Talking Head Videos: A Human Touch to Online Learning

There is a sharp increase in the demand for eLearning video content post-2020. As much as 58% of respondents reported using digital video to learn new skills in a pandemic world, as per research by Google/Talk Shoppe. And it’s not just schools that see an increased demand for eLearning videos – 90% of businesses are now using eLearning regularly, a stark contrast with just 4% two decades ago.

Talking head videos have emerged as the most popular form of business and educational video content out of all the formats. They are simple and personable and act as a great medium to inform, engage, educate. More importantly, they give a “face” to your brand that customers and learners can relate to.

If used effectively, talking head videos offer powerful support for your learning strategy – telling the story of your brand in a way other video formats like product demos or explainer videos can’t match! People are using videos as a tool for learning everything – right from basic skills like changing a tire to installing a new version of the software. In short, videos are good teachers! Let’s see what talking head videos are.

What Are Talking Head Videos?

A talking head video is different from talking cartoons with round or square heads! It’s the simplest video format in which a single person, usually an interviewee or a Subject Matter Expert (SME) or an instructor, talks to the camera.

A distinctive difference between these and other interview-style videos is that the presenter is either standing or sitting and is featured only up to their chest or waist. This is, so they don’t detract attention from their speech or the basic essence of the video. The presenter can either look directly to the camera or to the side, just like in real-life interviews.

Here are some examples that will make it clear what we are talking about.

–> Virtual wine tasting at a Florence castle from Trafalgar: In this talking head video, the presenter Alberto welcomes his virtual audience to a wine tasting in front of a historic castle in Florence, Italy.

–> Shark Tank video of business tips for entrepreneurs: Here, Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank offers business tips for entrepreneurs. The video format switches back and forth between visual slides that emphasize Robert’s points and his talking head!

With the right video editing skills and creativity, you can make some engaging talking head videos.

Benefits of Talking Head Videos in Learning

Using a talking head video for learning has many potential benefits.

1. Accommodates different learning styles: Some learners learn by watching others (visual learners), while some learn from reading words on a screen or listening to a voice-over. The pared-down aesthetics of such videos make it easier for people to focus on what is being said.

2. Supports microlearning: Talking head video formats sync with microlearning as the learner engagement doesn’t wane because of the short training content. It’s a simple and fast way for SMEs to get their message across. Picture a rapid-fire round of questions that you can ask an expert.

3. Easy to create: These videos are comparatively cheaper and easier to make as all you need is a good script, a camera, lighting, and some editing tools.

4. Adds a human touch: As mentioned earlier, a talking head video adds a “face” to your brand. Through nonverbal cues, including facial expressions, hand gestures, and intonation, SMEs can engage learners with a personal, one-on-one experience.

How to Create Talking Head Videos?

Talking head videos are easy to create. Here is what you’d need to start with:

1. Script: You must never start a video without a good script in hand. Though some level of improvisation is great to bring in the natural element, a script is always helpful.

2. Recording equipment: Next step is the proper equipment. Usually, a video camera on a tripod or two video cameras to capture different angles is good enough. You can also shoot the video on your phones or laptops.

3. Microphone: Though today’s devices are powerful enough to catch the voice signal, having a quality microphone will minimize noise distractions from the background and ensure a crisp sound.

4. Lighting: Access to good natural lighting is the best, but ensure you’ve decent lighting in place if you’ve to shoot indoors. Professional studio lights, though expensive, will be the best. Or you can use an LED ring light around your phone or camera.

5. Video-editing software: Use a program to edit the image, sound, speed, and lighting of your video. You can use professional options such as the Adobe PremierePro or any good free program like OpenShot.

10 Tips to Create Effective Talking Head Videos

1. Do a thorough analysis of your audience before writing a script. Follow a structure and mold the language as per your audience. Choose a topic that resonates with your learners.

2. You must rehearse a couple of times before the shoot to help you handle nervousness and incorporate suggestions from people to sound natural.

3. Walking into the camera after the camera starts rolling is a good practice; it allows you to ensure video and audio are working properly to avoid giving that awkward pause initially. You can always edit the gaps out later; it’s not a live video!

4. SMEs generally position themselves right in the center of the screen while shooting videos. If you position to the left- or right-hand side, there will be enough space left on the screen to share any graphics, text, or subtitles.

5. SMEs must pay attention to their posture and body language and speak slowly to sound natural.

6. Shooting with two cameras placed in opposite corners will give you good results. You can cut between different angles to make your video more visually stimulating and engage your customers.

7. You must always stick to the time limit so you can make shorter and more engaging videos.

8. Adding a few supportive elements like a whiteboard, on-screen text, symbols, or sounds to the videos is always a good idea to engage learners.

9. Add captions and subtitles to make your video content accessible for hearing-impaired learners.

10. When making an eLearning video, always give reference links to other videos or resources that the learners can refer.

When to Use Talking Head Videos?

1. Customer journey: A talking head video is the best medium to use at any stage of the customer journey.

–> To build brand awareness, use these videos to inform and educate.

–> To develop trust in your business, place it on your landing page, encouraging customers to buy.

–> To increase conversions, use it as part of your email campaign.

–> To tell your customers how to get the best from your product or service, send it to them after purchasing.

2. Remote onboarding: To bring in an element of connection among your new hires, use the talking head videos from the company’s CEO and a few team members to talk about the company mission and culture.

3. Instructor-centered online learning: Talk head videos work exceptionally well in delivering teacher-centered or instructor-centered training online. A face-to-face or classroom training can be effectively moved to online learning keeping the connect between the instructors and learners intact.

4. Blend with other formats: You can blend the talking head videos with other forms of video content like explainer videos and product demos to explain business concepts or product features.

Get the Most Out of Your Videos

Educational video platforms for online learning have made difficult topics more accessible and easier to understand. And everyone can make a video these days – the process is relatively simple. It does have a disadvantage, though; it’s a one-way street. The interactive element of an instructor-led session, where learners can ask the SME questions in real-time, is missing. However, with the right strategy combining talking head videos with other training methods and formats and by adding interactivities and knowledge checks, they can be a great value addition to your eLearning program.

Various studies show that using short videos as part of your learning strategy allows for more efficient processing. The visual and auditory nature of videos appeals to a wide audience and makes memory recall stronger.

It’s important to make a video that not only ensures each user processes information in a way natural to them but also resonates with your learners and creates good traction for you in the market. An experienced and reliable digital learning provider can help you make the most out of your videos. Liqvid has developed a suite of blended learning courses with over 34,000 videos and 45,000 learning hours. We offer end-to-end development for talk head videos and have worked with clients across industries.

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