The Visual Lounge

Are demos a necessary tool in L&D? Well, according to Troy Stein, TechSmith’s VP of Customer Advocacy, they’re super vital. He joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain why and share some tips on how to do demos the right way.The way Troy sees it, demos are to instructional videos what trailers are to movies. They don’t just give a sneak peek into what’s coming, they also pique the viewer's interest and make them want to know more. But there are key elements that need to be on point before a demo is considered successful. In this episode, Troy discusses everything from demo length to the importance of context, and he even shares a few demos he’s worked on himself. He also shares a bonus tip for video creators: Do everything at 1080p.Before becoming the VP of Customer Advocacy at TechSmith, Troy held a range of roles with the company spanning a decade. He also played a pivotal role in making Camtasia the popular software it is today.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 00:43 Intro00:44 - 02:30 Matt introduces Troy Stein02:31 - 04:12 What Troy does at TechSmith04:13 - 07:34 Why demos are crucial in learning and development07:35 - 10:49 Accuracy when creating demos (the role of accuracy when creating demos)10:50 - 13:49 How long should a demo be13:50 - 15:02 Troy shares one demo he thinks really hit the spot15:03 - 17:54 Three takeaways from a discussion Troy had with tech marketers17:55 - 19:22 The importance of giving context in demos19:23 - 22:59 How to get started making a demo23:00 - 24:27 Why intros and outros need to be consistent24:28 - 26:52 Troy shares a sample demo26:53 - 29:23 Cutting tips for instructional designers29:24 - 30:36 Why your demo should never be generic30:37 - 34:01 Why you should start small with your demo projects34:02 - 37:26 The ins and outs of demo creation at TechSmith37:27 - 44:20 Troy dives into some demo packages44:21 - 45:41 How to apply the Hitchcock Principle to demo creation45:42 - 49:44 Speed round questions49:45 - 50:46 OutroImportant links and mentions:Troy’s LinkedInCamtasia Template Package DownloadCamtasia Package Download Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/the-art-of-the-demo

How do you balance aesthetics and helpfulness when creating videos? Diane Elkins, the Co-owner of Artisan E-Learning and E-Learning Uncovered, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to discuss.Diane is a national e-learning expert. She’s in the business of helping people create courses they can be proud of —and visual aids happen to play a big part. It’s not simply about creating visuals that look great.They also have to be purposeful, offer value, and complement the rest of your content.For the yes’s, maybes, and absolutely-nots of creating visual content that gets the message across, tune in to this episode of The Visual Lounge.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 02:16 Intro02:17 - 02:58 Diane tells us about herself 02:59 - 04:25  How Diane pivoted from graphic design to training and learning04:26 - 07:51 The role of visuals in producing good learning material07:52 - 09:55 Best practices in creating good visuals09:56 - 13:33 How to pull back with design elements13:34 - 15:48 The difference between a classroom trainer and an e-learning module15:49 - 18:56 How much information should accompany visuals18:57 - 25:42 Different levels to consider when creating visuals25:43 - 27:33 How visuals can do more harm than good27:34 - 29:36 A litmus test to check if your content helpful29:37 - 32:03 Tips to get from analogies to solid visual concepts32:04 - 32:50 Why the audience is more important than the content32:51 - 33:29 Overlaps between training and marketing33:30 - 41:02 Decorating vs illustrating your content41:03 - 48:49 Diane gives practical tips on how to make visual content more helpful48:50 - 52:35 Speed round questions52:36 - 54:54 Diana and Matt chat about editing audio54:55 - 55:47 How to connect with Diane55:48 - 56:46 OutroImportant links and mentions:E-Learning Uncovered: https://elearninguncovered.com/Artisan E-Learning: https://artisanelearning.com/Diane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpelkins/When Graphics Lower Learning by Patti Shank: https://elearningindustry.com/when-graphics-lower-learningLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/make-helpful-images

Want to take your video editing skill to the next level (we’re talking ‘coloring outside the line' levels)?  Then this episode has your name on it.Cristi Cotovan joins The Visual Lounge to take us through some of the ‘out of the box’ work he’s been doing on Camtasia.Cristi is a video editor, educational content creator, developer, and Founder of Design Catchup and Graphicious. One of his superpowers is having a “visual brain,” and that certainly comes in handy in his line of work. One of Cristi’s core focuses is Camtasia, which he uses to produce some advanced-level material that can only be described as “out of the box.”Whether you’re just getting started in video creation or you’re further down the line, there’s something to be learned from Cristi’s approach to video making.Learning points from the episode include:What inspires Cristi to create “out of the box” videosHow Cristi’s background as a developer affects his approach to video creationThe role of constraints in video makingCristi’s favorite feature to use in videosCristi’s approach to learning in CamtasiaFoundations everyone should know for video editingWhere Cristi draws inspiration for his Camtasia videosWhen to stop tweaking a projectImportant links and mentions:Try Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.htmlThe Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeSubscribe to Cristi’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/graphiciousCheck out Cristi’s website: https://graphicious.co.uk/Learn more about the TechSmith Academy .To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/out-of-the-box-camtasia

