For Instructional Designers ·
What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have produced a professional-looking presenter video for your eLearning course — without a camera, a studio, a video crew, or even a human presenter. You'll be able to create module introductions, segment narrators, and course conclusion videos from a script in under an hour. When the presenter's lines change because a stakeholder wants edits, you regenerate in minutes rather than rescheduling a shoot.
What you'll need
Go to heygen.com → click Get started free → sign up with Google or email → confirm your account.
What you should see: The HeyGen dashboard with options to create a new video.
Click Create Video → select Template for your first video (easier than starting blank) → browse template categories → look for "Training" or "Corporate" templates.
What you should see: A grid of pre-designed video templates. Select one with a presenter layout — typically a person in frame with a background, or a person on the right with a content area on the left.
Click on the presenter element in the template → click Change Avatar → browse the avatar library → preview each by hovering → select one that:
What you should see: Avatar options organized by category. Look for "Professional" or "Corporate" collections.
After selecting an avatar → click Voice → browse voice options → click each to preview → select a voice that:
What you should see: A dropdown or panel of voice options with preview playback.
In the text panel (usually on the left side or below the preview) → clear the sample text → paste your presenter script.
Important: Write for how the presenter will speak, not how text reads. Use contractions, short sentences, and natural pauses (periods, not ellipses).
What you should see: Your script in the text panel, ready to generate.
Click Preview to see a short sample of how the avatar delivers your script → if the delivery sounds right → click Generate Video → wait 5–15 minutes for processing.
What you should see: A processing progress indicator. HeyGen sends an email notification when your video is ready.
Open the completed video → watch the full clip → check for:
If anything needs fixing, edit the script and regenerate the affected section.
Download: Click Download → choose MP4 format → save with a descriptive filename.
In Articulate Rise: Click + Add Block → Multimedia → Video → upload your MP4 file.
In Articulate Storyline: Insert → Video → Video from File → select your MP4.
What you should see: The video embedded in your course, playing within the slide or block.
These are script structures to adapt for your specific content:
Module introduction:
Welcome to [Module Name]. In this module, you'll learn [2-3 specific skills].
By the time you finish, you'll be able to [concrete job application].
Let's start by looking at [first key concept].
Course introduction:
Welcome to [Course Name]. Over the next [duration], we'll cover [key topics].
This training was designed for [audience description] who [situation].
Here's what you'll be able to do when we're done: [bullet each outcome]. Let's get started.
Knowledge check introduction:
Before we move on, let's make sure the key concepts from this section are sticking.
You'll see [number] questions. Take your time — this isn't a test, it's a chance to check your understanding
before applying it in your real work.