Ultimate Guide to Create How-to Video - Examples, Tips, & Ideas

How-to videos are one of the most-watched categories on YouTube. They sit in the top four content types, alongside comedy, music, and entertainment. The reason is simple. People now learn new skills by watching videos instead of reading.

The range of how-to videos is huge. Type "how to" in YouTube and you will see anything from "how to deactivate Instagram" to "how to make pizza at home". The variety is endless.

This how-to video guide covers the full picture. The stats, the steps, the tips, the tools, and a list of the best how-to videos on YouTube.

What you will find in this guide

• What is a how-to video?
• How-to video stats
• Why how-to videos got popular
• Why you should make how-to videos
• Examples and types of how-to videos
• Choosing a how-to video maker
• How to create a how-to video using a screen recorder
• Tips and ideas
• Best how-to videos on YouTube

A how-to video is a step-by-step walkthrough that helps the viewer reach a goal. The goal could be anything from recording a meeting, resetting a password, sending a video email, or fixing a leaking tap. For example, the video "how to record Google Meet without host permission" walks the viewer through every click.

• How-to videos get more attention than music or gaming content
• How-to videos sit in the top four content types on YouTube
• 30% of YouTube searches are for how-to videos
• 70% of millennials watched YouTube last year to learn something new
• Viewers retain 95% of a message in video, vs 10% in text
• 83% more info is retained from video tutorials after 6 months
• 69% of people prefer videos over text to learn about a product
• 94% of marketers say video has improved how users understand their product
• 43% of marketers say video has cut their support call volume
• 65% of people use YouTube to solve a problem

Two reasons.

First, technology has moved fast in the last two decades. Hundreds of new products, tools, and services launch every year. People learn how to use them by watching videos.

Second, video itself has taken over. People now spend seven hours a week watching video. As a result, instruction manuals and support docs are getting replaced by how-to videos.

Four reasons. They apply to every business.

• How-to videos help users learn on their own
• How-to videos cut basic support tickets
• Info from videos sticks longer than info from manuals
• How-to videos build trust, which means more sales and signups

How-to videos help users learn on their own

Users no longer want long onboarding calls. They want to set up the product themselves and feel like an expert. Video is the fastest way to get them there.

This is even more important for enterprise software. A clear how-to library lets every team member learn the product. The vendor wins too. Fewer repeat training calls, fewer "where is this button" tickets.

How-to videos cut basic support tickets

The brands with the best support scores almost always have a strong knowledge base. A knowledge base with how-to videos lets users solve simple problems on their own. Your support team can then focus on the hard stuff.

Info from videos sticks longer than from manuals

No one reads a 40-page user manual. Even if they do, they forget most of it within a week.

Videos work better. People retain 83% more info from a video after six months than they do from text. Show the user how to do it, and they will remember.

How-to videos build trust, which leads to sales

Buyers want to see the product before they buy. A how-to video gives them that. 73% of viewers who watch a product video are more likely to buy.

So how-to videos help with support, with retention, and with conversion all at once.

A few common topics:

• How to deactivate an Instagram account
• How to record a Zoom meeting without host permission
• How to create animated videos
• How to use LinkedIn to find a job
• How to get more views on YouTube
• How to move from Android to iPhone
• How to sell anything to anyone
• How to take a screenshot
• How to create a YouTube channel
• How to download files from iCloud

Most how-to videos fall into one of five buckets. Use these to brainstorm your topic.

• How to use
• How to create
• How to make
• How to take
• How to get

Most how-to videos can be made with a screen recorder. A tool that records both screen and webcam lets you "show and tell" each step at the same time.

What a good how-to video maker should do:

• Record screen, camera, or both
• Annotate on the screen and highlight mouse clicks
• Record at full HD
• Move the webcam overlay around the screen
• Edit the recording inside the same tool
• Add external clips and sync them with the recording

Vmaker covers all of these. It also lets you white-label the player, share to social platforms, and link to support tools.

A how-to video maker with screen recording lets you build most types of how-to videos in minutes. Here is the step-by-step.

Pick the topic

Pick a topic that has clear demand. Search YouTube for similar videos and see what already exists. If a video covers your topic well, find a gap or a fresh angle. If no video exists, go deep. Your video will be the only option.

Write a script

A script is not always needed for a how-to video. But it helps. A script keeps each section short and stops you from rambling.

Here is a sample script you can copy: How to create a video resume, script example.

Just open the doc and make a copy.

Do a few mock recordings

Practice the script before you hit record. Mock takes help you fix your tone, your pace, and any words that feel awkward. The final recording will sound natural.

Set up your screen

Close every tab and app you do not need. Open the product you want to demo. Check that all settings are ready before you start.

Record

Hit record. Things will go wrong even with the best plan. When that happens, pause the recording, fix the problem, and resume. Hit stop when you are done.

Polish with the AI video editor

Open the Vmaker AI Video Editor and upload your raw footage. Pick the elements you want (subtitles, B-rolls, music, text) and the editor adds them for you.

You also get a clean timeline to trim, cut, and fix small issues by hand. Want to repurpose the recording for Reels, Shorts, or TikTok? The editor can cut a long video into shorts for you.

A few small things that will lift the quality of any how-to video.

Use a strong title

The title does not have to start with "how to". Promise something extra. Most people search how-to videos to learn a new skill, so a title that hints at speed, ease, or a fresh angle pulls in more clicks.

The example above does this well. The creator did not just say how to create a video resume. They added four steps and a sample. That tells the viewer the video is short, useful, and easy to follow.

Use frames, filters, and annotations

In the example above, the creator added a webcam frame with their name. They also drew arrows on the screen to call out the sample resume. Small touches like this make a video look polished without much extra work.

Zoom in on the part that matters

Show the part of the screen the viewer needs to see. Skip the rest. In the example above, the viewer has to type vmaker.com in the address bar, so the video zooms in on the address bar instead of the full window.

Share tips and best practices

Most how-to videos feel dry because they only show the steps. Add a few quick tips or pro insights along the way. It breaks the rhythm and keeps the viewer engaged. In the example above, the creator did not just show how to record a video resume. They also covered what makes a good resume.

Here are 10 of the best how-to videos on YouTube, across different topics.

How to use Zoom (free video conferencing)

This video walks the viewer through Zoom for video calls and online meetings.

How to use TO and FOR (English prepositions)

Grammar is one of the most-searched topics on YouTube. This video breaks the difference between "to" and "for" in clear steps.

How to record Webex meetings

This video covers how to record Webex meetings with both audio and video.

How to make animated videos (beginner tutorial)

People think animated videos are hard to make. This video shows you how to make one in a few simple steps.

How to tie a tie (for beginners)

Most professionals own a tie. Few know how to tie one well. This video breaks it into easy steps.

How to make a website in 10 minutes

Many people want to build a website but never start. This video makes the process simple.

How to create a YouTube channel (beginner's guide)

Every creator wants their own YouTube channel. This beginner guide shows you how to set one up.

How to make an app for beginners

Building an app sounds hard. This video walks beginners through the basics.

How to create a profitable Shopify store from scratch

Shopify lets owners sell products online without a developer. This video covers everything you need to set up a store.

How to use Google Sheets

Google Sheets has slowly replaced Excel for many teams. This video gives you a full overview of Sheets.

That covers the full guide to how-to videos. Try Vmaker for free to start making yours today.

Liked this guide? Here are a few more reads:

How to Make Instructional Videos with Screen Recording

How to Make a Tutorial Video by Recording Your Screen

How to Film Yourself Without Freaking Out

How to Get Video Testimonials from Your Customers

How to record video online with audio