How to make an interactive video Blog
That's not just good news for video and tech lovers. It's a good thing for businesses, too. Because interactive video isn't just fun to watch. It's also proven as 32 percent more memorable and three times more entertaining as compared to traditional videos.
"The Studio is major leaps forward. It's extremely intuitive." Ian Dewhirst, Producer, Colada Creative
What exactly is an interactive video?
We'll start by defining the basics. What is interactive video? Traditional passive video only allows viewers to move between pause and stop and play back the contents. But interactive video encourages engagement throughout the watching experience. This can take shape in the form of storylines that branch (like those video games that you grew up with) and shoppable overlays of products as well as informative hotspots and more.
For a long time the idea of interactive videos was only an option for people willing to invest serious time and lots of development dollars in order to achieve it. But makes it easy to turn the video in any way into an interactive experience. What's the best part? Our team takes care of technology to ensure that the technology is in good hands and offers 24/7 support - so you can easily take your videos up to the next level.
How to create an interactive video with in five steps
If you're ready to dive into the water on your own then take a look at the following steps.
Step 1: Choose the kind of experience you'd like to create.
There are tons of various applications that allow interactive video However, these are a few of the most popular:
YouTube videos for selling Interactive videos make it simple to turn any video into an experience that can be purchased. You can add clickable elements inside your videos to direct users directly to the product's pages -- or even adding items directly to their cart while viewing.
Stories that branch A quaint and common video format permits viewers to select from pre-defined pathways based on their taste and requirements, and leads to a personalized viewing experience tailored to their preferences.
video training and eLearning: Because interactive video lets you easily include checkpoints and layered elements to every video, it's beloved by educators and HR professionals as well. Checkpoints can be embedded to ensure viewers are engaging and remembering the content, as well as include other content for folks to watch on their own time.
Step 2: Choose which interactive elements you'd like to include
Once you've decided on the experience for viewers, it offers an extensive set of options that can be used to make your videos truly interactive. Here are a few features that you can use to build an interactive experience for your viewers:
Hotspots:A Hotspot may be a button or element that can be clicked on in the video that can lead to additional actions (think: add-to-cart, learn more and so on.) at the point that the user selects.
Time triggers:A Time trigger allows the author to launch elements in the video at a certain location without the need for a viewer's intervention for example, like jumping between various points in the video, opening overlays, and much more.
Overlays: Overlays are exactly what it says it is a component that could be displayed over your video , providing insights, images, calls-to-action, other videos and much more.
BranchingBranching lets the viewer "choose their own experience" as they watch through key frames in the video by skipping parts or looping to create an interactive experience.
Introducing interactive video
From shoppable videos to immersive training for teamsInteractive video lets viewers control their viewing experience and boosts participation, sales, as well as insight into the user. Learn more
Step 3: Make or source the video's contents
There's some good news. You don't need to make video content that is specifically created to be interactive in order for it to work as one. It is possible to revive or reuse content by incorporating interactive elements into any type of video. But, if you're making new content, there are few things you need to keep in mind.
Storyboard, storyboard, the storyboardEspecially if you're planning an interactive feature that is more complicated (like an evolving storyline) We recommend spending to the stage prior to production to determine exactly how many storylines that you'll pursue.
If you are planning your event, keep in mind that too many possibilities could be too many of a good thing. "The easiest, most clean experiences are the ones that gain the most interaction," Jack says. Jack. "Opt for two options on the last branch." Simple and clear can help viewers move through your information and help make the production process more efficient.
Make sure to hold your videos longer than usual for any video featuring overlays or hotspots it's best to keep your videos for a little longer than you might usually. It will permit viewers to see any message displayed on the screen, or perform an decision you'd prefer them to perform.
Consider your framing Based on the shape of your hotspots or overlays You may want to take into consideration what position the content of your video is within the frame. If the large overlay will be unfolding to the left of the screen, you should frame your subject further to the right , making your post production effortless. "This helps you to make sure that they do not clash with other people or the objects that are in your frame" adds Jack.
"The benefit of using interactive media is the variety of the things you can do including shoppable videos, overlays and analytics." Jack Brodie, Managing Director at Colada Creative
Step 4: Determine your distribution strategy
Congrats, you have an engaging video! Where do you want it to be displayed? Interactive videos need to be hosted on a website or page in order to operate at their full potential. This means that you'll need to make use of marketing channels such as social and email to bring people to the full immersive experience.
We recommend creating GIFs or short looping video assets to demonstrate the interactive capabilities of your video. "Show the viewers your video is interactive at the start," notes Jack. "Not anyone is aware it's possible to click on the video. That's why we want to show people even in our promotional pictures."
Step 5: Re-evaluate your assessment of your
You've dreamed up a video, added your chosen interactive elements, and unleashed it to the world. But... how are people actually engaging with the video? Analytics and reporting from's go above and beyond traditional video metrics to reveal super granular insights. You can see how and when viewers clicked on different overlays or hotspots, look up your metrics for shopping and so on. Improved insights mean better understanding that translate into better videos for both your audience and you.