Video is a powerful medium for education and storytelling — especially in the context of community services like Housing Associations. This form of visual communication has the potential to engage your audience in a way that static content, like text or images, cannot. It allows you to explain complex topics in simple terms and empowers you to foster a sense of community among your tenants and partners.

In this guide, you’ll learn to craft an educational video script that resonates with audiences while advancing the mission of Housing Associations.

The Power of Educational Videos in Housing Associations

Before we deep-dive into scriptwriting, it’s important to understand the why behind educational video content. Video has the power to connect with your tenants on a more personal level. It can simplify intricate topics like tenancy agreements or neighbourhood initiatives, making them more palatable and easier to understand.

Why Choose Video?

• Accessibility: Video is accessible, especially where people have different learning styles and needs.
• Engagement: It has the potential to captivate and sustain attention, fostering deeper connections.
• Reach: It expands your reach, drawing in diverse audience segments with content that they can relate to.

Understanding Your Audience

In order to craft a compelling educational video, you need to know who you’re talking to. Housing Associations cater to a wide array of individuals and families, including those from various demographic backgrounds and income levels. Your script should reflect this diversity while maintaining a unified voice and message.

Tips on Identifying Tenant Needs

• Conduct Surveys: Anonymous surveys can provide insights into what tenants would like to know more about.
• Personal Interviews: Speaking to a diverse group of tenants can reveal common questions and concerns.
• Analyse Data: Demographic data and social profiles can help build a picture of your tenant base.

Crafting Your Key Messages

Educational video scripts need to be informative yet engaging. They should focus on key areas that are relevant to your tenants. In the context of Housing Associations, this could include everything from explaining rental processes to highlighting community-friendly practices.

Finding the Right Tone

• Community Centric: The script should reflect the association’s commitment to building a strong community.
• Empowerment: Messages should be crafted to reinforce tenants’ sense of agency and power in their housing situation.
• Reassurance: Addressing concerns such as rent control or safety measures can offer reassurance.

Visual Storytelling

In Housing Associations, the stories you tell are as important as the facts you present. Real-life tenant stories can provide that crucial connection, and your script should include provisions for sharing these while respecting privacy and consent.

Obtaining and Using Stories

• Permission First: Always obtain written consent before using a tenant’s story.
• Anonymity and Discretion: Ensure that stories change enough of the details to maintain the individual’s privacy.
• Relevance: The stories should be relatable and support key educational points.

Marketing Strategies for Video Distribution

A great script is just the beginning. You need to get it in front of your audience. Digital marketing has opened up a great number of avenues for Housing Associations, from social media to email campaigns.

Leveraging Digital Platforms

• SEO Optimisation: Ensure your video ranks well on search engines for housing-related queries.
• Social Media Campaigns: Use targeted campaigns to reach specific tenant groups with your video content.
• Email Newsletters: Videos in email newsletters can update tenants and create anticipation for new content.

Collaboration Is Key

No Housing Association stands alone. Your script should include sections that emphasise collaboration with local businesses, governments, and non-profits, demonstrating a united effort towards community uplift.

The Power of Allies

• Corporate Partnerships: Highlight corporations that offer support or housing benefits to tenants.
• Government Relations: Make sure to include government initiatives that affect or can aid tenants.
• Non-Profit Initiatives: Shed light on non-profits within the housing space providing value to your tenant community.

Crafting a Compelling Call to Action

After engaging your audience, the next vital step is to spur them into action. This could be as simple as participating in a community event or as significant as taking part in a housing seminar.

Making it Count

• Clear and Direct: Your call to action should leave no room for ambiguity. It should be clear what you want the audience to do next.
• Community Building: Encourage activities that bring people together and strengthen your sense of community.
• Measurable: Create a call to action that can be measured, so you can assess the effectiveness of your video.

In a world that’s increasingly visual and digital, educational videos are a must-have in the arsenal of any Housing Association. They are an accessible and engaging way to inform and unify your tenant community, ultimately strengthening the standing of your association.

Ready to elevate your content strategy? Book a free 30-minute strategy call with Super Motion and take the first step in creating compelling video content for your Housing Association.

In an era when knowledge sharing and learning have transcended the constraints of physical classrooms, training videos have emerged as an invaluable resource, especially in the corporate world.

For Housing Associations striving to maintain education and compliance among their staff, video-based training offers an effective and engaging method. However, the decision to integrate videos into the training strategy comes with its share of financial considerations — from concept to distribution.

