Getting course sales is just the start. If you don’t do everything you can to maximize the chances of your customers getting the outcome/transformation you promised…

You will end up with unsatisfied (or indifferent at best) customers. And can forget about referrals & glowing testimonials.

High-quality course content is key to ensuring this doesn’t happen, of course. But the way you deliver that content also hugely influences how your customers receive, understand, and use it.

That’s why today I want to show you 3 proven course lesson recording styles that get your customers’ attention, make learning easier, and incite action.

I’ll also explain exactly under which circumstances each style works best and provide an overview of the equipment needed to apply them in practice.

Let’s dive into it. 

Lesson Recording Style 1: Slides + Audio

If you’re recording the first version of your course and want to focus completely on its content…

And/or aren’t a fan of being on camera…

This recording style is for you.

For example, I used the slides & audio approach for the first version of my Genesis course. That’s because my intention was to focus on skyrocketing the content’s power & usefulness…

Instead of going for crazy production value. 

Then, when rolling out version 2, I’ll go for the highest-quality production value while keeping the content at the same level.

One caveat for using this lesson recording style:

Your niche must be suitable for it. 

For example, I had to be on camera with my hands on the piano for my “Piano in 21 Days” course to be effective. (I’m sure you get the drift and will be able to instantly tell when being on camera is a must.)

But when slides & audio are enough, here’s what you’ll need equipment-wise:

• A computer
• A good microphone
• A slide-making tool. I like using Canva for this. But you can use any other tool as long as it lets you make high-quality slides fast.
• A video-editing software. I absolutely adore Descript because it helps even the most non-techy people edit and quickly make high-quality videos. 

You can use a different software if you want. Just ensure you never have to record an entire lesson in one shot because that will take you forever and eat up your nerves. 

Video editing, even in basic form, makes things a lot easier.

Lesson Recording Style 2: You On Camera

As I already implied, if delivering your course means you have to interact with something…

Being on camera is a must. 

So, if you’re teaching people how to cook, weave, play an instrument, solve a Rubik’s cube, etc. — this is the style for you. Slides just won’t cut it. 

(You can combine Style 1 & 2 in some cases, as I’ll show you in the next section.)

Now, I know being on camera can be scary at first. But remember, you aren’t going live. This means you can practice as much as you need until you lose the jitters and everything starts functioning smoothly.

Besides psychological prep work, you’ll also need the following equipment to make your on-camera lessons as good as possible:

• A computer
• A good microphone
• A good camera. Your smartphone can do the trick too if it has a good enough microphone.
• A video editing tool. (Go back to the previous section to see why I recommend Descript here.)
• Other equipment based on your particular setup. For example, you might need a tripod for your camera, some special lighting, etc. It all depends on your specific filming circumstances.

Lesson Recording Style 3: Combine The First Two Styles

There are lots of ways to mix being on camera with slides + your voice. Many course creators just do the minimum:

They appear on camera at the beginning and end of the course. The rest is all slides.

Doing this is a great way to establish a personal rapport with your customers. A pleasant welcome and introduction from a real person can do much more than you think relationship-wise.

If you want to do more, you can also introduce each module on camera. Just do a quick overview and then dive into the content.

You can go one step further and introduce each lesson on camera. This should take just a couple of seconds — then cut to your slides.

You can also put yourself in the corner of each lesson. Just don’t be caught reading off a script — this instantly cripples your authority. Software like Loom or Tella can help you pull this off easily.

Finally, you can do what I call an “advanced combo.” Use video editing to cut back between you, just the slides, and you in the corner. Doing this implies high production value and requires a “feel” for where each option fits best. 

Conclusion

Before choosing any of the 3 styles above, take some time to really think about one thing:

What’s appropriate for your course and unique circumstances?

Once you have that covered, pick the option that fits best. Then, map out and get all the equipment you’ll need to execute it. 

Here’s to recording lessons that help your customers get the most out of your course quickly and without breaking the bank.

I’m rooting for you.

-Jacques