The Visual Lounge

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.

Here are our answers to your most frequently asked video production questions. We wanted to compile all of the frequently asked questions into one place and give straight answers about how to make better videos.In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon answer questions that people wrote in with, from YouTube, social media, and everywhere else.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.

Do you want to start creating tutorial videos like a pro?If you’re new to the world of video creation, it can feel a bit overwhelming. Where do you even start?The good news is that it doesn’t have to be too complicated. You don’t need a big fancy setup or Hollywood director skills. Often, simpler is better.Ashley Chiasson is the Senior e-Learning Developer at Traliant, a compliance training provider for workplaces. She is also a self-proclaimed Articulate ambassador and is most well-known for her popular screencast tutorials. She joins The Visual Lounge to share how she helps create valuable training content with the power of video.In this video, Ashley explains instructional design and why video is the go-to resource for training content. She shares her workflow and processes, how she creates videos, and some tips and common mistakes to avoid if you’re new to video.Learning points from the episode include:How video ties into instructional designThe best times to use a script in your videoWhy brief videos are often bestWhy you don’t need fancy video setupsThe common audio mistake video creators makeTips for new video creatorsImportant links and mentions:Ashley Chiasson’s websiteSprout LearningAshley’s YouTube channelLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

Many people are intimidated by the thought of having to be in front of a camera.But you don't need to be in front of the camera to create videos and help other people learn.In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon break down seven different types of videos you can make without showing your face.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 want to create instructional videos...but where do you start?Instructional videos come in many different forms, meaning there’s a style that suits almost every creator (and learner!). There’s plenty of opportunities to get an instructional video right – but as there’s such a wide scope for what makes a good instructional video, knowing what to begin with can be a real sticking point.Jonathan Halls is a business author and consultant who helps people develop their training strategies. His 30+ year career spans a spectrum of roles in the training and communications industry. He joins Matt Pierce in this episode to share the best ways to approach creating instructional videos as a beginner and explains the whys, whats, and hows, behind this broad and increasingly vital subject.Learning points from the episode include:The key principles of instructional videoThe 3 questions you need to ask yourself before you plan your videoHow to structure an instructional videoJonathan's top tips for creating a video workflowHow to make an instructional video more effectiveImportant links and mentions:Jonathan's websiteJonathan’s LinkedInJonathan’s 8 Step Checklist for Producing Engaging Instructional VideosLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

Today we're going to cover the format and structure of a good tutorial video by breaking down one of our own.In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon go through the basic elements of a good tutorial video. They break down a tutorial for TechSmith Audiate so you can see exactly how to level up your next tutorial video.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.