This piece dives into the intricacies of the costs associated with producing training videos, arming HR and Training Managers of Housing Associations with vital insights into budgeting for video production.

The Why and How of Training Videos for Housing Associations

In a sector where adaptability and up-to-date knowledge are not just beneficial but essential, training videos have become the go-to tool for disseminating information effectively. Housing Associations deploy training videos for various purposes, such as staff onboarding, compliance training, and continuous development, ensuring that their workforce remains informed, engaged, and capable.

The Role of Training Videos in Onboarding

Imagine the first day at work for a new staff member. Instead of a thick manual or a long presentation, they’re greeted with an interactive video that not only teaches but also welcomes them to the organisation’s culture. It’s a warm and practical initiation that only a well-produced video can offer.

Continuous Training in the Digital Age

With the speed at which the housing environment evolves, ongoing training is no longer an event; it’s a process. Video content allows for regular updates and personalised learning experiences, adjusting to the learner’s pace and time.

The Nitty-Gritty of Video Production Costs

Before you hit record, you must evaluate the significant cost components you’ll encounter during each stage of video creation. These costs may vary significantly based on the production size, the expertise involved, and the quality you aim to achieve.

Pre-production Planning

Concept Development

Time is money, and video concepts are no exception. The hours spent ideating, aligning with training objectives, and crafting a story that resonates with the audience are top priorities. These are the seeds of your video, and they need to be nurtured carefully.

Scriptwriting

A good script is more than just words on a page; it’s a blueprint for your video. Whether you outsource this to professionals or leverage internal expertise, scriptwriting demands an investment, ensuring that every word is worth its weight in content.

Storyboarding

Visual learners make up a significant proportion of any workforce. Storyboarding translates your script into images, laying the groundwork for a compelling visual narrative. This step is an investment in the coherence and attractiveness of your final product.

The Production Proper

Equipment Investment

To create a high-quality training video, you need more than a smartphone. Cameras, tripods, stabilisers, lights, and microphones are the tools of the trade, and each is a thumb on the budget scale.

Location Costs

Whether it’s the quiet office in the corner or an external training venue, every square inch of location contributes to the video’s setting. Securing these spaces involves negotiations and, often, financial transactions.

Personnel Expenses

From a director calling the shots to camera operators and assistants making them happen, every hand involved in production has a price. These professionals are instrumental in bringing your vision to life, and they charge accordingly.

Talent Fees

Perhaps the most visible cost to the viewer, the training video’s presenter or actors are the faces behind your message. Their skills, reputation, and influence on the final product justify a portion of the budget.

Post-Production Precision

Video Editing Services

Raw footage is but a canvas. Skilled editors weave together the scenes, fine-tune the audio, and polish the visuals to ensure a seamless and professional output.

Graphic Design

In the realm of informational videos, graphics can be the difference between a trainer and a teacher. Infographics, motion graphics, and text overlays all have their costs, but add significant value to the learning experience.

Sound and Music Design

The auditory senses complement the visual. Licensing scores, acquiring sound effects, and balancing audio, underscore the professional quality of your training video.

Distribution Decisions

Hosting Platforms

Your video needs a stage. Hosting platforms vary from free services with limitations, to bespoke solutions that provide tools and stats crucial for training management. Each option carries a unique price tag.

Maintenance

Videos are not static; they require updates and safeguards. Maintenance costs cover not only the hosting but also the regular examination of content relevance and effectiveness.

The Unknown Variables

Unexpected Delays

Production is prone to hiccups, which often translate to unexpected expenses. Whether it’s a reshoot due to technical issues, or a script change, delays mean extended timelines and expenditure.

Scope Creep

Projects often start with clear limits, only for those limits to stretch as creative avenues open up. Each new scene, effect, or requirement adds to the bill, highlighting the importance of defining and sticking to the video’s original scope.

The Bottom Line on Video Production for Housing Associations

Ultimately, the costs associated with producing training videos for Housing Associations are investments in the growth and stability of the organisation. In capturing the expertise, regulations, and ethos of your operation in visual form, you empower your workforce with tools that perpetually pay dividends.

To maximise your training video’s value and minimise financial risks, it is vital to partner with a production company experienced in the nuances of your sector.

Super Motion has a track record in delivering bespoke video solutions for Housing Associations, and we offer a complimentary 30-minute strategy call to kickstart the process. Book your call today, and together, we can chart the most cost-effective pathway to a more skilled and educated team.

