The Visual Lounge

You have just five seconds. So hook ‘em in, keep them watching, and make those seconds count.Starting with a clear hook isn’t just for YouTubers looking to make it big. Even if you’re creating instructional videos that people have to watch for their job, you have just a few seconds to grab attention. If you don’t, the video might still play but their concentration will be long gone. When you put all that effort into creating a video, the last thing you want is for your viewer to click away or leave it playing in the background while they’re thinking about what to have for dinner that night. The short attention span thing is real. We all have 101 other things on our minds on any given day. So how do you grab attention and keep it? It all starts with a powerful hook.Host of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce, breaks down the power of hooks, including three tactics you can use to make your first few seconds count. You’ll learn about how and when to use hooks and some common mistakes to avoid for your next video.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 00:58 Introduction to video hooks00:58 - 02:03 Why the first five seconds are the most important02:03 - 02:38 The battle for viewer attention02:38 - 03:35 Hook tactic 1: The bold statement03:35 - 04:17 Hook tactic 2: Pain points04:17 - 05:01 Hook tactic 3: Instant wins05:01 - 05:37 Beware of clickbait 05:37 - 06:51 Top video introduction mistakes to avoid06:51 - 08:15 Making internal videos people want to watch08:15 - 09:27 Tie your hook to your internal audience 09:27 - 10:11 When flashy hooks aren’t needed10:11 - 11:08 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewrpierce/

Here’s a secret… most people aren’t naturals on camera. For many, it can be daunting and can even hold us back from trying to make videos in the first place. But if you’re running training or making content, video is no doubt a part of your job. So how do you look good on camera? It’s a question we hear a lot, so we pulled this 2022 episode from out of the archive, which has some great tips from Diana Howles, the CEO and Co-Owner of Howles Associates. You’ll hear practical tips on how to feel more confident, look more professional, and connect more authentically without feeling like you're faking it. We talk about how to “clean up” your on-camera image and get your message across more effectively, whether you’re doing live or pre-recorded videos. Diana is an award-winning speaker, author, and international virtual trainer with 25 years of experience in the learning industry. She has conducted live online training for clients since 2000 and has taught virtual classes in more than a dozen countries. Diana is also the author of the book Next Level Virtual Training.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 03:14 Introduction to Diana03:15 - 04:58 Diana explains the premise of her book, Next Level Virtual Training04:58 - 08:25 What is an on-camera presence and why is it important?08:25 - 12:55 What to do if you’re not comfortable on camera12:55 - 15:11 How to tweak your on-camera presence for live vs. pre-recorded video15:11 - 21:04 Steps to take to get more comfortable on camera21:04 - 23:17 Standing vs. sitting while on camera: which is best?23:17 - 29:30 Common mistakes people make on camera29:30 - 41:04 How to use the B.L.E.A.C.H method to clean up your on-camera presence41:04 - 43:18 Where to find more tips from Diana43:18 - 49:07 Diana’s speed round49:07 - 50:00 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianahowles/Visit Diana's Website: https://howlesassociates.com/

What do you need to know about the L&D space in 2025? The L&D Global Sentiment Survey is now in its 12th year and records the trends, attitudes, top challenges, and priorities in the L&D space. This year, over 3,000 voters from almost 100 countries participated in the research, sharing their experiences and thoughts on L&D today.We invited the author of the report Donald Taylor onto the show to get his thoughts on the biggest trends and insights revealed by the study. We talk about the ongoing focus on AI, and Donald shares his advice for those afraid of AI’s impact on their jobs. A theme throughout our conversation is that some in L&D could benefit from a mindset shift – away from singular tasks and individual tools and toward a greater focus on overall goals. Download the full report in the links below.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 02:25 Introduction02:25 - 03:47 Donald’s biggest tip for using images or video in L&D03:47 - 07:00 Background on the study and why it became so important07:00 - 10:51 How accurate is it to predict L&D trends from the study? 10:51 - 16:23 What influences early adopters to abandon new tools/ideas?16:23 - 19:35 What the study reveals about AI’s influence in L&D 19:35 - 26:12 How L&D pros can change their mindset around using AI 26:12 - 29:00 Speed round questions 29:00 - 29:49 Where to find out more about the study29:49 - 30:47 Donald’s final take30:47 - 31:41 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Donald on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/Visit Donald’s Website: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/Download the Global Sentiment Survey 2025: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2025/

