Voiceover

To record the voiceover you will need a headset with a microphone or a USB microphone that will connect to your computer.  You also need sound software to capture the recording. Most Windows computers offer “Sound Recorder” found in the Accessories folder.  For higher quality recordings I recommend downloading Audacity, free sound recording and editing software.

When recording the voiceover be sure to speak clearly, at a natural speed, and to include pauses between sentences and paragraphs.  This will allow for you to add in visual transitions in the video. Once the recording is complete, save it as a .wav file to a local folder.

Step 3: Create Visuals

Next you will need to capture the visual elements.  You can use still images or video snippets.  I prefer Snagit, a screen capture tool.  Snagit allows you take screens grabs and then easily edit them. You can also capture video from your screen using Snagit.  For example, you may want to record how to navigate through a form on your website to share with your attendees. Save all of your images and recordings to a local folder. If you save the files to a network folder you may experience delays during the creation and editing phase.

Step 4: Combine the Voice and Visuals

To begin piecing the individual elements together into a video you will need video creation and editing software.  I recommend Camtasia. It is beginner friendly, but offers many editing and publishing options. They also offer a free 30 day trial.  Begin by uploading your .wav file(s), image files, and video files into a new project in Camtasia. Once uploaded you simply drag and drop your files onto the tracks and then edit as needed.  You can edit your audio for timing, fades, volume and clarity.  Some of the image editing tools includes a zoom function, visual callouts with text and highlights, and transitions between slides like fades. Camtasia offers many tutorial videos for each of their features.

Step 5: Broadcast

Now that you have a video that you are happy with you can publish it directly from Camtasia.  You have the option of saving the video in many formats for posting to different mediums. Also, you can publish your video to your YouTube and Screencast pages from Camtasia. Once your video is published then you want to promote in all your appropriate audience communications including your website, emails, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.