Creating videos can be a work-intensive process – especially when you’re doing everything from scratch.But it doesn’t have to take eons to come up with a well-rounded video, and that’s what Andy Owen, the Social Engagement and Video Manager at TechSmith, discusses in this episode of The Visual Lounge.As Andy explains, recreating every element of your video from scratch is just not practical as your career progresses, it’s important for content creators to embrace the efficiency that comes with templatizing in order to make the most of their time.Andy also discusses various ways to tap into your creativity while staying consistent with templates. As a bonus, he shares a few templates that he uses in Camtasia. Tune in to this episode of The Visual Lounge to hear more about how you can cut down your content creation time using templates.Learning points from the episode include:Why it’s important to create content you can watch yourselfWhat to consider when watching videosWhat Andy still finds challenging about video creationThe importance of templatizingWhen to use scripting templatesHow to balance consistency and creativityAndy shares a few templates he uses in CamtasiaWhy calls to action are so importantThe role of music in video creationImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeAndy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenfilms/TechSmith’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4GLzj1-tfM91DRtD8lk-gAHow to Make a Tutorial Video in 2022 (FREE Template!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyCIXOpJGcETutorial blog post: https://bit.ly/3kvAKB5Download our FREE Script Template: https://bit.ly/3jO9L4zLearn more about the TechSmith Academy here.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/faster-video-creation

Storytelling can be a powerful tool in the L&D community.But, as it is with most tools, you need to know how to use it to get the desired end result. That’s what Hadiya Nuriddin, Learning Strategist, speaker, and CEO of Duets Learning, explores on this episode of The Visual Lounge.Hadiya doesn’t just have a wealth of experience developing and delivering both technical and professional development courses, she’s an advocate for storytelling. She believes that the right stories can deliver context, spur empathy, and inspire people to take “expected” actions.As Hadiya explains, there’s always a story. It’s up to us to figure out how and when to use it. Listen to this episode of The Visual Lounge to learn how to leverage the power of storytelling for everything from compliance training to customer service training.Learning points from the episode include:Why Hadiya is keen on taking a cinematic approach to L&DHow stories add context and breed empathyWhy intent is important when telling storiesThe role of emotions in storytelling What formula makes up a good storyWhy “change’ is vital in storytellingThe difference between a story and an anecdoteWhat level of vulnerability is necessary for storytelling How to get different viewpoints using the perspective circleLessons from storytelling in TV and moviesImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeDuets Learning: http://www.duetslearning.com/Hadiya's resources: http://www.duetslearning.com/resoHadiya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadiyanuriddin/Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/powerful-stories-and-your-message/

What can learning and development professionals learn from marketing experts? That’s the question we tackle in this episode of The Visual Lounge featuring Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist from Beyond the Sky. Danielle specializes in coming up with innovative ways to infuse marketing into training to create learning content that sticks.Believe it or not, we can learn so much from marketing teams, especially when it comes to identifying learner (or consumer) personas, defining the content’s objectives, and creating materials and resources that our target audience wants and needs.So, where should we begin when it comes to bridging the gap between marketing and training? Tune in to this amazing episode of The Visual Lounge to find out and get ready to take your training to a new level.Learning points from the episode include:How Danielle transitioned from marketing to learning and developmentWhat makes good content How to focus your core video strategy on consumer behavior Why you shouldn’t have more than one message per videoWhy you should take a disciplined approach to video creationTips to inject drama into your video contentHow to get to “the drama” of your contentWhat learning and development professionals can learn from marketingWhat marketing teams can take away from learning and development teamsThe importance of putting time into your learning coursesHow Danielle keeps her ‘creative well’ full of ideasTips to help develop your marketing teamImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeBeyond the Sky: https://www.beyondthesky.caDanielle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellewallace/?originalSubdomain=caLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/video-lessons-from-marketing

