Browsing articles in "Tips and Tricks"
Screenshots and Feature Videos : Which will you choose ?
Most product organizations use feature videos to explain features their product supports. While using screenshots for it have their own benefits.
Feature videos are feature(s) in action. These videos are captured by screen recorders like Windows Media Encoder by Microsoft or Camtasia by Techsmith.
Whereas a screenshot is a still image of feature instance of an application. They are easily taken by a simple PRT SC function on the keyboard.
Both can be effectively used depending on context.
|
Comparison Points |
Screenshots |
Feature videos |
| Time to market | Anywhere between 5-10 minutes | Anywhere between 5-7 business days |
| Cost | FREE | Requires you to invest in tools, people and expertise. |
| Usage in presales | Not at all | Can be used to instill confidence into a prospect’s mind. This is especially true in case of Indian product companies whose acceptability, credibility of them are still not well established. |
| Ability to qualify a lead | No. | Yes. A prospect who has seen your video and then approaches you is genuinely a qualified lead. |
| Socially Marketable | Not all. They can only grace your website. | Can be uploaded on Youtube,Vimeo, etc. Can be shared using Twitter and Facebook. Can be used during events and roadshows. |
| Ease of access by the user | Very quick as it’s just an image. | Needs to be downloaded/streamed to view |
| Self explanatory | No. Need to add relevant text to understand. | Yes. No assistance from a sales or technical person at any time |
| Usage in Tech Support | No. | Customer can learn about product and how the feature works from video before approaching the technical support staff. |
| Tools used | Simple tools PRTSCN function on keyboard. | An audio recorder. A screen Recorder. And a software to integrate both to offer production capabilities. Examples: Windows media Encoder by Microsoft , Camtasia by Techsmith or many other open source tools available for free |
