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(Note: You’re welcome to use these articles on your website or in your ezine/newsletter as long as they remain complete and unaltered, including the section at the end with the link to a free report/video and credits Michelle Schoen as the author.)

What is Camtasia Software?

Camtasia 7 is very powerful software that you can use to capture your computer screen, or use to edit video that you’ve recorded with another type of camera like a webcam. You might wonder why you would want to conduct screen recording but when you consider that by using software such as Camtasia to record your screen you can then teach anyone how to do something on the computer. Some of the functions you can complete using Camtasia:

Record Desktop – Perhaps you want to show your mom how to block people on Facebook, or you want to show employees and contractors how to add an appropriate email signature using Gmail or Outlook, you can do it. You simply set up the software, record your screen, and speak into your microphone while you conduct the task that you’re trying to demonstrate.

Screen Recording – You can create a PowerPoint presentation, and then record it as you conduct the thing that you want to show someone how to do. You can probably imagine many different tasks that you’d like to demonstrate to show others how to do.

Screen recording enables you to create a variety of Camtasia tutorials that will be useful to your employees, contractors, staff and / or students. Additionally, any type of event can be captured and edited using Camtasia software. You can use a combination of presentations, captured digital footage both action and still, and use the Camtasia software to bring it all together in a professional format with voice overs and special enhancing using highlighting, text, flash animation and more.

Camtasia software is used by many University professors to create tutorials for their online students and even for extras for their traditional classes. Once you create the tutorial using Camtasia the software automatically creates the end product in the form you choose whether for viewing via a website or whether via a download in another format. When you’re done creating your training video, you’ll be given a choice to publish in many popular formats such as FLV, MP4, MPEG, 3GP and others.

These various choices will enable you to post your end training video on your website, within an email, within a membership website, for download, and in many useful ways for the intended recipient, your target market, to watch and learn from. You can use these training videos to train your audience how to do something, or why they should do something, adding interest to your offerings thus increasing your expert status exponentially.

~Online video is quickly becoming one of the most prolific and effective marketing strategies for your business in 2011 and beyond! Claim your Free Report by visiting Camtasia Cash Secrets and get 19 Great Ideas For Using Your Screencasting and Video Skills.~


How Do I Record My Desktop For a Video?

It’s easy to record your desktop for a video if you have the right software. You can make tutorial videos by recording your desktop while you complete tasks that you want to show to someone else. Once you record your desktop you can use the same software to edit it to show only what you want to show and to highlight important features of your desktop recording.

“Why would I want to record my computer screen?” you may ask. Well, you can make tutorial videos from the recordings about anything you want such as “How to defrag your computer” or you can record and narrate a PowerPoint slide show for your “about me” area of your blog or website. The ways you can use the power to record your desktop are endless, only your imagination can be a stopping point.

Once you find the right software for recording your desktop then you will need to learn how to create video tutorial using the recording. You’ll be able to create training videos from your recordings that you can give away, sell, or use internally for training your staff, employees or contractors. The steps to recording your screen are as follows:

Step 1: Decide what you want to record with your desktop recording software.

Step 2: Find the right recording software to use – You have a few choices, such as AviScreen Capture, CamStudio, Copernicus, Camtasia and others. Research them and decide which one has the most features for your budget that will accomplish the tasks you need it to accomplish.

Step 3: Practice using the software – Once you decide on the right software you will need to learn to use the software and practice using it so that your production will be as good as you can personally make it.

Step 4: Practice the task you want to record – Next, to ensure that you don’t miss any steps practice the steps in the tasks that you want to record. It won’t hurt to write down the steps and use it as a script when you’re making your actual desktop recording.

Step 5: Record – Now that you know what desktop recording software that you want to use, you can go ahead and record your desktop and the actions you want to present to your viewers.

Step 6: Edit – Using the appropriate software edit out the imperfections of your desktop recording and add in embellishments in the form of callouts, highlighting and perfecting your recording.

Step 7: Publish – Now, you can simply publish it in the format you desire. Whether you want viewers to watch via email, via website, download on a membership site or blog, it doesn’t matter the software you chose should be able to produce it in the format you need.

~Online video is quickly becoming one of the most prolific and effective marketing strategies for your business in 2011 and beyond! Claim your Free Report by visiting Camtasia Cash Secrets and get 19 Great Ideas For Using Your Screencasting and Video Skills.~


How Do I Record My Screen?