Can using AI in visual design ever be truly creative? This week’s guest would go one step further and call AI the “future of creativity.”Mike Parkinson, Principal of 24 Hour Company and Owner of Billion Dollar Graphics, joins us for a special live show of The Visual Lounge, hosted at Training 2025, a conference and expo produced by Training Magazine.We chat about where AI can fit into visual design and content creation and why Mike calls it a “friction fixer” or a “smart start” rather than a replacement for creative talent. His take on AI is to view it like a “drunk intern” – something that could help you in the creative process but not something you’d want to hand full control to. For those who have struggled with AI prompts and results, Mike shares the three rules of using AI to get the most out of it. The running theme in this episode is that context is key and that always has to come from humans themselves. With context and the right approach, you can make AI a fundamental part of the creative process. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:22 Introduction to Mike 01:22 - 02:58 How to get better at using AI for images02:58 - 04:02 Does AI follow the Ballmer curve?04:02 - 06:23 What to do if you’re struggling with AI06:23 - 09:36 Where most people get AI wrong09:36 - 11:59 The best use cases of AI in visual design11:59 - 14:24 Using AI to enhance usability, dopamine hit 14:24 - 16:20 Is using AI creative?16:20 - 19:00 The dos and don’ts for those in the training space using AI19:00 - 22:16 Speed round questions22:16 - 22:55 How to connect with Mike22:55 - 23:27 Mike’s final take 23:27 - 23:59 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-parkinson-bb364/Visit the Billion Dollar Graphics Website: https://billiondollargraphics.com/Follow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeparkinson_bdg/Subscribe to Mike Parkinson and Billion Dollar Graphics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRDQaYfze62MYQ_CO5rjo1w/

A while back, we sat down with Edie Clarke, Virtual Video Producer and Editor and YouTube Strategist, to talk about why simpler is often better when it comes to video creation. And guess what? That advice still holds up. So, we’re bringing this episode back for another listen.With AI changing the way we create and edit videos, there’s never been a better time to embrace video content. The latest TechSmith research shows that audiences are demanding more authentic, concise, and engaging content – so if you’ve been holding off on making videos, consider this your sign to start!Edie packs lots of advice into our discussion, including her top tips and go-to methods for scripting and shooting video, how to get over the fear of being on camera and how to avoid the perfectionism trap.We also get a glimpse into the kind of coaching she provides to clients who want to improve their video skills, along with some of the tools she uses daily with clients to create videos and run her business. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 02:58 Intro 02:59 - 05:10 How Edie started using video 05:10 - 08:38 What success looks like for Edie 08:38 - 12:22 Edie’s tip for improving how you use video 12:22 - 16:06 Tips for keeping video simple 16:06 - 16:38 Why audio is the most important part of creating videos 16:38 - 19:46 Edie’s advice on writing scripts 19:46 - 23:49 Common hangups people have when starting videos 23:49 - 27:44 How to deal with perfectionism 27:44 - 31:04 Hard lessons from a career of video creation 31:04 - 32:00 Borrowing ideas and inspiration from other videos 32:00 - 38:07 Speed round questions 38:07 - 39:46 Edie’s final take on why you should embrace video 39:46 - 41:13 Outro Important links and mentions:Connect with Edie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtuallyinsync/Edie's Website: https://edieclarke.com/Subscribe to Edie on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@VirtuallyInSync/

