Branching Videos in Corporate Training: A Beginner’s Guide

Training Doesn’t Work—Until It Does

A study by Gallup found that only 12% of employees strongly agree that their organization does a great job of onboarding new employees. Imagine walking into a new job, excited to learn and grow, only to be handed a PDF, a 2-hour video, and a "good luck!" That’s the reality for many new hires and even existing employees who seek training today.

This results in missed opportunities for career growth, poor employee retention, and corporate training programs that don’t stick.

Here’s the twist: companies that invest in well-structured corporate training programs see 24% higher profit margins than those who don’t. And one of the most effective training methods gaining momentum is branching videos.

If you're a trainer, HR professional, or business owner looking to revamp your corporate training and development, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the why, what, and how of using branching videos as a training tool.

What Are Branching Videos?

Think of a branching video like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book—but for training.

It’s a type of interactive video that allows employees to make choices and experience consequences in real time. Unlike traditional videos, branching videos personalize the learning experience by letting viewers decide what happens next, mimicking real-world decision-making.

For example, a customer service training video might ask:

“What would you do if the customer is angry and asking for a refund?”

From there, the learner picks from multiple choices, each leading to a different scenario.

This format keeps learners engaged, helps reinforce knowledge and skills, and tailors the experience to their specific needs.

Why Branching Videos Are a Game Changer in Corporate Training

1. They Match Different Learning Styles

People learn in different ways. Some like reading, others prefer visuals. Some need hands-on practice. Branching videos offer a training method that adapts to multiple learning styles, giving everyone the best shot at understanding and retaining information.

2. They Increase Employee Engagement

Interactive content demands attention. Branching videos help employees to participate throughout the training—not just passively watch. This increases employee development and the effectiveness of any training program.

3. They Encourage Decision-Making

Instead of simply telling employees what to do, branching videos let them try, fail, and learn—just like real life. This improves on-the-job training by helping employees perform their roles effectively and develop new skills quickly.

4. They Can Be Used Across Various Training Topics

Whether it’s compliance training, soft skills, leadership skills, or in-house onboarding, branching videos work across a wide range of topics.

Types of Corporate Training That Benefit from Branching Videos

✅ Onboarding New Employees

Make onboarding exciting by showing real-life situations they’ll encounter at work. Branching videos help new hires understand company culture and expectations.

✅ Compliance Training

Let employees explore scenarios around ethics, safety, and policies. It’s more impactful than reading a manual.

✅ Customer Service Training

Simulate customer calls and difficult situations. This type of training helps teams develop soft skills and quick decision-making.

✅ Leadership and Career Development

Empower employees with leadership skills by presenting realistic management dilemmas. Great for those who want to become a corporate trainer or move into leadership roles.

✅ Cross-Departmental Training

Use branching videos to educate employees from one department on how others function—improving collaboration across your organization.

How to Create a Branching Video Training Program

Step 1: Conduct a Training Needs Analysis

Before creating content, identify the training needs of your employees. What gaps exist in their skills and knowledge? What skills and tools do they need to advance?

Ask:

What’s missing from our current corporate training methods?
Where are employees struggling?
What are our organizational goals?

Step 2: Set Clear Objectives

You can't build effective training without knowing the destination. Set clear objectives for each training module.

For example:

Improve customer conflict resolution by 30%
Reduce onboarding time from 30 to 10 days
Increase safety compliance test scores to 95%

Step 3: Map Out the Branching Path

Now, storyboard the different scenarios, choices, and consequences. A simple flow might be:

Scenario → Choice A/B/C → Result → Feedback → Next Scenario

Tools like Sharelo or other interactive video platforms can help you visually map and build this structure.

Step 4: Develop the Learning Materials

This includes writing scripts, recording videos, and designing decision points. Don’t just focus on delivering information—focus on educating employees through experience.

Tip: Use a conversational tone and real-world language. Make it feel like a real day at work.

Step 5: Choose the Right Interactive Video Software

Look for interactive video software that lets you:

Create decision points easily
Track employee progress
Integrate quizzes
Offer feedback at each branch
Export reports for trainers

Platforms like Sharelo allow you to develop training that’s engaging, measurable, and scalable across your organization’s departments.

Step 6: Pilot and Iterate

Launch your training program with a small group. Gather feedback, measure engagement, and optimize.

Ask your test group:

Was it engaging?
Did you learn something new?
Did the format help you retain information?

Use the data to fine-tune before rolling it out company-wide.

Best Practices for Branching Video in Corporate Training

🎯 Keep It Real

Use workplace scenarios that actually happen. Your development programs are only useful if they’re relevant to your team’s daily reality.

⏱ Keep It Short and Focused

Each video shouldn’t exceed 10 minutes. Break down complex processes into micro-learning modules.

