Writing a Script for an Onboarding or Training Video
A training video succeeds when a new person can do something afterward they could not do before. That outcome should drive the script. Flashy visuals matter far less than clarity, order, and pace.
Define the learner and the task
Begin by naming the audience: new hires, customers, volunteers. Then list the specific tasks they must accomplish, such as setting up an account, filing a request, or following a safety routine. One video per task keeps things findable and easy to update.
Draft learning objectives
Write two or three statements starting with “After watching, you will be able to…” If an item in the script does not support one of those statements, cut it. This discipline prevents the common problem of videos bloated with company history.
Structure that works
- Hook (under fifteen seconds): state the problem or benefit.
- Overview: a one-line roadmap of what will be covered.
- Steps: each as its own short segment, in the order people actually do them.
- Common mistakes: the errors beginners make and how to avoid them.
- Recap: the steps summarized in a sentence or two.
- Next action: where to find help, what to do next.
Writing for the ear
Scripts are spoken, so use short sentences and plain words. Read each line aloud; if you stumble, rewrite it. Use the second person (“you”) and active verbs. Avoid acronyms unless you explain them once. Where numbers or names matter, plan to show them on screen as well.
Pair words with visuals
A two-column draft is useful: left side for what viewers see, right side for what they hear. When narration says “select the settings menu,” the screen should show exactly that menu at the same moment. Highlighting or zooming helps viewers follow along without hunting.
Pace and length
People absorb procedures in small pieces. Segments of one to three minutes are easier to digest and revisit. Allow pauses after key steps so viewers can pause the video and try it themselves.
Using AI in drafting
A writing assistant can propose an outline, simplify jargon, or suggest alternative phrasing. Always verify that every step matches the real process, since an AI draft may invent menu names or steps that do not exist. A subject-matter expert should review the final script and, ideally, a newcomer should test it.
Accessibility and inclusion
- Provide captions and a transcript.
- Describe on-screen actions in the narration, not only visually.
- Avoid idioms and culture-specific references.
- Use sufficient contrast and large text for any overlays.
Keep it maintainable
Processes change, so avoid showing details likely to become outdated, or make them easy to re-record. Keep the script in a shared document with version notes and a review date.
Test before release
Ask two or three people from the target audience to follow the video and perform the task without help. Watch where they pause, rewind, or get stuck, and rewrite those parts.
A good training script is modest in ambition: one task, clear steps, honest warnings about pitfalls. If learners finish confident and unconfused, the video has done its job, regardless of production gloss.
Version control for scripts
Store scripts in a folder with dates in the file names, and record what changed in each version. When a process updates, you can quickly find the affected lines rather than reviewing the whole video.