The medium of video transformed drastically since it was first invented, but there’s one thing that hasn’t. Regardless of whether you’re creating entertaining or training content, storytelling is at the heart of video. The CEO of Cinécraft, Dan Keckan, heads up a learning solutions company that’s been around since 1939! As one of the first corporate training film companies, Cinécraft has evolved alongside the technology changes in video to become a training solution truly fitting in with the modern age of learning. We welcomed Dan on the show to share a little backstory of the company and what he thinks has changed most about video as a learning medium. Dan emphasizes the importance of story above all else and shares his view that video training has increasingly moved away from passive productions to more interactive, gamified, and scenario-based learning models. He also shares his take on where he sees video changing in the future and how generative AI is likely to impact learning design going forward.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 02:20 Introduction to Dan and Cinécraft02:20 - 03:54 Dan’s number one tip for using images or video 03:54 - 06:30 The evolution of video and how Cinécraft has changed since 1939 06:30 - 08:24 How industry changes led Cinécraft to adapt their approach to storytelling08:24 - 11:26 How Cinécraft thinks about learners differently today11:26 - 13:56 Dan’s predictions for the future of learning design 13:56 - 18:29 How the role of video will continue to change 18:29 - 20:37 Dan’s favorite production in the Cinécraft archive 20:37 - 25:07 Speed round questions25:07 - 26:18 Dan’s final take26:18 - 27:25 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankeckan/Visit the Cinécraft Website: http://www.cinecraft.com/Subscribe to Cinécraft on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Cinecraft/

Storytelling is the golden ticket to understanding how we communicate and absorb information. It’s already a big focus in the marketing world. But what about learning design and training content? Can we (and should we) use storytelling to get key messages across? Spoiler: yes! And this episode is all about how to do it. Christy Tucker is a learning experience design consultant who forges engaging learning experiences with the power of storytelling and multimedia content. She joins The Visual Lounge to take us through her tips for writing, using storytelling elements, and when to use multimedia to enhance your messaging.We explore why knowing your audience and context is the starting point of all successful content and how you can learn more about your audience’s challenges, scenarios, and goals (even when you don’t have direct access to the information).Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:40 Introduction to Christy01:40 - 02:34 Christy’s top tip for using images or video02:34 - 05:41 How do you get started in multimedia production?05:41 - 09:13 How to know what makes good writing for multimedia scenarios09:13 - 11:50 Advice for getting better at writing11:50 - 15:30 How to balance realistic dialogue with concise messaging15:30 - 20:40 How to nail your audience focus when you don’t have all the information20:40 - 23:08 When to use multimedia content in certain training scenarios23:08 - 26:30 Speed round question26:30 - 27:04 How to connect with Christy27:04 - 27:32 Christy’s final take27:32 - 28:30 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Christy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christytucker/Follow Christy on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/christytucker.bsky.socialSubscribe to Christy’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@christytuckerVisit Christy’s blog: https://christytuckerlearning.com/ 

Take your mind back to 2023. Generative AI was still relatively new on the scene, and we were all curious about how it would impact the world. Would it be a short-lived trend or would it signal a new age of tech? From content creation to data analysis, the potential of AI skyrocketed in just a few years and the technology and tools show no sign of slowing down.For this episode, we head back to 2023 to our episode with Josh Cavalier, L&D expert and long-time friend of The Visual Lounge. While we chat about the trends and predictions we had in 2023 (which feels like ancient history in this AI world), Josh’s message for our listeners is still just as relevant today. Josh shared his advice for anyone hesitant to use AI in video creation and how to overcome those common AI anxieties that leave content creators twitching. He has plenty of tips about crafting prompts, finding the right tools, and the best practices for getting the most out of gen AI. Plus, you’ll get to hear if our predictions on the future of AI were right or wrong. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 02:38 Introduction02:38 - 03:27 Josh’s process for using video content 03:27 - 04:44 How to succeed in video content creation04:44 - 06:17 Josh’s number one tip for creating videos 06:17 - 10:23 How AI helps Josh’s video processes10:23 - 14:48 Getting the best results from AI14:48 - 21:51 AI for scripting: the best practices and prompts 21:51 - 27:39 Where to start with AI27:39 - 39:57 Combating AI anxiety39:57 - 47:36 Josh’s speed round47:36 - 48:05 Josh’s final take48:05 - 49:02 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcavalier/ Josh’s Website: https://www.joshcavalier.com/ Eleven Labs: https://beta.elevenlabs.io/ Future Tools: https://www.futuretools.io/ Subscribe to Josh on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/joshcavalier/