👥 Involve Trainers and Employees

Corporate trainers should work with employees to identify weak spots and test scenarios.

📊 Track, Analyze, Improve

Make sure your interactive content platform lets you track which choices employees make, how long they spend on each video, and how often they rewatch.

This insight helps trainers make the training better and meet the specific needs of the team.

Measuring the Success of Your Training

How do you know if it’s working?

Use these metrics:

Completion rates
Knowledge retention (quiz scores)
Behavior change (performance before and after)
Employee satisfaction surveys
Job satisfaction and employee retention stats

Your training process should lead to engaged employees, fewer mistakes, and improved career development outcomes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Making it too complex.
Start simple. Too many branches confuse learners.

🚫 Ignoring mobile users.
Your online training should be mobile-friendly.

🚫 Forgetting the feedback loop.
Always provide feedback for each choice—this is how people learn.

Getting Started: Choose the Right Tools

The success of your corporate training programs hinges on the tools you use.

Platforms like Sharelo make it incredibly easy to:

Create branching paths
Embed videos on LMS or websites
Track user behavior
Capture leads (especially useful for training programs tailored to external partners or customers)
Allow for easy enrollment and participation

Whether you're offering e-learning, in-person training, or a hybrid training method, Sharelo is a smart choice to enhance your training and development strategy.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Training Is Interactive

The corporate world is evolving—and so are the ways we educate employees.

If you're struggling to keep employees and employers aligned, increase job satisfaction, or ensure that training helps employees gain real skills and knowledge, branching videos might just be the solution.

They allow for personalization, increase engagement, and lead to better learning outcomes. When done right, they can significantly improve your organization's ability to upskill employees, reduce turnover, and meet your organizational goals.

So if you’ve been looking for a way to develop training that sticks, it’s time to move beyond the slideshow—and into the world of interactive branching video.

Let your corporate training come to life.
Let your people grow with it.

How to Create Interactive Training Videos with Sharelo: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Create an Interactive Training Video with Sharelo

First, create an account on Sharelo for free if you haven't already. Once you're logged in, navigate to the dashboard where you can manage your interactive video projects. Set up your profile, select your plan, and Create a Story.

Step 2: Record or Upload Your Video Content

Prepare your training video content and upload it to Sharelo. You can upload pre-recorded videos or create new ones using Sharelo’s built-in video creation tools. Make sure the content is engaging and relevant to your sales team's learning objectives.

Step 3: Add Interactive Elements

After uploading your video, it's time to make it interactive. Use Sharelo’s tools to add clickable elements, such as text and video replies, calendar booking app embed, decision-making options, or pop-up information. These interactive features will help reinforce learning by encouraging active participation from your sales team.

Step 4: Customize the Experience

Personalize the interactive video by incorporating your branding, logos, and specific sales scenarios that resonate with your team. You can also customize the call-to-action (CTA) buttons, responses, and scenarios to reflect your sales process or product offerings.

Step 5: Publish and Track Performance

Once you’re satisfied with the video, publish it and share it with your team. Use Sharelo’s analytics tools to track engagement, quiz results, and other metrics. This will help you understand how well your team is performing and identify areas that may require additional focus or training.

We’d love to hear from you!

Whether you're curious about how Sharelo can help your business or you have suggestions to make us better, we've made it easy for you to reach out.

👉 Watch the interactive video below to:

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FAQs: Sharelo Corporate Training Videos

1. Is Sharelo free and easy to use?

Yes! Sharelo offers a free plan that lets you start creating interactive corporate training videos right away. It’s designed for ease of use—no tech or video editing background required. With intuitive drag-and-drop features and ready-made templates, you can build professional training experiences in minutes.

2. How can Sharelo help improve our current corporate training programs?

Sharelo turns passive video content into engaging, interactive learning experiences. Through branching logic and real-time decision-making, employees learn by doing. This boosts knowledge retention, encourages participation, and makes your training programs more effective and aligned with your organizational goals.

3. Can Sharelo be used for different types of corporate training?

Yes! Sharelo supports a wide variety of corporate training applications, including:

Onboarding new employees
Compliance training
Customer service training
Soft skills and leadership development
Cross-functional education
You can create training programs tailored to specific departments or employee needs.

4. Do I need technical skills to create interactive videos on Sharelo?

Nope! Sharelo is built for busy trainers, HR managers, and business owners. You don’t need any coding or video production experience. Simply use the drag-and-drop editor to create branching video scenarios, quizzes, and custom training paths.

5. Can we track employee progress and performance with Sharelo?

Yes. Sharelo provides powerful analytics that show how employees interact with your videos. Track completion rates, decisions made, quiz scores, and engagement insights. These metrics help you develop training that aligns with organizational needs and improves employee performance.

How Corporate Trainers Can Leverage Interactive Videos for Employee Training

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