Make storytelling, e-learning, films
immersive with advanced video branching

A branching video is an interactive video experience where viewers make choices that determine the direction or outcome of the content. Instead of following a single linear path, the video presents decision points, such as buttons or hotspots, that let the viewer navigate through different storylines, scenarios, or information paths.

Branching videos are especially useful for training, product walkthroughs, customer onboarding, and any use case where personalisation or exploration enhances understanding. Each viewer’s journey can be tailored based on their interests, goals, or role.

Cinema8 makes it easy to create tailored video paths with our user-friendly branching tools. Explore our plans today or contact our team to learn more about video branching.

To make a branching video, you start by mapping out the possible paths a viewer can take; often using a flowchart or storyboard. Next, you film or assemble video clips for each segment and decision point. Using an interactive video platform, you then link these clips together with clickable elements like CTA buttons, hotspots, or menus that control which video segment plays next.

You’ll also need to set rules for how the video behaves after each choice, including transitions, playback settings, or return options. Finally, preview and test the entire flow to make sure all branches function correctly.

Cinema8 simplifies this process with a no-code editor that lets you build branching paths visually, insert interactions, and track viewer decisions, all in one place. Choose a plan to start building branching videos or contact our team for expert guidance.

Video branching is most effective when you want to personalise the viewer journey or present different outcomes based on user choices. Common use cases include:

• Employee training: Let learners choose their role, scenario, or challenge to create more relevant and engaging training experiences.
• Product demos: Tailor demos based on industry, use case, or customer needs to shorten the path to value.
• Customer onboarding: Guide users through content that matches their familiarity or goals.
• Interactive storytelling: Let audiences choose plotlines or explore multiple perspectives.
• Support and troubleshooting: Direct viewers to the right solution based on their specific issue.

Cinema8 supports all of these and more with our branching video tools and drag-and-drop widgets, making it easy to create dynamic experiences. Explore our plans to find the best fit for your needs.

Video branching improves engagement by giving viewers control over their experience. They are invited to make decisions such as choosing paths, outcomes, or content tailored to their interests. This interactivity keeps viewers focused and increases the likelihood that they’ll complete the full experience. It also creates a sense of relevance and personalisation, which can make the content feel more valuable. 

Cinema8 makes it easy to build these interactive journeys and provides real-time analytics to track which paths perform best, further helping you boost engagement. Learn more about our plans and features, or reach out to our team for personalised guidance.

Tracking user paths in a branching video involves monitoring the decisions viewers make as they move through different storylines or content flows. This includes which branches they choose, how long they stay on each path, where they stop watching, and which segments lead to the highest engagement or conversions.

With Cinema8, every user interaction is captured in your analytics dashboard. You can see which branches perform best, identify common viewer behaviours, and optimise your structure accordingly. Learn more about our advanced analytics tools or explore our plans and choose the best one for your video needs.

Yes, Cinema8 gives you full control over how buttons and transitions behave in your branching videos. You can customise the design of each button by changing colours, text, shape, and placement to match your branding or guide viewer choices more intuitively.

You can also define exactly what happens after a viewer clicks a button, including the timing and style of the transition to the next segment. Cinema8’s interactive video editor makes it easy to build seamless and engaging journeys with no coding required.

It is possible to combine branching logic with lead capture forms in Cinema8. This allows you to collect viewer information at strategic points within different video paths.

For example, you might present a form only after a viewer chooses a specific branch, ensuring the form is relevant to their interests. You can also customise whether the form is optional or required, and decide when it appears in each path. This combination of interactivity and data capture helps you deliver more personalised experiences while gathering high-quality leads.

Learn more about Cinema8’s lead gen forms or choose a plan to start incorporating them into your videos.