Rarely do we get the chance to hear the C-suite side of things when it comes to content and learning design. What do they really think about the training content they see out in the wild? But in this episode, we hear from business transformation expert and former Chief Learning Officer Christopher Lind on adapting your content creation process for the modern working world.Christopher introduces us to what a CLO really is and offers a peek into his main responsibilities. He explains how L&D teams can work with their CLO (or do well without one) and how a CLO defines great content. The AI topic naturally comes up and we look at how it can improve processes or even make things slower if your process isn’t already working. Christopher also shares his tips on using video tools, what makes great content, and how emotion should be at the heart of every piece of content. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 02:42 Introduction to Christopher 02:42 - 03:44 Christopher’s top tip for using images or video effectively03:44 - 04:42 The emotional component of training content 04:42 - 07:03 What is a Chief Learning Officer really responsible for?07:03 - 09:04 How to work with your CLO (and what to do if you don’t have one)09:04 - 12:00 How leaders and L&D teams should approach AI and automation 12:00 - 15:02 How do we avoid being replaced in the AI age?15:02 - 17:19 Why AI is like jet fuel to a process 17:19 - 19:41 Is AI a natural solution to the skills gap? 19:41 - 21:49 How AI is changing the nature of our professions and responsibilities 21:49 - 24:04 Advice from the C-suite: what makes content good? 24:04 - 27:40 Speed round questions27:40 - 29:35 Why Christopher has been a long-time lover of TechSmith tools like Snagit 29:35 - 30:17 How to connect with Christopher30:17 - 31:16 Christopher’s inspiring final take31:16 - 32:02 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherlind/Subscribe to Christopher on Substack: https://substack.com/@christopherlindFollow Christopher on X: https://x.com/ctlind?lang=en Visit Christopher’s Website: https://christopherlind.co/Subscribe to Christopher’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Christopher_Lind

Get to the point. That’s the way you entice audiences and ensure they stay. While front-loading instructional videos with the ‘why’ is tempting, it’s the ‘how’ that audiences have tuned in for.Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, which is why you need to deliver value as soon as possible. This means a clear narrative, great video quality, and authenticity. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce meets with Doug Brunner, the Customer Education Manager at TechSmith. They discuss why video is the most effective way to deliver content, their biggest pet peeves when it comes to instructional videos, and some of the best features of Camtasia and Snagit. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 00:43 Introduction 05:06 - 06:25 Maximizing impact and saying “no”10:01 - 13:34 The pros and cons of webinars and videos14:03 - 17:12 The importance of first deciding on goals to hit with instructional content 17:31 – 21:46 Biggest instructional video pet peeve 21:58 – 23:24 How long you are given to grab someone’s attention25:15 - 30:48 Three go-to features in Camtasia31:09 - 32:01 Why the cursor is not the ‘hero’ of the story - the viewer is32:18 - 37:10 Three go-to tools inside Snagit37:30 – 42:28 Opinions on human AI avatars and AI-generated voices42:32 – 43:34 Why content and the purpose should set the length of a video43:34 - 45:15 Defining “bad video” and “bad audio”46:36 - 47:55 Using the rounding corners function in Snagit or Camtasia48:06 – 49:05 Outro Important links and mentions:Connect with Doug on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-brunner-b193abb/Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewrpierce/Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/