Making How To Videos

It doesn't really matter if your face is in them or not. You get views by doing keyword research and finding good video opportunities.

If you develop useful and quality content people will up vote your video and post positive comments. That is the most important thing: "quality"!

If you have a good personality, face, and are trying to make yourself the "brand" I'd go for putting your face in the video, especially if it's something affiliate related or something you're trying to do that will lead to a sale.

Hope that helps.

I agree that it's not the face that matters, I was just wondering if anyone has had more success from putting their face in the videos.

Thank you for your input! very good responses

If I were making a video to introduce myself and my services, then I would use a 'face in video' approach as it's me that I'm trying to sell and I want people to know me and feel comfortable with me when making a purchase. If I were showcasing some technique that needed to be illustrated, such as 'how to install wordpress', then I would just do a screencast or screen share type video. That would not require a 'face' in the video. Though I have seen some videos that have the screenshare and face in the video.

If you are truly solving the problem that your audience faces then you will be fine. However how to videos with a hot looking women always tend to convert more most of the time.

For me I have always done screen captures. I knew they were fine once I started getting cpls, affiliate commissions and even mlm commissions.

I have found that it helps to put your face in. People want to know who you are. That said, you should focus on showing not telling. For example, if your video is on lawn mower repair... show the engine.

google hangout is so easy.....

With your face will definitely benefit you, especially if you're trying to sell something in the back-end as there's naturally more Trust when you appear in front of the screen yourself. Or else it doesn't really matter too much.

I have a "how to video" that shows just my hands and my stomach. (Not a pretty sight!)
The video to date has over 750,000 views. The video is counter intuitive in that it is over 7 minutes long. The reason this video has gotten so many views is pure and simple: valuable content people were interested in.

The video was the reason YouTube offered me partner status. It was a very simple video that offers simple step by step instructions. I am demonstrating how to do something.

IMHO "how to videos work" if you are offering content viewers find valuable to them. There is no back offer in the video other asking viewers to subscribe to my channel. (My mistake...) But the video makes a small amount of money every month.

"How to" videos are probably the best type of video you can make.

I think ultimately the variance is slight, however, I know I personally tend to gear more to how to's with a person in them. It helps to build report and make it feel as though a connection is being made. Being able to see who you are getting information from works into the know, like, trust mentality that many people are leaning towards these day. But obviously try to play the part to whatever how-to you are creating. If you are doing something science related, consider wearing a white lab coat. If it is professional, be sure to be in the right attire, etc.

I've been video marketing for years and i have never been in front of the cam. I generally use screen recording or presentation slides and pics. That's it. It's worked for me and continues to work for me. I might try getting on screen to see if it makes a difference, but i don't think it will.

Pete

I use presentation slides with audio. I don't think I would ever get in front of the camera for my videos.

The first one - videos with my face in them. Nowadays though, if i run a Youtube video, people will see it due to the advertising i'd be doing on Youtube. I'm a lazy dude, and kinda *almost*... you could make the preview pic of your video very enticing and get lots of people to click on it. But like i said, me personally, i'd pay for an sponsored ad that appears at the top of all of the related videos.

Generally, how-to videos show something that you, the tutor, are looking at on your computer, like maybe some page in a browser, or some program you're teaching someone how to use.

Tons of how-to videos are done, with the authors' face never revealed.

That's the sort of thing people expect when they watch a how-to video.

However, if your question is born of hesitancy to have yourself seen on-camera, you should consider this: if you want to speak on a personal level with your audience, they will connect better with you, and be a little more receptive to your message, because they will see you as 'one of us'.

It will not matter to the viewer that you are: beautiful, ugly, thin, fat, black, white, brown, redhead, blonde, or brunette, Eastern, Western, or anything else in-between.

Because those things are what the human race is comprised of, so nothing will be a big shock, no matter what you look like.

Why not try a combination of the two?

Having your face in it builds one of the most important things...

Trust!

But based on your question, you may have a 'confidence' on camera issue. Look, people will always 'judge' you no matter what once they have eyes.

This is human nature.

However, you can not please everyone (and shouldn't try to).

If you market to 'everyone', in truth you are marketing to no one.

Put yourself in your videos & mix it up a little with screen shots and screen recorders ETC.

Important things to remember:

1- People who 'naturally' like you, will be 'attracted' and buy from you.

2- Market using your own personality.

3- You'll never please everyone. Not everyone will like you. Some people don't like me based on my 'looks' and won't look any further into what value I may have to share. Does this stop me? Hell no. That's their bull shi$, not mine!

4- Value: In the end, no matter what you look like or how many people judge you, if you offer value to them, they will look past all the other stuff and respect you.

So in a nutshell, yes you can get away without putting your face into your videos but videos with 'you' in them will 'convert' a lot better.

When people are afraid to put themselves in the 'limelight', this usually stems from 'fear of failure' or fear of personal friends, family and even present business colleagues seeing what you are doing on the 'side'.

That stuff can (and will) hold people back.

In my own personal experience, when I ever looked back at any fear, I found that the biggest fear that seemed hidden below all the others was...

The fear of shame!

I am using Animoto, wevideo for video creation . I am also creating some promotional videos by using adobe premier and after effect .

It really depends on product. If you have something valuable to show (such as desktop to demonstrate certain software procedures), then don't go with actor testimonial. Otherwise hire a fiverr testimonial, it is more personal and converts better than animoto videos.

Videos with having my face in it definitely.

Followed up with videos at least having my voice in it (vsl or screen share style)

If you want to grab authority from the video i would say showing face is must that can grab attention of the visitors or viewers..

It depends on what type of "how to" video you're making.

If you're demonstrating something physical, and you're shooting it on a video camera, then it helps to cut in a shot of the demonstrator, just so people know what the person who is talking looks like. It helps to build credibility, however this isn't completely necessary. If you've ever watched the TV show How It's Made you'll know it's all voice-over (the version they show in the UK is, anyway), but that doesn't detract from the content.

If you're doing a how to video about software, and are using screen capture software like Camtasia, then it's not necessary to show your face IMHO.

I use screen cast o matic to record my screen and capture my face. this is good for branding yourself as well

In most cases people prefer a real person or personality in the video, and in the long run this would increase your viewership. On the other hand, if your content is good it will still get plenty of views. It also depends what the subject is. If it's computer related then the screen capture idea with just voiceover will work just fine.

Hi lynnvantage,

In my opinion it doesn't matter if you show your face or not - if the content has value, who cares if you show your face or not????

Of course...when they see your face you grab their confidence faster - but what if you show your face to grab their confidence and the content is bad? Wouldn't it be better to share value content?

If you deliver Value content AND show your face - PERFECT - but in my opinion the most important thing is share VALUE!


Have a nice day
Allen

"Success," meaning what exactly? More people understood?

Just make sure your videos are in "bite-sized chunks" when you do them. In my experience, most viewers tend to drift away if the video is too long.

Stay on topic with each of your videos and don't deviate away from what they are supposed to convey.

Well, it's better not to show your face, but the exact scene you should showing,
For instance, if you want to show how to use a ipad, you can record your hands during operating.

All types of videos have higher-conversions..

And higher-engagegment..

Face-Video

Pros:
> More Trust Built
> More Personal
> Engaging

Cons:
> Longer to make
> Not as engaging as animation videos

Non-Face-Videos:

Pros:
> Easy-to-make
> Engaging
>High-Converting

Cons:
> Not as personal
> Not as much trust built..

I say, go for animated (Non-face)

You can use software like:
Powtoon and
Wideo

Hope this helps