Plan a short training video in 30 minutes (with or without AI)
A simple five-step method for planning a clear two-to-five-minute training or explainer video, with prompts you can copy.
A short training video lives or dies in the planning. Here's the five-step method we use for course lessons and explainers. It takes about 30 minutes, and AI can speed up each step, but you don't need any special tool.
Step 1: Write the one-sentence promise (5 minutes)
Finish this sentence: "After watching this, you'll be able to…"
Good: "…create a pivot table from a sales list." Too vague: "…understand Excel better."
If you can't write the sentence, the video is trying to do too much. Split it.
AI prompt you can copy:
I'm making a 3-minute training video for [audience]. The topic is [topic]. Suggest five one-sentence learning promises, each starting with "After watching this, you'll be able to…". Keep each one specific and measurable.
Step 2: List the steps your viewer must take (10 minutes)
Write the actions in order, as short verbs: select the data → insert pivot table → drag Region to Rows. Aim for three to seven steps. More than seven usually means you need two videos.
Step 3: Write a hook and a close (5 minutes)
- Hook (first 10 seconds): show the end result, or name the problem. "This is the report that used to take me an hour. Now it takes two minutes."
- Close: recap the promise and give one next step.
Step 4: Decide the visual for each step (5 minutes)
For each step, choose one:
| Visual | Best for |
|---|---|
| Screen recording | Software tutorials |
| Whiteboard / doodle animation | Concepts, processes, "how it works" |
| Talking head | Trust, introductions, opinions |
| Simple slide | Definitions, lists, recaps |
Doodle-style explainers work especially well for concepts. If you make them often, tools like InstaDoodle can draw them from a script. See our InstaDoodle overview.
Step 5: Draft the script (5 minutes with AI, 15 without)
AI prompt you can copy:
Write a script for a [length]-minute training video. Audience: [audience]. Promise: [your sentence from step 1]. Steps: [your list from step 2]. Start with this hook: [hook]. Use short sentences I can read aloud naturally. Mark each visual change with [VISUAL: …].
Then read it out loud and cut anything you stumble over. AI drafts are a starting point, not a finished script.
A quick checklist before you record
- ☐ One clear promise
- ☐ Three to seven steps
- ☐ A hook in the first 10 seconds
- ☐ A visual chosen for every step
- ☐ Script read aloud at least once
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