VIDEO TOOLS IN TECHNICAL

WRITING :

DOUBLE YOUR MONEY

DON WOLF

WWW.WOLFMEDIAPRO.COM

OVERVIEW OF THE SESSION

• The problem at hand in technical writing

• Why use video ?

• Process of recording your SMEs

• Extracting your data

• Value added proposals for your clients

SOME PROBLEMS AT HAND IN TECHNICAL WRITING

Diversity – I’m not that smart

Limited time with Subject Matter Experts

Sensory overload – multiple projects

Inaccuracies in content – errors and omissions

Multiple review sessions required

Garbage in garbage out

WHY USE VIDEO ?

EVERYTHING is documented

You interview and listen – no short hand

The invisible will appear

More accurate form of knowledge transfer (why ?)

Review content at your leisure

You may become a HERO - or the ENEMY …

Inexpensive and easy to use

WHY USE VIDEO ?

Basic Equipment

WHY USE VIDEO ?

WHY USE VIDEO ?

VIDEO RECORDING YOUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

Use wireless microphone

Extra batteries – in your pockets

Act as an investigative reporter

Let the video camera roll

Team approach ( 2 ) is ideal

Stay on scope – organize your subjects

EXTRACTING YOUR DATA

Organization of files is very important

EXTRACTING YOUR DATA

1 minute video = about 200mb

5 minute 1 Gig

2 hours 20 Gig

AVCHD File format noted above,

MP4 can be much smaller by about 1 / 3

FULL 1080p HD VIDEOS

EXTRACTING YOUR DATA

Organization of files is very important

Re-name each file as to subject

Create folders for each subject matter/topic

Review the videos for content accuracy with SMEs

before transferring information to documents

EXTRACTING YOUR DATA

Watch video

EXTRACTING YOUR DATA

Organization of files is very important

Re-name each file as to subject

Create several folders for each subject

Review the videos for content accuracy with SMEs before transferring information to documents

Re-do if necessary

Get approval and sign off on accurate content

Use Snip tools to grab full freeze frame JPEGS for insertion into documents if needed – VALUE ADDED

EXTRACTING YOUR DATA

HOW-TO INSTRUCTIONAL POSTERS OR

PRODUCT INSERTS

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Watch video

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Specialized “content video” is the hottest thing in marketing

today

1.8 Million Words - That’s the value of one minute of video,

according to Dr. James McQuivey of Forrester Research.

75% of executives told Forbes Magazine that they watch

work-related videos on business websites at least once a

week

of those :

50% watch business-related videos on YouTube

65% then visit the promoted website after viewing a video

“How To” videos viewed on Youtube are up 70% year over

year eMarketer

THEASE SAME TRENDS CAN APPLY TO YOUR

DELIVERABLES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Leverage your video content

You now have hours and hours of footage

demonstrating processes and procedures that you

have documented

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VIDEO

CONTENT

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Watch video

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Leverage your video content

You now have hours and hours of footage

demonstrating processes and procedures

Content for Youtube / Vimeo company channels

Training department deliverables

Online web based training modules

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Some Examples

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Rig up video

Watch video

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Watch video

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

If you are not dealing with or using

video in your writing or technical

communications products today…

you will be in the next few years

Summary

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

Questions ?