Video Types & Uses

Educational Videos

18min

Educational & Thought Leadership Videos: Establishing Industry Authority

Why Educational & Thought Leadership Videos Matter

Businesses that establish themselves as trusted authorities attract more engaged audiences, generate higher-quality leads, and experience stronger customer loyalty.

  • 54% of consumers want to see more video content from brands they support.
  • 96% of people watch explainer videos to learn about products or services before purchasing.
  • Companies that use thought leadership videos generate 3x more inbound inquiries than those that don’t.

This guide explores how to create educational and thought leadership videos that establish credibility, educate audiences, and drive business growth.

How to Create Educational Video Content That Positions Your Brand as an Industry Leader

The Power of Educational Videos

Educational content builds trust by providing value before asking for a sale. High-performing brands use video to teach, inspire, and inform their audience while subtly positioning their services as the best solution.

Types of Educational Video Content

Video Type

Best For

Platform

How-To & Tutorial Videos

Product demos, step-by-step guides

YouTube, LinkedIn, Blogs

Explainer Videos

Breaking down complex ideas

Websites, social media, ads

Webinars & Live Training

Thought leadership & engagement

LinkedIn, YouTube, Zoom

Behind-the-Scenes Videos

Brand transparency & trust-building

Instagram, Facebook, YouTube

Q&A and AMA Sessions

Direct engagement with the audience

LinkedIn, Instagram Live, Twitter Spaces

Structuring an Effective How-To or Tutorial Video

  1. Hook the Audience (0-10 seconds)
    • Open with a pain point or question your audience needs answered.
    • Example: “Struggling to improve your email open rates? Here’s the proven framework top marketers use.”
  2. Deliver Value Quickly (10-90 seconds)
    • Show a step-by-step breakdown of the solution.
    • Keep it concise, engaging, and visually clear.
  3. Provide Proof & Reinforce Authority (90-150 seconds)
    • Use data, case studies, or real-world examples to validate your insights.
  4. Call to Action (Final 10-15 seconds)
    • Encourage viewers to subscribe, download a resource, or book a consultation.
  • Neil Patel’s YouTube Strategy → Built a multi-million-dollar agency by consistently publishing marketing tutorials.
  • Marie Forleo’s Training Videos → Established a global coaching empire with structured educational content.

Should Your Business Start a Video Podcast? The Pros & Cons

Why Video Podcasts Are Exploding in Popularity

  • 43% of people prefer video podcasts over audio-only formats.
  • Businesses using podcasts see a 14% increase in brand recall.
  • YouTube is now the #1 podcast platform, surpassing Apple & Spotify.

Pros & Cons of Launching a Video Podcast

Pros

Cons

Builds authority & trust in your niche

Requires consistent content production

Enhances SEO visibility with YouTube & Google search rankings

Higher production costs than audio-only podcasts

Multi-platform distribution (YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok)

Needs dedicated hosting & interview scheduling

Positions your brand as a thought leader

Editing & post-production require time or outsourcing

How to Structure an Engaging Video Podcast

  1. Opening Hook (0-30 seconds) → Why this episode matters.
  2. Introduction (30-90 seconds) → Who the guest is & key discussion points.
  3. Deep Dive (10-30 minutes) → The core conversation, insights, and value delivery.
  4. Takeaways & CTA (Final 1-2 minutes) → Encourage subscribing, booking a consultation, or engaging in discussion.
  • Impact Theory by Tom Bilyeu → Became a leading brand in personal development & business coaching through video interviews.
  • BiggerPockets Podcast → Transformed into a real estate investing powerhouse with long-form, educational interviews.

How to Structure an Online Course or Training Video Series

Why Businesses Should Offer Online Training Content

  • The e-learning industry is projected to hit $375 billion by 2026.
  • Branded online courses generate high-margin revenue while establishing expertise.
  • 85% of businesses using educational video see increased customer retention.

Best Practices for Structuring an Online Course

Module

What to Include

Introduction & Course Overview

Set expectations, explain outcomes

Module 1: Foundation Concepts

Cover fundamental knowledge & frameworks

Module 2-4: Deep Dive Topics

Detailed lessons with practical application

Case Studies & Exercises

Real-world application of concepts

Final Module: Implementation & Next Steps

Wrap up & guide action-taking

How to Keep Viewers Engaged

  • Use dynamic visuals (motion graphics, annotations, real-world footage).
  • Break lessons into digestible chunks (5-15 minutes per section).
  • Offer downloadable worksheets or exercises to reinforce learning.

Monetization Strategies: Free vs. Paid Courses

Strategy

Benefits

Best Use Case

Free Course (Lead Magnet)

Builds brand trust & captures leads

B2B & service-based businesses

One-Time Purchase

High-margin passive revenue

Premium expert training

Subscription Model

Recurring revenue stream

Ongoing skill-based learning

  • MasterClass → Monetized expertise by featuring industry leaders in structured video courses.
  • Ahrefs Academy → Used free SEO courses to generate inbound leads & premium memberships.

How to Integrate Educational & Thought Leadership Videos into Your Business

Goal

Best Video Type

Primary Platforms

Brand Awareness

Short educational clips, FAQs

YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok

Lead Generation

Webinars, deep-dive tutorials

Website, YouTube, LinkedIn

Customer Nurturing

Training videos, behind-the-scenes content

Email marketing, private portals

Revenue Generation

Paid courses, premium training content

Membership sites, private platforms

Final Takeaways

  1. Educational content builds credibility, attracts leads, and nurtures customers long-term.
  2. Video podcasts, how-to tutorials, and online courses are proven brand-building tools.
  3. Strategic distribution ensures your content reaches the right audience at the right time.

Want expert help building a video-first marketing strategy?

Book a Consultation With Look Studios

Sources & Further Reading

  • Wistia. Why Educational Video Content Drives Engagement & Brand Loyalty. Retrieved from wistia.com
  • Think With Google. How YouTube Is Shaping the Future of Thought Leadership. Retrieved from thinkwithgoogle.com
  • HubSpot. The Role of Video in B2B Content Marketing. Retrieved from hubspot.com