The proliferation of a younger, more tech-savvy workforce has increased demand for online training and e-learning content to unprecedented heights. The supreme content type in driving this demand is video content. Video training has evolved into an effective way to facilitate learning, appealing to a variety of brain functions simultaneously in an effort that boosts retention. For a company attempting to gain a millennial edge, e-learning courses using video functionality take advantage of the primary means through which young people absorb information.

Video training should be at the top of your list when designing and altering your new and continuing employee professional education programs. But if you’re imagining needing a big Hollywood budget with camera operators and studio personnel maneuvering around your office to create an impactful video, no need to fret! You don’t need a huge budget to create powerful video content. These days, all it requires is developing a strategy, learning a few basic editing skills, making use of resources already available, and finding the right software to tie it all together and make your next office blockbuster hit! Here are a few tips on how you can develop creative video content on any budget.

Find the Right Gear For the Job

This is the first step to take and where you’ll find the most savings. Start with a quick browse on Google for video equipment options, and you’re likely be left scratching your head. Instead, start by looking around you for tools you already have that can be used in video production.

Thanks to advances in technology, you’re likely to find that you have a top-notch hi-definition camera right in your pocket. Many smartphone cameras are focused and fully capable of accomplishing the bulk of your video endeavors with a little bit of practice. The same goes for your laptop, tablet or desktop computer. The reality of camera equipment is that unless you have a large budget, you’ll find the best results from something that’s likely already sitting in your office.

You don’t need to purchase any gear, but there are a few items that will increase the quality of your production. For instance, a professional microphone can improve the audio quality of your video. They typically cost around $100 to $200, and many podcast-style desktop microphones have USB outputs or Bluetooth for easy connectivity. You may also find that other items, like a tripod, will make the filming process easier.

Editing and Streaming on a Budget

You have your hardware, and you’ve shot your video. Now, how do you edit your content? Where do you store it? Do you need subtitles? Transitions? What about the ability to stream and interact with the content?

An all-in-one video content management system (VCMS) can be the most budget-friendly option. A VCMS is an organized and user-friendly platform to edit video, store it in the cloud, host and stream content, and analyze viewer information. The system will allow you to edit with ease in house, and most systems are designed with the beginning user in mind. The depth of editing varies by product, but expect to find the ability to add transition, subtitles, graphics and background music to your training videos.

These platforms allow users to upload entire libraries of content to the cloud, and from there, anything is possible. Managers can assign employees job-specific videos and get new hires up to speed. Users can access the video from anywhere in the world, even on mobile devices. They can search within content by keywords to enhance their skills.

Coupling a VCMS with the camera equipment already available with smart technology and a few accessories, all you need is a little patience and experimentation to get some great results.