How to Create Engaging Training Videos (+12 Video Templates)

Training videos are great because they show and explain at the same time, so information is faster to understand, easier to remember, and more engaging than a static document.

Creating training videos used to mean setting up cameras, recording voiceovers, and spending hours in editing software, which made even simple training slow to produce, expensive to update, and hard to scale.

Synthesia lets teams create engaging, localized training videos in minutes, without studios, cameras, or presenters.

Trusted by over 90% of the Fortune 500, it makes it easy to update content instantly, scale across languages and regions, keep messaging consistent, and cut production costs, so training stays fresh and accessible for global teams.

Option 1: Converting existing training materials into videos

You’ll need a Starter plan ($29/month) or higher to use this option. Check out our pricing.

I uploaded a PDF training document and made this training video in a few minutes:

Assisted creation is how most training videos are made in Synthesia.

Instead of starting from a blank page, you begin with the training materials you already have, such as PDFs, Word docs, PowerPoint decks, or URLs.

This removes the friction of rewriting everything for video and helps you get to a strong first draft fast.

Synthesia turns that source content into a structured training video with scenes, scripts, visuals, and interactivity, then applies a video template to handle layout and design.

Step 1: Login to Synthesia

Click here to log in or sign up for a free account.

Step 2: Select create with AI from the homepage

Click 'Create with AI' at the top of the Synthesia homepage.

If you're uploading a PowerPoint and want to convert your slides 1:1 to video scenes, then choose the 'Import PowerPoint' option instead.

Step 3: Upload your training materials

You can upload your training materials as PDFs, PowerPoint slides, Word documents, text files or as a URL. You can also paste a training video script or provide a simple prompt.

Select a template that matches your video style and tweak settings for video duration, language, tone, objective, audience, and speaker.

Step 4: Outline your training video

You'll now see an overview of your video's scenes and the script for each scene. You can add, remove, or edit scenes, or recreate the outline entirely.

Once you're ready to proceed, click 'Continue in editor'.

Step 5: Edit your training video

Now it's time to edit your training video. You can:

• Choose an AI avatar and adjust the script: Select an AI presenter and edit the on-screen script that drives the narration.
• Add scenes: Build your video by adding, duplicating, and reordering scenes.
• Add supporting visuals and B-roll: Upload or generate custom B-roll (background video) to make your video more engaging.
• Design the layout: Add and position text, images, screen recordings, shapes, and backgrounds.
• Apply templates and branding: Use pre-built layouts, colors, fonts, and logos for consistency.
• Add interactivity: Insert buttons, quizzes, or branching paths for learner engagement.

Choose an AI avatar and adjust the script

I select an AI avatar and voice. Synthesia offers a wide range of avatars, languages, and accents.

Add screen recordings

Synthesia has a great AI screen recorder.

I often use this for software tutorials. I'll typically use a talking-head plus screen recording layout, with the avatar on one side and the screen on the other.

Add B-roll

B-roll helps break up long talking-head sections and keeps videos visually engaging.

In Synthesia, you can place clips between sections or layer them behind your avatar or voiceover. I use B-roll to show real-world examples, people performing tasks, or key visuals that support the narration.

You can generate clips with AI video models like Sora or Veo, upload your own footage, or use Synthesia’s built-in stock library.

Add interactivity

I love adding interactive elements like quizzes, branching scenarios, clickable buttons, and quizzes to make my training videos more engaging. This helps viewers stay active instead of just watching passively.

For example, I like to include short knowledge checks after each section or give viewers options to explore different scenarios based on their role.

Step 6: Generate your video

Hit 'Generate' in the top right corner to generate your video. You can then download your training video as an MP4, get a shareable link, embed your video on a webpage, or download a SCORM version of your video and upload it to your LMS.

Step 7: Publish and share your video

The final step is to publish and share my video. Typically, I distribute the video through my LMS, company intranet, or internal comms channels.

Synthesia lets you export your video as an MP4 file, or you can publish it directly with Synthesia and embed the video wherever you like.

Option 2: Starting from a training video template

Templates are the next most popular way to create training videos in Synthesia.

Instead of starting from existing training materials, you start with a proven structure that defines the flow, purpose of each scene, and pacing of information.

They’re ideal for maintaining consistency across a training program, like onboarding or compliance, and for boosting engagement, since the format is already designed around how people learn.

Step 1: Log in to Synthesia

Click here to log in or sign up for a free account.

Step 2: Choose a training video template

Synthesia has wide selection of training video templates to help get you started with your training video creation: anything from microlearning video templates to scenario or setting-based video templates.

You can see all of the training video templates in your Synthesia dashboard by going to 'Templates' and clicking the ‘Training’ tag.

High-quality training video templates you can use right now

Below is a selection of my favourite training video templates for different types of training.

Standard training

Clear, instructor-led learning videos that walk viewers through concepts, processes, or procedures in a structured, step-by-step way. Ideal for onboarding, compliance, and skills training, where the goal is to explain information clearly and consistently, with strong guidance and pacing.

Interactive training

‍Engaging, two-way learning experiences that include quizzes, branching scenarios, or clickable elements to keep learners actively involved.These videos help improve retention by letting employees make decisions, receive feedback, and learn by doing rather than just watching.

Onboarding‍

Introduction and orientation for new employees or users, helping them understand the organization’s mission, tools, and workflow.
These videos set the tone for a warm, structured, and consistent onboarding experience.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

‍Step-by-step visual guides that document how key processes should be performed in a consistent and compliant way.
They help teams follow the same workflows, reduce errors, and preserve operational knowledge across roles and locations.

Compliance training‍

Legal, safety, and regulatory requirements explained clearly to ensure employees understand critical policies.
Often includes quizzes or interactive elements to confirm comprehension and adherence.