With the world shifting more into virtual spaces, live events are becoming the order of the day. If you’re in the L&D community,it’s probably time to think about ways to manage your time, space, tech and everything in between. To speak more on how to own your virtual training space, Kassy LaBorie, the Founder of Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC and virtual classroom master trainer, joined The Visual Lounge. Kassy is the “Original Virtual Training Hero" and is in the business of helping people give their best in virtual training sessions. She covers everything from live virtual training events to webinars and ways to connect better with your audience. In this episode, Kassy reveals the various ways she connects with her audience, how her producers help her streamline her messages, and the ins and outs of becoming a virtual training hero.Learning points from the episode include:How Kassy got into online L&DHow to get people more engaged in the learning processHow learning objectives influence participant numbersWhat it means to have someone producing a live eventWhat makes a good producerThe dynamics of the producer-moderator relationshipKassy’s advice about making mistakes during live videosWhat differentiates live videos from pre-recorded videosKassy gives some insights into “The Virtual Trainer’s Guide to Becoming a Hero”Important links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeKassy’s Site: https://kassyconsulting.com/Kassy’s E-Guide: https://kassyconsulting.com/the-virtual-trainers-guide-to-becoming-a-hero/Kassy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/the-power-of-producers

What makes graphics click with your audience?Is it your skill level, the finer details like color or shape, or could it be something else altogether? While those things definitely contribute to the success of your graphics, you could still end up producing graphics that just don’t work even if you have the skills to show for it.Mike Parkinson, author and Founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain what it takes to make graphics that work. He explains why graphic designers need to appeal to their target audience on two different levels — emotionally and intellectually.Besides being the founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, Mike is a world-renowned communication and presentation expert, best-selling author, and professional trainer. He’s also a partner at 24 Hour Company, which is a premier creative services firm. Learning points from the episode include:Why you need to understand the way people consume contentHow to take a motivator-means approach to create visually compelling contentHow to make your graphics workWhy defining your message is importantHow to avoid overdoing it with graphicsHow to pick the right aesthetic styleTips for creating material design graphicsWhen to use graphics vs. textImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribe Billion Dollar Graphics: https://www.billiondollargraphics.com/Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-parkinson-microsoft-mvp-apmp-fellow-bb364/24 Hour Company: https://24hrco.com/Mike’s email address: mike@billiondollargraphics.comLearn more about the TechSmith Academy .To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/graphics-that-dont-work

Using stories to make more impactful videos is not a new idea. But it’s an overlooked part of video creation, especially when it comes to tutorials or corporate videos.But storytelling isn’t just for the fun, creative videos out there. Even if you’re creating a video tutorial about car insurance, injecting a little storytelling can go a long way in hitting your primary video goal – connecting with your audience.Andrew Kan, filmmaker, storyteller, and YouTube creator, joined The Visual Lounge to talk all about story, and how it can help you level up your video skills.Andrew helps people overcome the hurdles stopping people from achieving their creative goals. He’s an experienced film director and has produced award-winning documentaries for film festivals.Andrew is skilled in storytelling, YouTube search engine optimization, camera operation, and all things filmmaking. You may know him from his time as Director of Video Production at TubeBuddy, where he used his skills to grow TubeBuddy’s YouTube channel from 6,000 to 525,000 subscribers. This episode has plenty of nuggets of wisdom from Andrew that can benefit all sorts of content creators.Learning points from the episode include:Why videos are about creating connections with your audienceHow to improve your skills by watching othersHow to inject storytelling into your videosWhy professional gear is less important than you thinkHow to keep people watchingWhat to do when you feel demotivated about your videosImportant links and mentions:Andrew Kan’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AndrewKAndrew Kan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewKanFilmThe Kan Do Creator Community on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/4kKxvYTaW4Learn more about the TechSmith Academy here.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/impactful-story-videos

What’s the secret to the perfect video editing workflow? Same as for many great questions we hear, the true answer is that it depends. But it all depends on you.Building a workflow that’s efficient, doesn’t cut corners, and saves time can take a while to figure out, especially if you’re new to it all. But once you’ve figured out what works for you, you can start to level up your videos and fine-tune your craft. The Visual Lounge host Matt Pierce breaks down a sample video editing workflow that covers the main areas of video editing, from organizing your footage to adding audio and graphics. Download our workflow example or feel free to mix and match each element to find out what works for you. Learning points from the episode include:Why you should create a video editing workflowHow organizing your footage can save you a lot of time How to create a rough cut vs. fine cut What you need to know about adding audio and visual effectsWhen to color correct your videosWhy video editing is about finding what works for youWhy it’s so important to experiment and try new editing tacticsImportant links and mentions:Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html Video editing workflow: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0e0weizistb0wh2/TechSmith_VideoEditingWorkflow.pdf?dl=1Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/video-editing-workflow