How-to videos
A how-to video is a video that informs people how to do something. There are thousands of how to videos online and there are certain ones that are better than others. This is because there are important aspects to how to videos. To create a useful and successful how to video you need to make it short, detailed and engaging. Successful how-to videos get their point across in a direct fashion. You make sure to include basic detail and steps whilst checking in with the audience from time to time. The best how-to videos are simple and short so that the viewer can easily understand and rewind the video if they missed anything.
Analyzing different how-to videos helps me pick out what techniques are appealing and keep my attention vs ones that are confusing and distracting, meaning I can keep note of what ideas may help me with my own how-to video!
Examples:
Example 1: This video contains the basics of putting up a tripod and makes it engaging by explaining and using examples of what and how to do something. He highlights important tips and things people usually get wrong and uses camera angles to showcase his setup. The background is perfectly lit and spacious and keeps the viewer engaged with the appropriate amount of movement I found that this example was hard to focus on due to the lack of step by step instructions and overly energetic theme. He shows the viewer how to position the tripod with one leg facing out where the camera is so that they have space to move and are less likely to trip. He rambles a little without structure which could leave the viewer to not understand it. This video is a good overview/demonstration and recap for someone who has experience setting up a tripod, but is less structured for people with no experience. An improvement for this video would be to keep the energy but tone it down a little so the instructions are easier to understand. He could talk a little slower and add in steps with text so the viewer has direct instructions and feels confident putting up a tripod. The sound quality was good and clear, but he could talk slower so that the video is easier comprehended.
Example 2: This is a more casual set up of a how to video, which to me makes it easier to understand and relate to. The video is an ideal length and she manages to explain the functions and instructions in detail with the time she has. She is explaining as she sets it up which means the viewer can follow along at home, and is explaining as though the audience don't have experience which is an important aspect of a good how to video. There are some moments of the video where she is handling the equipment in a way that could lead to accidents and the equipment breaking, something she could do instead is use camera angles and an overlay to show the viewers how it should look. Another thing that could be improved about this video is the audio. The microphone she is using is poor quality and when she moves closer it gets too loud and creates interference in the sound which can be frustrating and distracting to the viewer. Next time she could also try to centre her equipment or use a more spacious area to keep the viewers attention and focus on the instructions.
Example 3: Unfortunately, this how to video was the most distracting video of them all. The video starts with the cameraman moving backwards as the instructor walks forward, this aspect would be good if it was only the intro. The movement causes the lighting and camera quality to be inconsistent, leaving the video to be too bright and at times, unfocused. There is also music that is a little too loud and upbeat, combined with the camera techniques, the video ends up very distracting and unclear for the viewer. There is little detailed instruction and steps, which makes it very difficult for a viewer who has never put up a tripod. The sound is of average quality, but his words are spoken at a fast pace, which could be improved. Overall, it doesn't meet the standards of a good informative how-to video.