This question comes up whenever someone wants to record what they are doing on their computer desktop. Accomplishing screen recording is possible using a program called Camtasia 7. Camtasia is screen recording software that is simple to learn and not too hard on the wallet. This software will record desktop activities by accomplishing expert screen recording of any activity you do on your desktop.

Learning how to record computer screen actions is easy if you find some really great Camtasia tutorials to use to teach you how to do it. Learning how to use screen capturing software will help you show your expert skills to clients, staff and employees alike. You’ll be able to record your screen while you do a variety of actions that you want to show someone else how to do. You can show people how to perform various tasks or how to use certain software by recording your screen.

In order to record your screen you need special screen recording software such as Camtasia. Camtasia is especially good at creating tutorials by allowing you to record your computer screen and the activities that take place on the screen such as checking email, creating a slide show, even interviewing someone on a service such as SKYPE. The possibilities are as endless as your expertise.

First, open up your Camtasia software, and then choose what you want to record, click the record button with the software. Before you start you can choose whether or not to record sounds too. You can exaggerate your mouse clicks, and the view of the cursor by highlighting the cursor movements as well. This enables your viewer to be aware and watch what you are trying to teach them as they watch the tutorial you create for them.

Next, start doing the tasks that you want to record on your computer screen. Just go through the steps as you normally would. You can record your voice as you create the tutorial or you can add your voice to the screen recording separately during the editing process if you desire. There are many ways in which you can use the software to instruct others.

Finally, once you have the initial recording you can open it up in the recording software for final editing. You can add in call outs, and other special features and highlights to further help your viewers understand what you are teaching them how to do. Then, you choose the form in which you want to save it, such as MPEG, or publishing to the web. The software leaders you through much of it and before you know it you’ll be a published tutorial author.

~Online video is quickly becoming one of the most prolific and effective marketing strategies for your business in 2011 and beyond! Claim your Free Report by visiting Camtasia Cash Secrets and get 19 Great Ideas For Using Your Screencasting and Video Skills.~


How to Get Started Creating a Training Video

Making tutorial videos is easy once you learn how. There are many different software applications that you can use to make tutorial videos. If you want to create training videos that can be used in the workplace to teach employees how to do various tasks as well as inform them of company policy and rules then you can do that. If you want to create training videos that you can sell for a profit you can do that also. Whatever reason you want to create training videos can be accomplished.

If you want to know how to create a video tutorial follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose your software – There are various software packages that you can purchase or download free to get started creating training videos, such as: Camtasia, Avi Screen Capture, CamStudio, Copernicus, Adobe Captivate and others. Choose based on your budget and whether there is enough training for you to learn how to use the software efficiently.

Step 2: Decide what you want to demonstrate – Get a good idea in your mind about what exactly you want to demonstrate how to do in your training video. Knowing what you want will help you with step 1 and the following steps.

Step 3: Practice your skills – Ensure that you know how to do what you want to instruct someone else on how to do. Practice doing it over and over to make sure that you aren’t missing any steps. Write notes as you learn.

Step 4: Learn how to use the software – Now, it’s time to practice using the software that you’ve downloaded or purchased. You can likely find training videos for your choice that will help you learn what you need to know. Practice using the software so that you can record your desktop without interrupting to learn how to use the software.

Step 5: Write a script – Using all your notes create a script about what you want teach. You don’t have to follow the exact working in the script but it is a good idea to at least follow your steps so that you don’t accidentally skip over something important. Even the smallest step is important to the novice.

Step 6: Record – Now that you’ve practiced, and know your script, you can go through the process of recording your screen so that you can create a training video for your employees, clients, or others.

Step 7: Edit – Once you’re doing making the raw footage you can use your software to edit what you’ve created to make it look as professional as possible.

Step 8: Publish – Choose your format and let the software do the rest. Then upload the files to the place you want your students to view or purchase it.

Step 9: Market – Make a sales page, or send out an email with your tutorial so that everyone you want to view it or buy it can do so.

Step 10: Earn or learn – You can put up your video tutorial for sale or for free, it’s up to you what you want to do with your training video.

~Making Video Tutorials can be one of the fastest products you will ever create and there is nothing like the power of video! Claim your Free Video by visiting Fast Product Creation With Screencasting and learn how to create quick video tutorials for fun and profit.~


How Do I Make a Training Video With Camtasia?

