The Visual Lounge

Tutorial videos are a fantastic way to connect with your audience through teaching and learning. But is there such a thing as a one-size-fits-all tutorial video workflow?Josh Cavalier has over 25 years of experience in learning and development and is a passionate instructional video creator. He joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to share how he adapts his tutorial video workflow to ensure highly effective instructional videos.This episode is packed with actionable advice that will revolutionize how you approach your tutorial video workflow.Learning points from the episode include:How understanding barriers to entry can help you create a more successful videoCrafting video tutorials as part of a 5-step learning journeyHow to spark emotion with your video tutorials How long a video tutorial should beJosh’s top tips for creating a perfect tutorial video workflowImportant links and mentions:Josh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcavalier/Josh’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshcavJosh’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshcav/Josh’s website: http://www.joshcavalier.com/Get in touch: thevisuallounge@techsmith.comLearn more about the TechSmith AcademyTo watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/perfecting-tutorial-video-workflow

Research shows that bad audio is the single most important factor in people stopping watching videos.Simply put, bad audio means no viewers. And, of course, as video creators, we want viewers! So how can you improve the quality of your audio recording to get perfect audio for your videos?As a beginner, it can be overwhelming stepping into the world of video. When you add audio into the mix, it becomes even more difficult to know what levers to pull to get the outcome you want.Jake Pechtel is the Product Strategist for Camtasia and Audiate and has over seven years’ experience at TechSmith. In this episode, he shares some high-level tips and more advanced insights about how to achieve that perfect audio for your videos and keep your viewers watching for longer.Learning points from the episode include:The three Cs of good audioWhy beginners should prioritize simple, clean audio recordingsThe audio mistakes to avoidHow to improve your audio recording skillsHow Audiate can help you get perfect audioImportant links and mentions:TechSmith Audiate: https://www.techsmith.com/audiate.html TechSmith High Five: Jewel Tolentino - Essetino Artists on YouTube https://youtu.be/jWGs0RsIj-kReach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechSmith Tag us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsmith-corporation Email us: thevisuallounge@techsmith.comMatt’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/piercemrLearn more about the TechSmith Academy To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/perfect-video-audio

What does it take to make your tutorial videos shine?Jason Valade and Ryan Eash are both Instructional Designers at TechSmith with several years of experience creating high-value instructional videos.Jason is also an ATD Master Trainer and has a background as a classroom teacher. He loves teaching and training people on all things TechSmith-related. Ryan works on the customer education team creating video tutorials and course materials to help customers learn how to utilize TechSmith tools.This world-class Instructional Designer duo has plenty of tips, tactics, and advice to share, so tune in to learn more. Learning points from the episode include:Why you should focus on one thing at a timeHow TechSmith’s tiered video system worksWhy not every video needs to be perfectThe top Camtasia tools to try outHow to ensure your audio is top quality even when recording at homeWhy both short and long videos have their placeLearn more about the TechSmith AcademyTo read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/tips-tools-tutorial-videos

Want some video creation and editing tips?Who better to ask than a teacher? In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we invited Jayne Davids, Camtasia Trainer and Video Editor at her company, Raiveon Video Specialists.Jayne shares thoughts on how you can improve your video creation skills by sharing some insights into her own methods. She takes you through processes, how she manages projects, her tips on creating storyboards and scripts, and much more.Jayne has been involved in learning and development for over 20 years now, designing and delivering training systems. She’s combined her love for teaching with making videos and now helps others do the same.Learning points from the episode include:Why all training videos should get to the point quickly and clearlyHow Jayne manages projectsJayne’s process for creating, planning, and editing videosWhy Jayne likes to record audio separatelyWhat you can do to improve your video creation skillsJayne’s process for storyboarding and scripting her videosThe best Camtasia features Jayne recommendsLearn more about the TechSmith AcademyTo read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

