Interactive video transforms viewers from spectators into active participants, so it’s no surprise that they deliver up to four times the viewer engagement (and boost clickthrough rates by 10x) (Source: i4v).

The production process for an interactive video differs quite a bit from the process for a linear video, so it’s time to demystify the process. In this blog, we’ll show you how to produce an unforgettable interactive video in 6 simple steps.

What is interactive video, exactly?

An interactive video allows viewers to interact with video content in a variety of ways. Users can click, scroll, hover, and more to interact with the video’s content, just like how they’d interact with web content. Interactivity is typically added in one of two ways:

  1. Branching
  2. Overlays

With branching, your viewers can take different paths through the video, like giving the user choices that the video adapts to. Overlays allow you to layer interactive elements, like clickable buttons, over the video. The possibilities are nearly endless, but here’s how you can get started with making your linear videos interactive.

Interactive video production in 6 steps:

Step 1: Setting goals

First, decide on what the goal or objective for your interactive video will be. This will help guide the rest of the process and will result in an effective and engaging final product. Your goals should be supported by good key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure relevant data.

Goals and KPIs aren’t the same thing–A goal is what you want to achieve, and KPIs are how you measure it.

Examples of KPIs and goals

Is your goal to increase brand awareness? In that case, your KPIs could be new website visitors, views on your video, and number of social media followers. KPIs aren’t goals in themselves, but a good way to check how your project is doing.

Step 2: Flowchart

Next, determine the format and style of your interactive video. Will it be a tutorial, a quiz, a choose-your-own-adventure story, or something else? The format and style should align with your goal and target audience.

A flowchart is a visual representation of the steps and decisions in a process. It’s a useful tool for planning and organizing an interactive video, as it provides a clear and concise overview of the different elements and how they fit together.

Create interactive video content using a flowchart - Blue Billywig

The steps to create a flowchart

Start by identifying the main goal or objective of your interactive video. This will be the starting point for your flowchart.

Next, list the key steps or scenes in your video. These might include introductions, explanations, challenges, quizzes, or other interactive elements. For each step, identify any decisions or choices that the viewer can make. For example, in a quiz, the viewer might have multiple answers to choose from.

As you create the flowchart, test and refine it to make sure that it accurately represents the structure and flow of your interactive video. Once your flowchart is complete, use it as a reference and guide during the production process to ensure that your video is well-organized and engaging for your audience.

Step 3: Interactive script

Scripts provide the dialogue, actions, and other details that will be included in the final project. When creating a script for an interactive video, you should consider the different choices and paths that the viewer can take, and how the script will need to accommodate these variations.

Key elements for an interactive script

1. Text

Who says what, and when? In addition to “regular” text in your shots, it’s important to give viewers time to read and interact with buttons and other elements.

2. Choices

Choices are the different options or paths that the viewer can choose from in the scene. This might include different dialogue or actions for each choice.

3. Transitions

The way that the scene will move from one choice to the next. Examples of transitions are fades, cuts, or other visual effects to indicate the change in the story.

4. Interactive elements

Where are buttons positioned, and should they link to other clips or external sources? Considering this in the script ensures that there will be space in the frame to add the buttons later and for actors to be able to do things like point to a button, for example.

Step 4: Interactive storyboard

The production company turns the interactive script into a storyboard. The storyboard contains all your shots drawn out as you envision them. These drawings help you think interactively so that you can consider all the elements, from actors to buttons, when filming.

Do you want the person on screen to point a finger to a clickable button in the video? Then think about where you want to place it beforehand, draw it, and take it into account during filming.

Step 5: Lights, camera, action!

Shooting an interactive video involves the same general process as shooting any other type of video, with some additional considerations for the interactive elements. Start filming by following the plan from your script or storyboard. Be sure to capture all of the necessary footage for each scene, including the dialogue, actions, and interactive elements.

As you shoot, be prepared to adapt to any changes or challenges that arise. If a scene doesn’t work as planned, you may need to reshoot it or adjust the plan. Going for an animated video gives you a little more flexibility and room to add additional frames later, but follows the same steps as a live-action interactive video.

Step 6: Adding interactivity

It’s a wrap–You have all your footage. Now, the editor will add the interactive elements. Many online video platforms allow you to add these elements yourself, but sometimes it makes more sense to have an Interactive Producer assist with this. Especially if you have an extensive interactive project with many interactive elements, branching, or custom interactivity.

It’s key to test your video before you publish your video, so that you can be confident about the final product. Make sure to test if each interactive element works properly and have a colleague (or two), who wasn’t involved in the production of the video, check it for you. That way you have a fresh pair of eyes to check for things you might’ve overlooked.

Launching your interactive video

Your project is shot, edited, and tested, and now it’s time to publish! It takes an average of 8 weeks to put together an interactive video project, so be sure to plan enough time to get it done without rushing through.

Once the video is published, share it with your audience using various channels and methods. This might include sharing it on your website or social media accounts, promoting it through email marketing or advertising, or reaching out to relevant influencers or bloggers.

By launching your interactive video and promoting it effectively, you can reach your target audience and engage them with your content.

Analyzing, tracking and monitoring

Monitor the performance of your video, using analytics tools or other metrics to track viewership, engagement, and your other KPIs. The feedback and data from your video is very valuable information that can help you refine and improve your video, as well as your overall interactive video strategy.

Are you ready to create interactive video content?

When it comes to interactive content, the phrase “seeing is believing” actually applies. That’s why we’ve listed 10 interactive video examples, to give you some ideas for your next interactive video.

Want to learn more about how to create interactive video content and the endless possibilities? Get in touch with us at hello@bluebillywig.com and one of our video experts will happily help you get started!