In its price range, one of the most powerful video creation software out there is a program called Camtasia 7. With Camtasia you can create powerful video tutorials about pretty much anything, including typically live events like various human resources training programs regarding company policy such as sexual harassment, or how to use company email accurately. By creating Camtasia training videos, even if an employee is absent, they can view the training. Other types of training include “how to” videos that can be about anything such as: “How to bake a cake” or “How to make a training video”, they can be about anything.

With Camtasia 7 you can capture your on screen environment to record exactly what you are doing, or you can record live events via your webcam, such as a lecture or other event including a webinar. Once you create your videos you can sell them via your own website as immediate downloads, or you can put them on Create Space and sell them as training DVDs – or both. Additionally, you can give them away free as premiums to people who buy your products or attend your events. It’s completely up to you.

Recording your desktop is a great way to make a training video if you want to show someone how to do something software or computer related. You can make step by step instructions on how to do anything, once you learn how to record computer screens there isn’t much you can’t teach someone else using Camtasia 7 by making Camtasia tutorials that show step-by-step what to do.

First, lean how to use Camtasia 7 software. Make sure you have all the peripherals that you’ll need such as webcam, microphone. Then, create an outline of what you want to record, including a loose script so that you don’t skip any steps. One idea is that you can make a PowerPoint of your lessons using a combination of screen captures and screen recordings of what you’re trying to instruct.

It is also important to make sure that outside noise distractions are eliminated. Ensure that you are in a quiet area, and that you use noise canceling headphones for maximum professional results. Learning to use the editing functions within Camtasia is important too because no one is perfect, and creating a long training video without making a mistake is probably impossible. Being able to easily edit out mistakes will make your Camtasia video a top-notch professional training video.

~Making Video Tutorials can be one of the fastest products you will ever create and there is nothing like the power of video! Claim your Free Video by visiting Fast Product Creation With Screencasting and learn how to create quick video tutorials for fun and profit.~


Create Training Videos – Common Questions & Answers

Creating training videos can move your business forward to the next level establishing yourself as an expert in your niche. Whether you use the videos to train clients or employees creating free or low cost training videos will give you the extra oomph that you need. You can in fact, create an entire business around training. Some common questions about creating free training videos are:

How do I record my computer screen?

Simple! Use a program such as Camtasia, click a few icons to start up the program and before you know it you’re recording your screen. You can record your screen to show anyone how to do anything on a computer such as: how to zip or unzip a file, how to upload a video to YouTube, how to solve an algebra problem, and much, much more, the sky is the limit — only your imagination can hold you back.

Can I give away the videos I make free?

Of course! You can give away free videos to your clients showing them important information about how to use your products or services. Additionally, video is a nice “premium” gift to give buyers for another purchase of some kind, or even an incentive to purchase more. For example, if you sell color cosmetics you can include a video on the proper way to use your product.

What if I want to charge for the training videos I make?

Then charge for them. Simply create a sales page for your videos, market them and watch the orders come in. Training videos can be hot property especially well made ones that avoid skipping important steps. If you know how to do essentially anything from planting a container garden to making graphics, you can record it your work as you complete it, describing everything you do, and provide the edited recording as a teaching tool.

Does it cost much to create a training video?

No, training videos don’t cost much to produce if you learn how to do it yourself. Even if you hire an expert to edit your raw footage from your flip cam or other camera the cost is well worth it. However, there are free and paid programs that you can use to create your training videos yourself if you care to learn. The trick is learning how to use the software and learning what the best ways to set up the videos are. You can do it quickly and today if you get started.

~Making Video Tutorials can be one of the fastest products you will ever create and there is nothing like the power of video! Claim your Free Video by visiting Fast Product Creation With Screencasting and learn how to create quick video tutorials for fun and profit.~


Video Tutorials on a Budget

One of the most expensive things you can buy these days is software. It seems like the price just keeps going up as the technology becomes more complex, with no stopping point in sight. Fortunately if you need to make tutorial videos and you need to create training videos there are some open source (free) options as well as some low-cost options.

After you determine your budget if outsourcing is not an option, then take a look at the open-source and low-cost software offerings such as:

AviScreen – A windows based screen capturing software, this software is limited in scope but very useful for creating soundless how to tutorials about pretty much anything that requires you record your computer screen.

