5 great video formats to inform and enlighten

Whether you want to demonstrate a technical process for an online class or teach Grandma how to use email, a video can help do the job.

The key is choosing and making the right type of video for the task. To help you, let’s walk through five common types of instructional videos and when to use them:

Micro-video

What is it: Micro-videos are short (under a minute) instructional videos that focus on teaching a single, narrow topic. They appeal to today’s media consumers, who have notoriously short attention spans.

When to use it: It’s the go-to format anytime you want to teach a simple concept in a few steps. You might make a one-off piece that teaches a new software feature. For more complex concepts, create a series splitting a topic into logical chunks. As instructors shy away from long-form video, this approach covers the topic and raises audience engagement. It modulates the pace of learning and makes the content easier to consume.

Tutorial video