A company asked us to create a five to six-minute training video. But some people wondered if such a video would last too long.
When people recommend keeping videos short, they typically make those suggestions assuming you’re competing with distractions. They imagine people at work or home being pulled in a million directions while a video tries to keep their attention. For this particular training video, employees will watch it during a meeting. The confines are not a cavernous ballroom where employees will simultaneously answer phone calls, respond to texts or browse smartphones. The audience will be listening. And because those leading these meetings may not always be engaging speakers, relaying important messages in an interesting video might be a more effective way to drive home key points. Seeing concepts might be more attention grabbing than simply hearing about them.
People tend to want a formula for all equations. They want an exact science for investing on Wall Street. They search for a pattern for correctly predicting sports games. They want a clear-cut method to determine return on investment for efforts such as public relations and social media. People often seem uncomfortable when one size does not fit all. Creating videos is not assembling widgets. While short videos are sometimes the best approach, I’ve watched compelling longer ones without considering clicking away. Each situation may lead to a different answer.