If you’re producing video after video, you need to know how well they’re doing.Are they effective? Is there room for improvement? Do they cover everything they need to?You won’t know unless you measure and analyze your videos! Elizabeth Pierce, Senior Director of Learning Experience and Consulting at TaskUs, joined The Visual Lounge to share her thoughts behind measuring video engagement.Elizabeth has 20 plus years of experience working in the learning and development space as a fantastic leader and advisor. She’s dedicated to driving a progressive learning culture throughout organizations to meet company, customer, and employee goals for strategic growth. She’s worked with big names such as Walmart, Oracle, Uber, Eventbrite, and Glassdoor.Learning points from the episode include:Why the first step in creating video is to get clear on company goalsHow collaboration and communication are keyThe best ways to test engagementWhy video is usually a better option than PowerPoint presentationsWhat to consider before creating a learning management systemThe challenges of training remotelyLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

Creating great instructional videos doesn’t start when you hit record. For the best success during production and beyond, good planning is essential. Planning and following a set process are key to producing consistently high-value tutorial videos. From scripting to research and analysis to drafting, the better foundations you can lay with your work, the easier it is to scale your videos and achieve the desired effect with your audience.Chandra Owen, Instructional Designer at TechSmith, joined this episode of The Visual Lounge to share her processes and insights behind planning to scale your videos.Chandra’s work as an Instructional Designer means she creates content for TechSmith’s customer education team, including video, written tutorials, and webinars. Prior to joining TechSmith, she worked for 13 years in higher education, managing training, and social media. Learning points from the episode include:How to decide between video vs. written instructionsWhy an efficient video schedule needs a solid processHow Chandra’s scripting process worksWhy Chandra’s team uses a tier system for videosChandra’s take on evergreen content vs. updating old contentWhy an asset library can save so much timeThe benefits of creating a scratch audio track before the final versionLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

A good SEO strategy can help make sure your videos get found and watched.But if you’re not an SEO expert it can feel overwhelming.In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon talk through 5 ways you can quickly optimize your videos for search engines. You can easily watch and search past episodes here.You can also find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Instructional videos are a cornerstone of many training programs, onboarding processes, and team communication. But if you have never produced your own videos, it can be a bit of a daunting project. There’s producing, editing, camera equipment, audio equipment, and then distributing the content to think about. In this episode, we’re focusing more on the steps you need to take before you start rolling. How do you plan your content for maximum impact?Lee Rodrigues, Senior Instructional Designer at Sunrun, joined this episode of The Visual Lounge to talk more about this planning stage. As part of our ten-week series on instructional videos, Lee is the latest guest to discuss instructional design and producing the best videos possible. Lee has had 15 years of experience in the technology, training, and multimedia production fields. He uses a number of tools and tactics to develop and evaluate blended learning solutions for measurable and improvable behaviors. Learning points from the episode include:Why all big projects should start with a prototypeHow planning a video is a bit like planning a recipeThe difference between workflow-based instructions vs. knowledge transferThe Five Moments of Need and how to set objectivesHow Lee scripts his videos and uses the zero draft approachHow to read a script on cameraImportant links and mentions:Lee’s portfolio videoLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

Videos are everywhere. But, there are some things that we can do better. One of them is composition. In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon talk about the principles that you can use to get better video composition, from the rule of thirds to headroom, talkspace to foreground/background and more.Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episodes here. You can also find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

So, you’ve mastered the basics of producing video training content. What now?The work isn’t over just yet. After creating videos, it’s essential to measure their impact and effectiveness. Only by doing so will your videos improve, become more engaging, and have a great impact on your audience.For tips on how to do this, Cara North, Operations Training Manager at Silfex, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge.Cara shares her best tips for assessing the effectiveness of your videos, measuring KPIs, and why you should always be on the lookout for feedback. She explains her three-step process for improving your videos and boosting engagement. Learning points from the episode include:Why learning and development departments need to always add value with their contentWhy not all training has to be a videoThe value of doing something different and experimentingCara’s three top tips for creating instructional videosWhy content should always fit the mediumCommon mistakes in L&D departmentsImportant links and mentions:Cara North’s websiteLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.