This example is about analyzing where users get stuck, breaking a confusing multi-application workflow into manageable steps, and designing instruction for people with no prior knowledge. It also demonstrates a concrete learning outcome beyond YouTube metrics: someone learned a skill well enough to pass a hiring assessment and secure a job.
Audience
Office professionals, administrative assistants, small business owners, volunteers, and Microsoft Office users who need to create mailing labels from an Excel contact list but perform the task infrequently.
Learning Challenge
Creating mailing labels requires users to move between Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word while navigating Mail Merge features that many people only use occasionally. Although the process is straightforward once understood, the sequence of steps can feel unintuitive, causing frustration and repeated errors.
This tutorial was also used as a study resource for a friend preparing for an administrative assistant skills assessment that included creating mailing labels from Excel. After practicing with the tutorial, she successfully completed the assessment and was offered the position.
Learning Objective
By the end of the lesson, learners are able to:
- Prepare an Excel spreadsheet for Mail Merge.
- Connect Microsoft Word to an Excel data source.
- Create and preview mailing labels.
- Format portions of the merged address, including names and other fields.
- Complete the merge process confidently without prior Mail Merge experience.
My Role
Independently managed the complete instructional development process:
- Identified a common user pain point involving Microsoft Office workflows.
- Designed a beginner-friendly lesson that assumed no previous Mail Merge knowledge.
- Wrote the instructional script and organized the lesson into logical, sequential steps.
- Recorded screen demonstrations and narration.
- Edited and published the instructional video.
- Monitored audience engagement and incorporated learner feedback into future instructional content.
Results
- More than 227,900 views
- Over 19,300 hours of watch time
- Approximately 70% audience retention after the first 30 seconds, exceeding the typical performance for my channel.
- Consistently experiences seasonal increases in viewership each holiday season as users prepare mailing lists and greeting cards.
- Frequently praised for making a traditionally confusing process easy to understand.
Representative Learner Feedback
“This was great! So helpful and easy to follow.”
“I got it right away.”
“Will make a good refresher when needed.”
“Your video is a life saver.”
“After many failed tries down through the years, I had success!”
“Yours covered each step clearly and didn’t assume I had any previous knowledge.”
Skills Demonstrated
- Instructional design
- Adult learning principles
- Technical communication
- Process simplification
- Beginner-focused curriculum development
- Microsoft Office expertise
- Script writing
- Instructional video production
- User-centered content design
- Learning analytics and audience engagement
Sally Scott 