Guide

How to make a tutorial video people can follow

Good software tutorials are short, readable and paced so people can copy along. Here’s a process that works, start to finish.

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In short

Pick one outcome the viewer wants. Prepare a clean demo account and a script of steps, not sentences. Record your screen and voice, and your camera if you like. Then zoom on each step, cut dead air, add captions, number the steps, and publish with chapters. ScreenRecordii does the zooming, cursor smoothing and framing while you record, so most of the editing is done when you stop.

Before you record

  • One outcome per video. “Invite a teammate”, not “Everything about settings”.
  • A clean stage. A demo account with tidy data, notifications off, a plain desktop.
  • Steps, not a script. A list you can glance at keeps it natural.
  • The right size. Record a window at the size your viewers use, not a huge display.

While you record

  • Say what you’re about to do, then do it.
  • Pause for a beat after each click.
  • Don’t worry about mistakes: retake that part afterwards.

After you record

  1. Zoom on each step

    Done from your clicks in ScreenRecordii.

  2. Cut the waiting

    Tighten removes pauses; typing is sped up.

  3. Caption it

    Many viewers start muted.

  4. Number the steps

    Step badges on each click make it easy to follow along.

  5. Chapters

    So people can jump back to the step they missed.

Questions

How long should a tutorial video be?

Long enough for one outcome. Most software tutorials work best at two to six minutes.

Should I show my face?

It helps for introductions and explanations. A small camera bubble keeps the screen readable.

What’s the best way to record a tutorial on a Mac?

Record a window rather than the whole screen, with a good microphone. An app that zooms on clicks saves most of the editing.

Keep reading

Hit record.

ScreenRecordii is in early access for macOS 14 and later.

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