In the digital landscape, educational videos are a key tool for engaging audiences. Housing Associations need to master educational video to reach and educate the communities living in more than 4.4 million social housing properties in England.

This guide is for Communications and Marketing Managers in the Housing Association sector, offering a blueprint for creating informative, accessible, and engaging videos.

Understanding Tenant Demographics to Tailor Your Videography

Effective communication hinges on knowing your audience. Social housing is home to diverse communities. With tenants from various backgrounds and ages, your content strategy needs to be nuanced.

The Socioeconomic Mosaic of Social Tenants in England

England’s 4.4 million social homes house diverse individuals and families. Tailoring educational videos to resonate with viewers across various socioeconomic backgrounds, preferences, and needs is key to cutting through the noise.

Highlighting Financial Literacy and Community Support

Financial education is vital, particularly for the 74% of social renters without savings. Housing Associations can help by equipping tenants to manage finances better. Tailor videos to tackle common financial challenges, providing simple, actionable advice to make a real impact.

Crafting Content That Educates and Entertains

Educational content can seem dull, but by incorporating captivating stories inspired by the entertainment industry, you can make learning enjoyable and engaging.

Diverse Storytelling for a Diverse Audience

Variety is key in storytelling, reflecting the diverse tapestry of your community. Sharing success stories from various backgrounds is not only about diversity representation but also a powerful tool to inspire and motivate.

How To Make Complex Topics Relatable

Inclusion and relatability are crucial for tenant engagement. Use diverse characters and situations to simplify complex topics without diminishing their significance. By using real-life scenarios, bridge the gap between abstract concepts and viewers’ everyday lives.

The Art of Simplifying Without Talking Down

Explaining complex subjects in an accessible way is an art. By using clear language and simple explanations, you make sure your educational videos are inclusive and easy for all to understand.

Avoiding Jargon for Universal Understanding

Using insider language can exclude a large part of your audience. Opt for plain terms to make your content universally accessible, fostering broader conversations and understanding among tenants.

Speaking the Language of Housing and Finances

When discussing housing and finances, avoid complex terms. Use clear language to make content accessible to all tenants, regardless of background or education level.

Visuals that Transcend Language and Culture

In a multicultural society, visuals are key to connecting with a diverse audience. Use inclusive and representative visuals to bridge language and cultural gaps, fostering a global community in your sector.

Inclusive Visuals to Represent Many

Inclusivity is not just a buzzword – it’s a responsibility. Depict the diversity of your tenant base with a variety of actors and scenarios. Your video should reflect and celebrate the range of people in your sector through setting, casting, and graphic design.

Leveraging Animation and Educational Graphics

Educational content is often best conveyed visually. Using animation or infographics simplifies complex information, making it engaging and universally understandable, regardless of the audience’s background.

Encouraging Interaction and Gathering Feedback

Your video’s engagement goes beyond playbacks — it’s the start. Engage viewers with calls to action and feedback to turn them from passive to active participants, building community and ownership.

Calls to Action That Inspire Involvement

Every video needs a clear and compelling call to action. Encourage viewers to visit a resource hub, take a financial management course, or share their thoughts. Your calls to action should engage and support your audience.

Turning Feedback into a Two-Way Conversation

Feedback isn’t just about improvement; it’s a chance to learn and grow with your tenant community. By making feedback a two-way dialogue, you refine content and connect with your audience, showing their voice matters.

Conclusion

In social housing, educational videos do more than share information — they empower and support a diverse community. By following our guide, Super Motion believes you can create invaluable resources that make a difference to many lives.

Ready to shift from passive to engaging stories? Book your free 30-minute strategy call with Super Motion using the button below.

In the digital transformation era, the educational landscape for Housing Associations is swiftly changing. Traditional manuals face a challenge from educational videos. Housing Association HR Managers witness this shift.

Are educational videos the new way to transfer knowledge, or do manuals still have a place?

We’re examining the evidence, costs, and benefits to determine the best communication strategy. By the end, you’ll be ready to guide your sector’s educational approach smoothly — visually or through text.

Engagement: The Visual Advantage

When it comes to holding your audience’s attention, videos mop the floor with manuals. Think about it: would you rather sit through a training video with snazzy graphics or leaf through pages of black and white text?

The former wins every time. Videos can combine visual, auditory, and even a sprinkle of text, making knowledge transfer a multi-sensory experience that resonates deeper. They’re not only educational but also entertaining, making learning enjoyable.

