Here’s the old way of training office workers on the phone:

“See the ‘Edit’ button at the top of your screen?”

“I don’t see anything like that. What software am I supposed to be in?”

“Microsoft Word. What is on your screen?”

“Nothing.”

“Did you turn your computer on?”

“I thought it was on. Where’s the switch?”

Believe me, it is a case of the blind leading the blind. I’ve been frustrated, and I know my clients, miles away, have been too. (Of course, they’re not as ignorant as in the above example, however.)

The new training method,  on the other hand, is to direct people to YouTube, which has amassed thousands of how-to videos, many of them made by amateur videographers who get the message across by showing you how it’s done right on the screen. These geeks may sniff now and then if they have a cold, but they get to the point without a lot of big-company blah-blah.

For example, if you want to know how to add images to your WordPress-built website (which we here at TreeFrogClick use), just learn from Asha at the YouTube channel SocialMediaNinjas. He is probably from India, but his English is good enough. He uses a screen-capturing software, maybe Camtasia, to show you just where he is on the screen and what to do. In a few minutes, you can often find what you need.

Some videos are slick with music and fancy graphics, made by tutorial companies, and these are good, too. What is interesting is that the common man’s videos are usually just as good as those with the fancy wrappings. In any case, you can learn how to use all kinds of software. Just go to YouTube, type in “How to Use Microsoft Word,” and you’ll see 1,700 listings.

In the upcoming redesign of our TreeFrogClick website, we are including the below sample videos to help our clients learn the software the easy way.

WordPress Tutorials

WordPress updates its versions from time to time, so your admin page layout might look a little different than what you see on these videos. You will still be able to figure things out once you see them.

How to Edit a Page in WordPress, by ExcelNetMedia. Good simple intro. 1:45 min.

How to Add Images To Your WordPress Blog, by Asha

Tour of WordPress, by ExcelNetMedia. Overview

Google Apps - In the “Cloud”

Google Apps is a great file, calendar and website sharing program that works like an intranet, with password protection.

Google Apps Quick Tour, by Google. How you can share live documents on Google’s server among many collaborators in different locations. 1:58 min.

How to Use Google Calendar, by Bohemicus.

Using Google Apps Sites for Small Businesses, by AVL Marketing. Google’s internal website feature. 10:02 min.

Other Software

Microsoft Outlook 2007 - Setting Up Email Accounts by My Digital Works. 2:59 min.