It's a Wonderful Second Life
What does a video tutorial rockstar look like? Turns out he's pink and green, and lives in and around Second Life.
Second Life is a virtual world where you can build stuff, buy stuff, hang out with people, and fly. Torley, who really, really loves watermelons, started out as a “resident” of Second Life and now works for its owner, Linden Lab.
He creates video tutorials (225 to date, with over 2 million total views on YouTube) that show Second Life residents how to do everything from find stuff buried in the ground to drive a vehicle to remove body parts. (Well, you can't do that last thing.)
Torley is part of an informal “knowledge group” at Linden Lab that is focused on improving community education. His tutorials are used in marketing, PR, training, and customer support.
“For such a vibrant, vivacious world as Second Life, it often doesn't suffice to write at length about it when the experience is better communicated through a comfy 'over-my-shoulder' view, and that's exactly what I'm continuing to do,” said Torley.
Most of his tutorials are largely unscripted.
“I write down key points of what I want to cover but the majority is improvised. That lets me keep it lively while retaining focus on main stuff to cover,” he said.
Torley recently posted his 13 Rules to Making Good Video Tutorials, which include some unconventional instructions like: improvise (don't script), no faking, and leave bugs in. As you can see by watching his tutorials, this approach results in a very fun, informal style (Torley calls it “exuberant and flamboyant”)…well suited to the subject matter.
Not only are the video tutorials recorded “inworld” using Camtasia Studio...they are played back on virtual screens inside Second Life, too! Residents who visit Torley's island can sit their avatar (character) in front of a screen and follow along with the video instructions on the spot.
(Tip: If you would like to stream a video inside Second Life, use Camtasia Studio to save it as QuickTime...then follow these instructions for Parcel Media.)
One final key to being a video tutorial rockstar…Torley actively solicits suggestions for new tutorials and even holds regular “office hours” inside Second Life to talk with residents (a.k.a., customers) about what they want covered in future tutorials.
“I get so much overwhelmingly positive feedback it's amazing…I've received 100s of personal messages from Second Lifers who want me to make more, or do specific topics — yes, I take requests, and there's no shortage of ideas in sight.”
You may not end up with thousands of raving fans, but if you use videos to engage and train in a fresh, genuine way…you'll be a rockstar, too.
Treasure hunting in Second Life?
This tutorial shows how to find stuff buried in the ground.
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