And in a sector where staying up-to-date with policy updates is crucial, engagement is key. It can often be a challenge for your Housing Association’s Communication Managers to disseminate important information in a way that staff members and other stakeholders will absorb and retain — and on this front, videos have a clear advantage.

Accessibility: Videos On-the-Go

In the fast-paced world of housing management, accessibility is non-negotiable. Traditional manuals, while sometimes comprehensive and thorough, can’t match the convenience of instructional videos. The ability to revisit material easily, pause and play, and enabling employees to learn at their own pace is a game-changer.

For Housing Associations stretched across geographical areas, this accessibility can be particularly invaluable. It standardises training across the board, ensuring staff in different locations receive identical information and that it is communicated in the same way.

Cost Efficiency: The Video’s Not-So-Hidden Value

At first glance, the cost of producing a video compared to printing a manual might seem like an uneven match. However, when we consider the longevity and reusability of educational videos, the scales start to level out. Modern videos can be assets that keep giving — as long as the topic remains relevant, the video can keep training new staff, year in, year out.

There’s also the environmental aspect to weigh in. Digital content, on the face of it, reduces an organisation’s carbon footprint. Though not always the case, given the rapidly evolving technology needed to produce and distribute videos, it’s a point that should be noted.

Real-World Examples: Learning Through Experience

One of the most powerful features of educational videos is their ability to demonstrate. Staff can watch as problems are solved or tasks are completed, mirroring the real-world scenarios that they’ll face in the field. This practical application is often missing in written manuals, which tend to be more conceptual.

For Housing Associations dealing with maintenance and repair, this is invaluable. You can’t teach someone to fix a boiler by simply reading a step-by-step guide; they need to watch it unfold to understand the intricacies and the potential pitfalls.

Interactive Feedback: Videos That Listen

The one-way street of traditional manuals is overrun by the give-and-take nature of educational videos. Video content can include interactive features, like quizzes and assessments, which not only solidify learning but also provide management with valuable feedback. Understanding where staff face difficulty can lead to targeted improvements in both the training and, ultimately, the operations of the Housing Association.

Update Flexibility: Dynamic Content

Policies and procedures in the housing sector are fluid, responding to new legal requirements and best practices. Videos can capture this dynamism better than bulky printed manuals. They’re easy to update and can keep apace with changes, whereas manuals often become out-of-date soon after they’re printed.

This doesn’t just save on reams of paper but also on hours of backtracking and retraining staff on updated information.

Emotional Connection: The Heart of Video Learning

Humans are emotional beings, and we tend to remember things that make us feel. Videos have the upper hand here as they can use storytelling and music to reinforce learning, eliciting an emotional response that sticks. A well-crafted video has the power to create a bond between your staff and the content they’re learning in a way that a manual often can’t.

Analytical Insights: Data-Driven Decisions

Video platforms are teeming with analytics that give real-time insights on viewer engagement, completion rates, and even areas where viewers might have rewound or re-watched sections. This data is a goldmine for honing your educational content. You’ll know what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to make data-driven decisions that refine your training material into a potent educational tool.

Conclusion

Videos excel in effectiveness and engagement, potentially overshadowing traditional manuals. Housing Associations must choose tools that suit their needs best – a mix of manuals and videos could be optimal. Embracing educational videos is an investment in the language of the future workforce. While videos may not fully replace manuals, they offer a more engaging and accessible way to educate. Consider this transformation as Housing Associations evolve. Will you opt for the future with videos, or stick with the tried and tested manual?

To discover how Super Motion can help you to use video to deliver engaging educational videos, book a free 30-minute strategy call with us.

Onboarding. It’s the pivotal bridge between recruitment and empowering your workforce. For Housing Association HR Managers, this critical initiation tool can mean the difference between a bewildered new employee and a confident team member ready to make an impact.

At the heart of onboarding lies the onboarding video — a powerful, flexible, and engaging medium for learning and community building. But how do you craft an onboarding video tailored to the unique communities and ethos of your Housing Association?

Welcome to the Super Motion guide that will equip you with every essential component of an effective onboarding video that doesn’t just inform but inspires new employees to embody your Housing Association’s vision and values.

Why Onboarding Videos Matter

Before we dissect the structure of an effective onboarding video, it’s important to grasp their significance. Onboarding videos:

• Establish a first impression and set the scene for your organisation’s culture.
• Provide a consistent message that can be replayed and retained at the new employee’s pace.
• Show rather than tell, painting a vivid picture of life at your Housing Association with great visuals and sound.
• Bolster enthusiasm and engagement, which studies show can lead to higher job satisfaction and retention.

