Now this is the way teaching videos should be done

9 replies
I have been a harsh critic of many of the instruction videos being created out there. Many of these are made by some very successful Internet marketers.

Unfortunately, most of these folks apparently believe that because they are who they are, they can do it their way. Anything they say or present in a video is automatically worthwhile, and a 'must view' for their target market prospects. The problem is, many of these videos are horrible. The production quality is often 'slapped together' make-do, the guru insists on doing the video him/her self, good, easily understandable speaking voice or not, and they often run on forever, the theory being that more is better.

The other glaring problem is, these marketing experts feel, that because they know the material being covered so thoroughly, and have a bank account to prove it, they can sit down in fromt of their computer, boot up Camtasia, and wing it for half an hour or longer. No preparation, just pure adlib. Such mumbling and nasal meandering, it's no wonder they turn off most of the folks they're trying to convince. It's mostly a lot of bad stuff from a lot of highly paid people.

But today I ran across what I consider to be the absolute best video marketing course in my experience, and possibly in yours. I don't know Michael Rasmussen, and he doesn't know me. But I want to congratulate him for producing a tour d force example of how video teaching ought to be done. If you can emulate what he has done in Mini Sites Profits Exposed, you will be doing it exactly right.

First, Michael just happens to have a natural professional sounding speaking voice, a definite plus. Not all of us have that. But his voice quality is actually a small (but important) part of what makes this series of free instructional videos so outstanding.

One of the glaring faults I find with most teaching videos is the penchant for adlibing the voice over. At best, it usually sounds like the speaker is using an outline to cover his material. Outlines are OK but tend to sound somewhat like 'winging it as we go', very conversational, and often mumbly.

Rasmussen does it exactly right. He has written it out. He's not adlibbing or 'winging' it. He's reading from a script, and that's the way it should be done. He's a teacher, or at least he's in a 'teaching' mode. His voice is clear, authoritative, easily followed by the viewer. There's no mumbling, no awkward hesitation. But not stiff and formal, either.

He is also a very talented writer, Assuming he wrote his own script, he demonstrates a style that others who plan to do teaching-type videos should emulate.

Rasmussen may or may not know this, but his course development style was originally developed by Paul White, who at the time (1933 or so) was president of CBS News The news writing formula became a classic for many decades before fading from the news writing scene. The White news writing formula is:

Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you just told them.

In other words, forward promote what you are about to say (here are the points we're going to cover in this lesson); Ok, let's dive into it (presents the main part of the lesson) and then, 'let's recap what we just covered' and he summarizes the points covered in the lesson. Excellent repetition. Clear inciteful examples.

And very important, the lessons are about 10 to 12 minutes long. Anything longer, as he points out, ignores the typical viewer's limited attention span. The 12 lessons can best be viewed in sequence the first time thru. But he urges the student not to even take notes the first time thru, but to absorbe the big picture, then come back and view them again and again, 3 or 4 times, until the principles become almost second nature. Along the way, the student has the option of viewing the lessons he/she feels are the most needed, in any order.

The overall production quality is professional beginning to end. Not flashy, not slick, just very well done. Clear, concise, and the content, to my mind, covers everything one needs to know about building a mini website. Rasmussen knows his subject well, and he communicates his message as few in the online marketing community have ever done.

There is much to be learned here, about the whys and wherefores of building mini sites, but even more important, it shows the correct way to produce a teaching video. Micheal Rasmussen, my hat is off to you. You have raised the online teaching bar several levels. Excellent work. (no links here, I'm not an affiliate. Just Google Mini Sites Profits Exposed).

Wes
#teaching #videos
  • Profile picture of the author Ron Douglas
    Rasmussen does have some great material, although I heard that he's using a voice over. I don't think that's really his voice. Either way, he's one of the most underrated marketers on the Web and has been for years.
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    • Profile picture of the author SeanIM
      Originally Posted by Ron Douglas View Post

      Rasmussen does have some great material, although I heard that he's using a voice over. I don't think that's really his voice. Either way, he's one of the most underrated marketers on the Web and has been for years.
      Agreed, he does provide some good content.

      As for hiring voice-over talent...that's awesome...glad to hear he's hiring out this work and sustaining more quality jobs...personally I think connecting to the client with your personal voice is grooovey as long as you don't sound like a nutcase....

      Thus my interest in who he's outsourcing with! ;-)

      -S
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      • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
        Sorry to nudge up an olda thread but this is a topic of interest to me right now.

        Can anyone verify where I can find a video done by Micael.. There is none on his blog everything is in "coming soon" mode.

        Mark
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        • Profile picture of the author Kenneth Holland
          Hi Mark,

          He just released on today I believe:

          affiliatelaunchblueprint.com

          Ken
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          'A real friend will stab you in the front'

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          • Profile picture of the author Kent F
            Originally Posted by racerman28 View Post

            Hi Mark,

            He just released on today I believe:

            affiliatelaunchblueprint.com

            Ken
            Really not trying to be negative, but it just seems like more hype-fest guru worship to me. You make a 33 minute video (his new one) that has 8 seconds of relevant content - can we get past that? Or, maybe it's just a case that he makes a killing selling to newbies over and over again.

            Maybe it's good, but his intro video is just more of the same ol' same ol'.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
    I believe the OP was referring to quality of voice and scripting not the content. He does have a good recording voice and he isn't rambling
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  • Profile picture of the author KWall
    Anyone bought his Affiliate Launch Blueprint course? If so, what's your opinion?

    Kevin
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  • Profile picture of the author ntrikate
    I agree with tboneman, I've watched MR's minisiteprofits and GetMore Buyers training - he has taken a lot of time to make them professional looking and sounding - and it takes practice as well. (practice practice practice) Customers appreciate the time you spend "producing" quality products. It's always good to make a plan and it's obvious when you do!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Parker
    Rasmussen does put out some decent materials, but when he releases new products they seem to be pretty much the same as his prior product with slight changes. I wish each product was completely original. It always seems like I am watching the same videos over and over. But I do like the quality of his products.
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    -Christopher Parker
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