Startup Onboarding: Video Guides & How to Record Your Screen

Founders always ask me how to record the screen without frying new teammates’ brains. 

Honestly, it takes me right back to the early days of running my own company. We went remote fast, and suddenly, every part of orientation changed. I realized pretty quickly: it’s not about making fancy presentations. Having clear, reusable videos that show people how things function is what really gets results.

Here’s what actually did the trick for me - how I turned scattered bits of awareness into simple visuals that help juniors feel at home right from the start.

Why Knowledge Bases Solve Onboarding Points?

I’ll be honest - footage libraries work better than plain old text when everyone’s scattered across various zones. Here’s why:

1 - Consistent Training

Record screen once, use forever. Each incoming hire gets evident instructions, and nobody on the group has to waste time repeating themselves. New recruit tutorials ensure everyone starts with the same info and standards.

2 - Asynchronous Consumption

When your crew’s split between New York and Singapore, scheduling a meeting is a nightmare. With captures, attendees can learn whenever they’ve got the time and energy. That kind of freedom is gold for remote work.

3 - Higher Cognitive Retention

Applicants remember what they see and hear way better than what they read. Some training reports say video boosts retention by about 60%. That’s a huge leap over handing someone a PDF and hoping for the best.

4 - Long-Term Scalability

Once you have created a good training module, it can be used for dozens, or even hundreds, of new hires in the future. You save your senior folks from running the same walkthroughs over and over.

5 - Real Connection

Clips bring out tone, energy, and even a bit of humor - stuff you can’t get from papers. For remote teams, that little bit of personality goes a long way. 

How to Record Your Screen for Onboarding

One question I hear frequently is how I make professional videos without shelling out for fancy software. Honestly, I stick with a [free online screen recorder](https://screen-recorder.io/). It does the job: I can capture walkthroughs of workflows, explain how tools function, or break down tricky processes. 

Here’s how to captured on PC:

1 - Set Up Your Space

Think of your desktop like a movie set. You want it looking sharp:

- Shut down anything you don’t need, and silence those notifications  

- Close extra browser tabs or random windows  

- Keep the workspace clean so nothing distracts from what you’re showing  

The cleaner your display, the more polished your clip looks. No one wants to see chaos in the background.

2 - Script 

I don’t bother with word-for-word scenarios, but I always make a solid outline:

- Start with the point of your footage - why should anyone care?  

- Break down the steps you’ll walk through  

- Jot any key examples, warnings, or tips to share  

- Add links or extra resources viewers might need  

- Clear what individuals should take away when it’s over  

Having this plan in front of me keeps ideas tight and on track. No rambling, no awkward pauses, no confusion. Just a distinct footage all the time.

3 - Pick a Software

I’ve tried a bunch, but this screen recording tool is my go-to. Here’s why:

- It captures everything, plus your mic and any audio coming from your PC

- You can add a webcam overlay, so people actually see you - makes aspects feel less robotic  

- It runs right in your browser, so you don’t have to mess with downloads or install anything bulky  

4 - Adjust Settings

Before I hit the button, I double-check a few things:

- Am I shooting the right window, or do I want the whole monitor?  

- Is my mic active? (I always grab my external mic for better sound)  

- Do I need to grab system sound, especially if I’m showing off a program feature?  

- Is the resolution set to 1080p?  

I run a fast preview to verify the whole lot lines up and nothing important is out of frame.

5 - Begin With a Brief Introduction

Every module kicks off with a quick intro:

- Why this stream matters  

- What you’ll learn or be able to do when it’s over  

That way, viewers know what they’re getting into.

6 - Demonstrate Each Action

When I capture video from screen, I talk through each step:

- Move the cursor slowly, so you can see exactly where I'm going  

- Pause before clicking or typing  

- Point out the fields or buttons you really need to notice  

- Share the mistakes staff usually do, so you can avoid them  

- Keep content steady and don’t rush  

If a stage’s tricky, I’ll zoom in or play it back.

7 - Utilize Natural Breaks

When there’s a bunch of actions, I break things up with quick verbal cues:

- “That’s the end of part one...”  

- “Now, let’s move on to...”  

- “Hold up—double-check this before you go on...”  

These little pauses ease it up to take the info in, one chunk at a time.

8 - Wrap Up With Final Notes

I always finish my screen recording by sharing:

- The main points to remember  

- Helpful links to docs  

- Who to contact if you’ve got questions  

A sharp ending just makes everything stick.

9 - Review the Footage 

Right after video screen capture, I watch the clip again to verify:

- The audio sounds good and I’m speaking clearly  

- Each step I display is correct  

- Data’s easy to see and read  

- I didn’t accidentally show any personal stuff  

If I spot a mistake, I re-record that bit.

10 - Export, Name, and Upload Consistently

This is how I hold clutter under control:

- I save the output as an MP4  

- I employ a consistent naming style (like `01-tools-setup-email.mp4`)  

- I upload it to the repository, right with the summaries and links  

That way, the library stays neat, plain to search, and simple for anyone to use.

Conclusion

A video knowledge base isn’t just another type of documentation - it’s a smart move for any team that wants to scale, keep its culture alive, and run things more smoothly. 

If you’re building a remote-first startup, don’t wait to set up visual onboarding. Begin early. It gets new people up to speed quickly, maintains your best folks around, saves everyone from repeating the same explanations, and helps feel like they belong right from the start. 

Take the time to record, organize, and improve your library. You’ll see the benefits every moment your crew grows.