Cybersecurity training‍

Protect your organization from digital threats such as phishing, password attacks, and data breaches.
These videos teach security best practices, safe system usage, and company policies, helping reduce human error.

Product demos‍

Show how your product works in real-world scenarios, walking viewers through features and use cases.
Commonly used in marketing, onboarding, and customer support to highlight value quickly.

Technical skills training‍

Job-specific, hands-on instruction for using specialist software, tools, or equipment.
Ideal for upskilling teams in fast-evolving technical roles.

Customer service training‍

Best practices for client interactions, from communication skills to handling objections.
Often includes realistic role-play scenarios to build confidence and consistency.

Health and safety‍

Workplace safety and wellbeing guidelines, including emergency procedures and hazard prevention.
Essential for industries where compliance and risk reduction are critical.

Leadership development‍

Training for managers and executives focused on decision-making, communication, and strategy.
Often features expert insights and real-world case studies.

Scenario-based training‍

Simulated real-world situations where learners can practice problem-solving in a safe environment.
Especially effective for high-stakes or complex decision-making.

Why video is ideal for employee training

1. Higher engagement and easier information consumption

Most employees retain information better when it's presented visually. 

A survey by Synthesia showed that 97% of respondents found video effective for knowledge retention.

Personally, I've observed this trend most strongly with new hires, who often revisit video tutorials over written materials for quick refreshers.

2. Cost savings

I’ve seen companies save a lot of money by replacing in-person training events with reusable training videos.

One example of this is Microsoft, who showed a 95% reduction in L&D expenses after launching an internal video portal, cutting costs from $320 to just $17 per employee.

The cost savings can be even greater when a company uses AI to generate their training videos, as you save money on video production, actors, editing and translation.

3.  Simplified maintenance

Another huge advantage of using AI video generation platforms for training videos is that it’s easy to go back and update existing video content, modify or add information.

AI lets me keep my training content fresh without the expense of re-shooting all of my training videos.

‍When does it make sense to use a training video?

I’ve found there are plenty of situations where a training video can make a real difference and help communicate information clearly and efficiently.

• Onboarding new employees or clients: A well-crafted video can streamline the onboarding process, ensuring new team members get up to speed quickly. It can also serve as an engaging introduction for clients, setting the right tone for your working relationship.
• Launching a new product or software: A training video can help reduce the learning curve by walking users through key features and functionalities. Instead of relying on dense documentation, a concise video can make adoption seamless.
• Ensuring consistency across teams: For example, a marketing department might use a video to outline brand guidelines, providing clear do’s and don’ts to keep messaging and visuals aligned across all campaigns.
• Scaling training efforts efficiently: Instead of repeating the same session for every new hire or team, a video allows you to record the content once and distribute it as needed.
• Building a knowledge base of self-serve resources: Training videos are perfect for creating an on-demand library of tutorials, covering everything from getting started with a platform to advanced feature usage.
• Explaining concepts quickly and effectively: If you find yourself answering the same questions over and over, a short video can be a time-saver.

Tips for effective training videos

1) Keep your videos short and sweet

‍One of my biggest lessons came from a 20-minute video that learners consistently skipped halfway through.

I broke it into five shorter segments, each focusing on one topic.

Completion rates soared, and feedback improved because learners felt they could consume content at their own pace.

There's a lot of research that supports the effectiveness of shorter videos. I’ve noticed attention tends to drop sharply after about six minutes, so I treat that as the upper limit for keeping viewers’ attention.

2) Define clear learning objectives

‍In my L&D experience, a successful training video starts with clarity about what learners should walk away knowing or doing.

If I’m designing a leadership training module, I’ll focus each video on one competency (e.g. giving feedback), ensuring every tip supports that single goal

3) Understand and tailor to your audience

‍I like collaborating with SMEs (subject matter experts) to create variations of training videos, tailoring them to different audience groups for maximum engagement.

4) Choose the appropriate format and style

‍I’ve found "talking head" videos with role-play scenarios to be the most versatile training video type, as learners resonate better with real-life interactions

5) Incorporate human elements

‍While developing onboarding videos, I added AI avatars of each of the team members introducing themselves.

New hires appreciated this "human touch," which made them feel connected to their colleagues even before meeting in person

6) Vary visuals to sustain interest

‍Static PowerPoint slides result in learners tuning out.

I’ve found that adding animations, video, and interactive hotspots consistently improves knowledge retention in training content.

7) Craft concise introductions

After hearing feedback like “The first two minutes were just fluff,” I learned how important it is to get to the point quickly.

These days, every video starts with a 10-second intro that answers two simple questions: What is this about? And why does it matter?

8) Incorporate interactive elements

‍I like embedding scenario-based questions at key moments in a training video.

These questions make the audience pause, reflect, and apply the concepts in real-time, rather than passively consuming content

9) Ensure multi-device accessibility

‍I’ve noticed a steady increase in mobile usage for e-learning platforms.

By ensuring videos are mobile-friendly—using responsive design and clear, large text—I’ve seen higher participation rates, especially among field employees who learn on the go

10) Regularly update content

‍I like to schedule biannual reviews of all training videos to update outdated visuals or adjust content to reflect the latest processes and technologies

Common training video pitfalls to avoid

To maximize the effectiveness of your training videos, watch out for these frequent mistakes:

1) Trying to cover too much in one video

‍Stick to one learning outcome per video.

2) Ignoring the first 10 seconds

‍Always open with a clear benefit or the problem you’re solving.

3) Recording in the live environment

‍Use demo data and safe settings to avoid mistakes.

4) Skipping the quality check

‍Review your video with captions to ensure clarity and engagement.