GoView – This is a semi “in the cloud” option that records your screen and audio to create training videos that do a great job and look professional. Download the recorder, then make your recording and share instantly, no need to learn how to upload anything since GoView hosts your recordings for you. This program is in BETA so there may be a charge later related to hosting. But it’s worth a try now while it’s still free.

Camtasia – This is screen capturing and video capturing software that has many professional quality functions, yet, it’s very inexpensive compared to other fully-featured software products. It also has a relatively short learning curve if you spend just a little time learning each day. There are a variety of training products that you can purchase to help learn this amazing software.

PowerPoint – If you don’t have PowerPoint you can also use OpenOffice to create powerful presentations then use a screen recording software such as AviScreen, GoView, or Camtasia to record your screen while presenting the presentation. Creating training videos has never been easier than it is today. The amateur can look professional without spending six figures.

If you’re already good at doing something, when you create a training video the hardest part will be getting yourself organized so that the process goes fast. The next hardest part is choosing the right software to make your job easier and look professional to boot. If you get organized and choose the right software you’ll be able to create powerful and professional training videos fast and easily. What’s more, your training videos will get results. A training video is almost better than being there in person because the trainee can look at the video again and again even when you’re not there.

Creating training videos on a budget is simple to do if you get everything prepared before you get started. Don’t expect to be perfect, but do make a script that you can loosely follow so that you don’t miss steps. Preparation is the key to making budget training videos.

~Making Video Tutorials can be one of the fastest products you will ever create and there is nothing like the power of video! Claim your Free Video by visiting Fast Product Creation With Screencasting and learn how to create quick video tutorials for fun and profit.~


Video Tutorials – Make Money Being an Expert

If you’re looking to make tutorial videos as a way to earn a second income, then there are a few things you need to know about how to create video tutorials by using software to record your screen while you perform various tasks that you want to teach others. You can create very professional training videos with specialized software that will demonstrate to others your expertise.

You can also earn a good income from home creating training videos. There is a big market for “How To” informative tutorials such as:

• How to Use Word Processing Software

• How to Make a Smoothie

• How to Make Homemade Pizza Crust

• How to Write HTML

• How to Upload WordPress to Your Own Server

• How to Create Video Tutorial

The list goes on and on. I’m sure you can add to that list. But you may be asking, “How do I record my screen in order to create such money making video tutorials?” It’s really not as hard as it looks. There is a small learning curve with learning any new software, but fortunately you can purchase video tutorials about “how to” use most screen capturing software that is out there.

Software such as:

• AviScreen Capture

• CamStudio

• Copernicus

• Camtasia

• Adobe Captivate

• And more…

Once you settle on which software to use and the topic of expertise that you want to teach others in your video tutorials, then you can set out to make them. You can make them yourself or you can outsource the entire job to video experts. Usually they will take your raw material that you’ve filmed and edit it, or they can create the entire video for you from start to finish giving you a script to record your voice teaching the tutorial which they will add to the video for you. The sky is truly the limit when it comes to creating video tutorials and earning money from them. The public is hungry to learn information about many topics without having to leave their house or pay high tuition to a school.

Once you’ve made your video, you simply create a compelling sales page and market via all your friends using social media or even your own affiliate program through a service like CreateSpace.com or Clickbank. You can also post some ‘teasers’ on Youtube.com to get people to wonder about the rest of your video tutorial. If the quality is exceptional you will start earning money with making and selling video tutorials in a very short period of time.

~Making Video Tutorials can be one of the fastest products you will ever create and there is nothing like the power of video! Claim your Free Video by visiting Fast Product Creation With Screencasting and learn how to create quick video tutorials for fun and profit.~


Make Your First Video Tutorial – How to Record Your Computer Screen

Creating instructional video tutorials using specialized software is easier than ever. By using specialized software to record your computer screen you will be able to create training videos on any subject you can imagine. Whether you want to show someone how to check their email, or how to use Skype, or how to use your software or complete a task relevant to your expertise, you can make a video tutorial by recording your computer screen.

The reason you may want to make tutorial videos is because making a video tutorial is the next best thing to showing someone how to do something in person. In fact, it may even be better because you can show someone once, and if they can’t remember they can replay the video tutorial over and over again until they get it. Additionally, you can earn extra money showcasing your expertise by selling your tutorials for cash.

