5. Write the script

Now that you’ve got the critical concepts outlined and ordered, it’s time to officially write the words and visual cues you’ll use in the video itself. Make sure you’re thorough on this step! You want to make sure your instruction is super clear and easy to follow. When in doubt, speak and write like you’re explaining your concept to a friend! You can find more in-depth guidance on video script-writing here.

6. Capture and edit your instructional video

There are a couple of ways you can gather the visual and audio elements you need to make your video. Let’s outline your options.

Make it with stock footage

If you’ve got little equipment and even less time, your best option is to use content that’s all ready to go. Vimeo Create has tons of video template options (like the ones featured above!) that will allow you to customize your text and incorporate your video script without the need for uploading any new footage or audio tracks.

Simply select your favorite content from our massive stock library, choose a soundtrack to match the mood, customize your text with your prepared script, then save and share your video!

Capture your screen

For those looking to explain something digitally, it’s hard to beat the ease of screen recording for capturing and sharing an instructional video that’s got clear visuals and your own audio baked in. You can use Vimeo Record, our free Chrome extension, to capture your screen, your audio, and even your webcam all in one shot. Simply start recording, say what you need to say, and share your work with the world.

Shoot it yourself

If you need to represent something IRL, we promise it’s not so hard to capture content on your own. In most cases, your phone works quite well as your primary mode of recording.

Just spend a few moments making sure your light is on point (check out our full guide to lighting at home here), set your phone on a stable surface, and get to work. Then, you can upload that footage to Vimeo Create to make it easy to splice together and share with the world!

Hire a creative

If you really want to go all-in, we’re big fans of finding a creator who gets your brand and can help you accomplish your vision. For videos with high-lift visuals (like animation or drone shots), you can easily find a perfect collaborator using Vimeo For Hire.

6. Share your video

Now that your video is ready to go, consider a few things before sending it out the door. If you’re embedding on your website, make sure to include a contact form or CTA at the end of your video to drive people to your website or start capturing leads. If you’re routing to social, you can share your videos directly to the platforms of your choice with our super intuitive publish to social feature. Now get out there and show 'em how it's done!

Make your video now

Once your instructional video is ready, but before it reaches the Vimeo player, take advantage of Vimeo’s video editor to perform tasks like trimming clips, merging files, compressing videos, cropping, or even creating GIFs.

Corinne Dorsey

Five easy ways to promote your business with video