Planning and Goal-Setting

I recently published these four tips on the Camtasia Studio blog, so I thought it would be good to cross-post them here for all to benefit. DBD 22 SEP 2009

1. Plan to make a plan, make a plan, then execute the plan. Did I mention the importance of planning? It does no good at all to create a flawless screencast if it does not serve a purpose. The plan should include audience analysis, purpose of the video (goals), content to be covered, and methods of accomplishing the goals.

2. Amplify the goals identified in #1. Why are you creating a video? Has it already been done? What are you contributing to the existing body of knowledge about the subject? Determine which category your screencast will fall in: motivational or instructional. Create appropriate content to fit your selected category. Don't be tempted to cover both categories at once! Either sell or teach, but do it separately.

3. Determine in detail how you are going to accomplish the goals. Create a storyboard, identifying how every element will support the attainment of your goals. Discard those elements that do not directly support your goals.

4. Identify organizational flaws and correct them at any point before final movie production. Naturally, you will want to accomplish this as early in the process as possible, but be willing to discard an unworkable plan or storyboard at any point in the process and start over, if needed.