How to create video tutorials is simple if you know what software you need. You need the right software, and you need an expertise. Ensure that you practice what you want to teach several times in order to avoid skipping important steps, keeping notes as you go along, so that your final video tutorial is perfect. You can use software such as, AviScreen, GoView and Camtasia to record your screen to create the video tutorial.

Follow the following steps to ensure a professional video tutorial as your finished product:

Step 1: Decide what you want to record – You likely are well versed in many different topics such as How to build a bird cage. You can use a webcam to record parts of the steps. Use video editing software to edit the steps. Then you can put it all in a PowerPoint slide show, and then you use the screen recording software to record the PowerPoint. Or maybe you just want to create a fast show recording your screen on “How to set up a Google Email Account”, in that case you simply use the right software to record your computer screen as you complete the process while narrating it with your microphone.

Step 2: Pick a software – There are different software you can use, alone and in conjunction with others such as Camtasia, AviScreen, GoView, and SnagIt to create both moving and still shots of your screen. What software you pick will depend on your budget, and skill level. You can learn how to use almost any software by watching tutorials.

Step 3: Write a script – Always write down the steps and a script. Go through your process and write down the steps so that you won’t miss anything.

Step 4: Perform the script – After you write your script, perform the script. You don’t have to follow the script verbatim but you should follow the steps so that you don’t accidentally skip over anything. That way your tutorial will be very professional. Ask a friend to view it before you set it for sale or out in the public allowing them to critique your results. This can help you add in any steps you may have missed.

Step 5: Edit recording – Using the software edit the video tutorial taking out “umms” and mistakes. Knowing you can edit as you are recording will help you not have to stop and start numerous times. Just keep going and then edit out your mistakes.

Step 6: Format for viewing – Depending on how you plan to deliver the video tutorial you will format your final product according to what is needed.

Step 7: Finish up – You’re all done – sell it, give it away and promote it!

~Making Video Tutorials can be one of the fastest products you will ever create and there is nothing like the power of video! Claim your Free Video by visiting Fast Product Creation With Screencasting and learn how to create quick video tutorials for fun and profit.~


Video Tutorials – Professional Quality Videos and Screen Captures

No matter what field you’re in, creating training videos is a skill that will come in handy. With the proper tools you can record your computer screen to make tutorial videos. When I want to record my computer screen in order to create a tutorial, I look to a variety of tools depending on the effect desired.

FREE SOFTWARE

Avi Screen Capture: A windows only recording software, you can get this from Cnet. It captures screen activity but does not capture sound. It has some limitations but it also has a really great feature that helps keep your screen captures smaller, which is the ability to “follow the mouse clicks”. This is very helpful so that all the activity that you want to teach in your video tutorial is recorded.

CamStudio: This is open-source software used for screen casting or recording a computer screen. It has a lot of advanced features so if you’re searching on Google for “record my screen” this is the software for you. You can get it at camstudio.org and is for a Windows computer. The main problem is it’s not really supported or developed anymore.

PAID SOFTWARE

Camtasia: One of the best paid software available to create training videos — hands down — is Camtasia. This software works on a Mac or a PC, records your screen and used in conjunction with SnagIt, makes screen captures. With Camtasia you can record voice and more. It’s perfect for recording computer screens, making tutorial videos, creating training videos and any type of digital media you’d like to create. Camtasia is often the go-to software for many people who want to create excellent professional-quality video tutorials without a huge learning curve.

Adobe Captivate: This software is for the high end user who wants to create super professional screen casts who also has time for a steep learning curve. This software works on either a Mac or a Windows PC. It goes far beyond simple tutorial videos. Once you have possession of this software, be ready to create professional quality videos and tutorials, but be ready to spend time learning the complicated software too.

After you choose your software, the next important factor in how to create a video tutorial is to outline what you want to teach. Write down all the steps, and then go through them for a practice run, this way you can determine if you are missing any steps in your video tutorial. If you want, you can create a PowerPoint of the steps then record yourself going through the PowerPoint. Camtasia even has a special add-on or plug in just for this.

~Making Video Tutorials can be one of the fastest products you will ever create and there is nothing like the power of video! Claim your Free Video by visiting Fast Product Creation With Screencasting and learn how to create quick video tutorials for fun and profit.~


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