Choosing between engaging videos and detail-rich manuals for educational content is a pivotal decision for Training Managers in the Professional Services sector.

At Super Motion, we’ve seen first hand how each medium shapes learning and influences decision-making.

This blog delves into the advantages and limitations of educational videos versus traditional manuals, covering crucial aspects like engagement, retention, and accessibility, to guide you in selecting the optimal strategy for your needs.

Captivating Your Audience: The Power of Video

Videos stand out in capturing audiences, blending visuals, sound, and storytelling to instantly draw viewers in. This format is particularly effective in Professional Services, making abstract concepts accessible and engaging.

In contrast, manuals, with their in-depth content, may not capture interest as readily. Reading requires a level of focus that not everyone has, especially when seeking quick learning.

Boosting Retention with Videos

Videos significantly enhance memory retention by engaging both sight and sound, making key messages more memorable. Research indicates people retain 95% of a message from a video compared to 10% when reading text, a critical advantage in Professional Services where precision matters.

While manuals offer depth, videos distil complex information into memorable visuals and sound bites, ensuring important messages are not just seen but remembered. This is invaluable in Professional Services, where technical skill and understanding are vital to providing a quality service to your clients.

Widening Reach with Accessible Videos

Videos shine in accessibility, making content approachable for a broader audience, including those facing language or reading barriers. Their visual storytelling, enhanced with subtitles or sign language, can convey Professional Services concepts to any employee.

Convenience: Learning on the Go

Videos offer unmatched convenience, fitting learning into the busiest schedules. They allow viewers to learn anywhere, from commutes to between meetings, via mobile devices.

Manuals, though rich in information, can’t match the portability and instant accessibility of videos. This makes videos a vital tool for Training Managers seeking to ensure their training material is easy and convenient for their employees to access.

Detail and Depth: Where Manuals Shine

Manuals excel in delivering comprehensive details and in-depth explanations, making  them invaluable for complex Professional Services procedures and workflows. Manuals allow for finer details that videos struggle to convey and give readers the opportunity to engage with content at their own pace. This depth allows for thorough understanding and reference, crucial for services where specifics are key.

While videos attract and broadly inform, manuals provide the detailed insights and step-by-step guidance that ensure deep comprehension and practical application.

Keeping Content Current

Updating content keeps it relevant, and modern editing tools have simplified updating videos. Swapping out segments or adding new information allows videos to remain current with less effort than presumed. This flexibility is a boon for keeping video content fresh and engaging.

Manuals offer a different kind of ease in updates, with text changes being straightforward to implement. This makes them reliable for consistently updating detailed content. However, it’s worth considering costs for any reprinting and redistribution required.

Both formats present viable options for updates, catering to the dynamic needs of Professional Services, ensuring materials stay accurate and reflective of the latest best practices and processes.

Tailor Content to Audience Preferences

Choosing between videos and manuals hinges on knowing your audience’s preferences. Videos, with their wide appeal, cater to those who prefer engaging, visually rich content.

Some, however, find value in the depth and pace control offered by manuals, particularly for intricate subjects that demand thorough understanding.

Adopting a strategy that incorporates both formats can address the varied preferences within your audience, ensuring your content is both engaging and informative.

Conclusion

In our journey through Professional Services training, we’ve weighed the benefits of videos against manuals. Videos offer unparalleled engagement, accessibility, and ease of updating, making learning flexible and dynamic. Manuals, on the other hand, provide detailed insights and are easier to update in certain aspects.

The heart of the matter is choosing the right tool to connect with your audience effectively. Whether you’re drawn to the compelling storytelling of videos or the rich detail of manuals, it’s about what works best for your audience.

Ready to explore how videos can enhance training content? Super Motion is here to help. Book your free 30-minute strategy call now. Let’s craft a strategy that engages and resonates with your audience.