Employee Onboarding Debunked

Understanding that onboarding is a process, not just a video, is key. It’s a sequence of touchpoints that should be seamless and supportive. The video is just one step in the journey of your new employee. It’s important your onboarding process includes a variety of materials and experiences that include face-to-face interaction, hands-on learning, and paperwork.

Here’s how to break down the onboarding video into its main elements:

Key Contacts and Teams

Outline the faces that new employees should know and their areas of expertise. This isn’t an organisational chart — it’s a who’s who and why they matter.

• HR Point of Contact: The go-to for all things policy and procedure.
• Maintenance and Support Services: When in doubt, here’s who’ll get you out of a fix.
• Community Manager: Keeping you connected and responsive to local needs.

Values and Culture

Introduce what your Housing Association stands for, its core values, and how it practically fulfils those promises.

• Onsite Footage: Showcase the diverse workforce in action.
• Employee Testimonials: Real stories from real colleagues.
• Initiatives in Action: See cultural values at work through community outreach and resident events.

Safety and Compliance

Safety first. Go through the specifics of health and safety, including any unique protocols for your properties.

• Property-Specific Protocols: Tackle site-specific risks head-on.
• Legislation: Deliver an engaging overview of the most critical housing laws and regulations to adhere to.
• Safe Practices Demonstration: A visual guide to on-the-job compliance.

The Resident Experience

Empathy and understanding of your residents lead to better outcomes for all.

• Inclusivity Training: Sensitivity education for diverse needs.
• Conflict Resolution Scenarios: Navigating resident issues with poise and professionalism.
• Case Studies: Reviewing touchpoints of actual resident stories.

Crafting Your Onboarding Experience

Producing an onboarding video is more than just conveying key information, it needs to weave a story — the tale of your Housing Association and the individual’s role within it.

The Script

It all starts with the words. Your script should clearly articulate your organisation’s goals, aiming to balance inspirational storytelling and instruction.

• A Day in the Life: Create a narrative that walks the viewer through a typical day, from morning arrival to task completion, interwoven with learning moments.
• The Big Picture: Show how the workflows and processes contribute to overall success of your Housing Association.

The Visuals

What the script describes, the visuals should bring to life. Use a variety of images, footage, animations, and text to keep things dynamic and engaging.

• Cinematic Shots: Wide frames that capture the scale and scope of your housing projects and communities.
• Animated Infographics: Break down complicated concepts into digestible chunks.
• Employee Demonstrations: Highlight best practices demonstrations and show the team at work.

Sound and Voice

A great script with poor delivery loses impact. Your aural elements — music, sound effects, and narration — should be professional and engaging.

• Tie-Ins with Branding: The soundscape should reinforce the brand’s tone and message.
• A Professional Narrator: The voice should be clear, warm, and personable.
• Subtitles: Accessibility is critical; include subtitles to assist viewers.

Personal and Professional Growth

Your onboarding doesn’t end when the video does. Point new employees to resources that can help them grow within the Association.

• Training Paths: Highlight educational opportunities and paths for advancement.
• Mentoring Programmes: Connect new employees with seasoned professionals outside their direct line.
• Continuity: Plan for check-ins and ongoing support as new employees transition to full capacity.

Measuring Success

What can’t be measured can’t be improved, so make sure that you establish KPIs before releasing your video. This could involve assessments, surveys, or tracking employee retention.

• Video Interaction Data: Track where viewers are engaged or dropping off.
• Quiz Scores: See how well the video’s message is retained.
• Feedback Surveys: Get qualitative feedback on the video’s effectiveness and room for improvement.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, onboarding videos are a great way to enhance your onboarding process, with inspiring visuals, engaging narrative, and uplifting audio. With the right balance of information, storytelling, and showcasing how your Housing Association lives and breathes its values, you’ll help your new employees start off on the right foot, engaged and enthusiastic about their new role.

For Housing Association HR Managers, Super Motion offers bespoke video production that meets the standards of regulatory compliance, aesthetic appeal, and educational precision. Our video production experts understand the housing sector and can be your partners in delivering cutting-edge onboarding experiences.

Book a free 30-minute strategy call with Super Motion today, and together, we can discuss how a video can enrich your onboarding process.