I've been producing, shooting and editing for 30 years ... started on 1" reel-to-reel at KLTV in Tyler, Texas. Even spliced a little 16mm ...
Identify your audience and:
know what they want to hear
know what you need to say to get there
know your subject so you don;t ramble or repeat
keep it simple and don't use tongue twisting or complicated words.
Practice:
your lines (use cue cards)
your action (know your movements and block the shot so you don;t go off camera)
your content (say what you need to say ... only)
Rule of thumb to get folks to watch and learn:
3 points in 3 minutes (today videos are everywhere, so make your relevant)
frame the shot (divide the screen into thirds and keep what you are describing framed where the upper and middle third intersect)
Create a set (don't shoot it in a bathroom or kitchen with hard surfaces where the audio echoes. Pay attention to your back ground)
Lighting is key. Sunlight is your friend. Don't mix lighting.
Clean audio ... like said before.
I use Avid and Adobe Production Suite at work.
But at home, I have a $49 version of Adobe Premiere Elements.
I might shoot some action footage and just narrate over it so outdoor audio quality isn't terrible.
Record the voice-over the same place where you record the live action.
Abrupt changes in background noise and quality is amateurish.
Work around ...
Record 3 minutes of just the background noise. No narration, no dialogue just white noise.
In post, lay it down on a lower tier track, ramping it slightly and slowly so that the background noise seems seamless and the voice over pops out of the background.
Two things to remember
1) It always takes longer than it takes.
2) It doesn't have to be, just looks like it is.
Nice explanation. I can see it in my "mind's eye".
Definitely this.If you spend 15 seconds explaining the purpose of the video, you've lost them.
Hickock45 begins his vids by shooting, not a lot of explaining.
Think about it ... if I search for a topic and find it, I don;t need any introduction.
I already know. When I see elaborate intros, I move on.