Short product film
One useful workflow and the change it creates.
Guide
Choose the video by the question it needs to answer.
A short explainer or launch video, a demo and an onboarding video can use the same interface and still do different jobs. Start with the viewer's question and the place they will watch.
Product demo
The working flow, relevant options and constraints.
Onboarding or training video
The steps, prerequisites and exceptions needed to complete the task.
| Viewer question | Useful format | What it should show |
|---|---|---|
| Why would I want this? | Short product film | One useful workflow and the change it creates |
| Can this handle my situation? | Product demo | The working flow, relevant options and constraints |
| How do I do this correctly? | Onboarding or training video | The steps, prerequisites and exceptions needed to complete the task |
When a short product film fits
You have one idea to introduce on a homepage, launch page or sales follow-up. The viewer should leave understanding a product action and why it is useful. Thirty seconds forces a choice about what belongs.
For example, a purchase-approval film can follow one request through routing and a decision. It can introduce the workflow, then lead to a fuller demo. It would be a poor place to explain every permissions rule.
When a demo is more useful
Your buyer is evaluating details. They need to see the product respond to a realistic situation, including the choices that matter to them. A clear screen recording with a knowledgeable presenter may serve this job well. Use the actual product and leave enough time to inspect it.
When to make onboarding instead
The viewer already wants to use the product and needs help completing a task. Show the necessary steps in order. A searchable series of focused recordings may be easier to maintain and use than one long tour.
Four questions before choosing
- What does this viewer already know?
- What is the single question they need answered now?
- Where will they watch, and what should they do next?
- What must remain accurate as the interface changes?
If an existing demo or a simple recording answers the question, use it. Commissioned motion makes sense when the story, visual explanation and presentation warrant the production work.
My entry package covers one 30-second product story. Longer demos, narration and training need separate scoping.