How to create an interactive video Blog
That's not just good news for video and tech enthusiasts. It's a good thing for businesses, too. It's not just enjoyable to view. It's also proven as being 32% more memorable and three times more entertaining as compared to traditional videos.
"The Studio is an enormous leap in the right direction. It's super easy to use." Ian Dewhirst, Producer, Colada Creative
What is interactivity video?
We'll start by defining the basics: what exactly is interactive video? Traditional passive video only allows viewers to move between pause and stop and play back the contents. Interactive video is a way to encourage engagement during the viewing experience. It can be in forms in the form of a series of stories that are branched (like the video games you played as a child) and shoppable overlays of products information hotspots, as well as many more.
for a long period it was considered the only option available to those willing to invest serious time and lots of development dollars to create it. It is now easy to turn the video in any way into an interactive one. What's the best part? Our team is responsible for technical issues - and provides 24/7 assistance - so you can easily take your videos to the next level.
How do you create an interactive video using just five steps
If you're looking to get in on your own, take a gander at the instructions below.
Step 1: Select the type of video experience you want to create
There are many diverse applications to make interactive videos however, here are the top that are the most popular
eCommerce videos interactive video make it simple convert any video to an experience that can be purchased. Add clickable components inside your videos to direct viewers directly to pages for products and even add something directly to the cart when they watch.
Branching storyline videos: This endearingly popular video format lets viewers to choose from pre-set paths depending on their tastes and needs, which leads to a personalized viewing experience tailored to their preferences.
video training and eLearning because interactive video lets you easily include checkspoints as well as layered elements into every video, it's beloved by educators and HR professionals as well. You can embed checkpoints for ensuring that the viewers are fully engaged and retaining the information, and also include additional content that viewers can watch at their own pace.
Step 2: Decide which interactive elements you'll want to incorporate
Once you've decided on the viewer experience, offers complete features that can be used to make your videos truly interactive. Here are some of the features you can use to build an interactive experience for your viewers:
HotspotsA hotspot is a button or element that can be clicked on in the video which can take you to additional actions (think add-to-carts, read more or learn more, etc.) at the point that the user selects.
time triggersA Time trigger allows the author to open elements in the video at a specific moment without any action from the viewer like jumping to various points in the video, opening overlays, and many more.
Overlays Overlays are exactly what it says: an element that can be placed on top of your video , providing insights, images, calls-to-action, other videos, and a whole lot more.
branchingBranching gives the viewers the ability to "choose their own experience" during the viewing experience through crucial frames within the video by skipping parts that loop, and creating a gamified experience.
Announcing interactive videos
from shoppable video to immersive team training -interactive videos let your audience control their viewing experience and boosts engagement, sales, and insight into the user. Learn more
Step 3: Make or source the video content
There's some good news. There is no need to design videos specifically designed for an interactive experience in order for it to work as one. It is possible to revive or reuse material by dropping interactive elements in any type of video. If you're creating new content, there are some things you'll want to keep in mind.
Storyboard, storyboard, narrative board:Especially in the case of a more complex interactive video (like an evolving storyline), we recommend dedicating an amount of time during the stage prior to production to determine the number of storylines you'll be pursuing.
When planning, remember that too many possibilities could be too many of a good thing. "The most simple, clearest and simplest user experiences gain the most interaction," Jack says. Jack. "Opt for two decisions at the end of each branch." Simple and clear helps your audience navigate through your content and help make the production process much easier.
Hold your takes for longer than you normally would If you're making videos featuring overlays or hotspots it's good to hold your video a bit longer than you might usually. This allows viewers to be able to read the text on screen or take the action you'd like them to perform.
Consider the frame Based on the shape of your overlays or hotspots, you might want to think about where the subject of your video sits within the frame. If the large overlay will be unfolding to the left of the screen, you should frame your subject further off towards the right side to make your post production a breeze. "This can help ensure that your images do not clash with other people or the objects that are in the frame," adds Jack.
"The benefit of using interactive media is the range of things you can accomplish, from shoppable video to overlays to analytics." Jack Brodie, Managing Director at Colada Creative
Step 4: Determine your distribution strategy
Congratulations, you've got an interactivity video! What is the best place for it to live? Interactive videos need to be hosted on a site or page to work in their full capacity. That means you'll want to leverage marketing channels like email and social media to bring people to the full interactive experience.
We recommend creating GIFs or short looping video assets in order to showcase the interactivity capabilities of your video. "Show viewers that your video is interactive from the very start," notes Jack. "Not many people even know the ability to interact with the screen of a video. This is why we love to demonstrate in our promotional pictures."
Step 5: Review your accomplishments
The idea for your video has been conceived and then added the interactive elements, and unleashed it to the world. But... how do people actually engaging with the video? Analytics and reporting from's go beyond standard video metrics to provide extremely detailed data. It is possible to see exactly the exact location and time your viewers clicked on different overlays or hotspots, look up your metrics for shopping and more. More insight = more learning that translate into better videos for both your audience and you.