With over two decades of experience at the crossroads of education and technology, Instructional Designer Ephraim Ross provides invaluable insights on the significance of craftsmanship in your work during his appearance on The Visual Lounge.Hosted by Matt Pierce, this episode dives deep into tips and best practices for creators, focusing on visual efficiency, the innovative use of AI tools, and enhancing video and audio quality. Ephraim emphasizes the need for continuous learning and making time to hone your craft despite busy schedules. From the benefits of teleprompter technology and camera streaming apps to advanced features in Snagit and Camtasia, this episode is packed with practical advice for L&D professionals and marketers alike.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 02:15 Introduction02:15 - 05:02 First tip: make time to take time05:02 - 05:42 Tools, tips and temperaments 05:42 - 14:41 Camera streaming apps and AI tools14:41 - 17:44 Snagit tips and tricks17:44 - 22:13 Camtasia tips and tricks22:13 - 28:52 Speed round questions28:52 - 32:46 Final take and conclusion Important links and mentions:Connect with Ephraim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimross/Email The Visual Lounge on: thevisuallounge@techsmith.com

How can we create videos that people pay attention to? With many in the content world claiming that attention spans are shrinking, The Visual Lounge host, Matthew Pierce, has a different take…In this episode, Matt explains why he believes that attention spans aren’t the problem. It’s just that there’s so much content battling for our attention (never mind our busy daily lives!) Matt explores why you need to know the fundamentals of what makes a good video and how to tell a story with your content to keep people watching. He explains why it’s often the first five seconds of a video that determines whether someone will stick around and why you may need to make the effort to re-engage viewers for longer videos. AI is a big topic in the content creation world. But while AI spells opportunity for video creators, it doesn’t mean we can get away with not knowing the basics. You need to know how to tell a story and what your audience is looking for to maintain viewer interest. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:21 Introduction 01:21 - 02:50 Reflecting on past guests and the lessons they’ve shared 02:50 - 04:11 The fundamentals of video creation04:11 - 07:51 Why attention spans aren’t shrinking07:51 - 08:58 How to keep audiences engaged past the first five seconds 08:58 - 13:26 Why you need to know your audience 13:26 - 16:51 Why video creation is a learnable skill16:51 - 19:03 AI may help but you still need to know the fundamentals 19:03 - 20:16 Outro and final thoughts Important links and mentions:Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewrpierce/

Today’s global businesses want to make sure their messages are heard far and wide. But sometimes, that means crossing a language barrier. Whether it’s marketing content or training content, getting your message across quickly and effectively is critical. Poorly translated materials could put a spanner in the works of what you’re trying to achieve. But even if the translation is word-for-word perfect, without intentional efforts to localize that content, it’s easy for your message to get lost in translation. In this episode, we sit down with Roberto Aiello, the Senior Learning Experience Designer at Personio, about realities, challenges, and his tips for localizing content effectively. He explains why localization is about much more than just translation. For the message of your content to be translated and absorbed by your audience, it needs to feel native to that person. Roberto talks about the common difficulties that can come up while localizing content including cultural references and phrases that don’t translate well into other languages. He shares some examples he’s come across as a native Italian speaker now living in Dublin. Roberto has some great advice for anyone involved in localizing content, and explores what to watch out for and why you need to know your audience well. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:56 Introduction01:56 - 02:55 Roberto’s tip for using images and video02:55 - 04:30 Roberto’s background as a non-native English speaker04:30 - 08:36 What it means to localize content and why it’s more than just translation08:36 - 11:29 How you can begin translating and localizing content 11:29 - 13:19 Common issues that cause translation difficulties 13:19 - 17:20 How to find balance in a localization project17:20 - 19:39 Things to be aware of when localizing 19:39 - 23:26 Why you need to understand your audience well23:26 - 27:28 Speed round questions 27:28 - 28:00 Roberto’s final take28:00 - 29:08 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Roberto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertoaiello/

On this podcast, we talk about creating video. We talk about editing video. But then there's the art of distributing your video and getting it out there so people can find it. And having your audience find it is a critical piece of the puzzle! Of course, we’re referring to search engine optimization (SEO). In this episode, we welcome SEO coach and entrepreneur Samantha North. She talks about the importance of SEO in video distribution, the interplay between written content and video for better SEO, and how to start and succeed in SEO. Samantha shares insights from her extensive background in digital marketing and her journey toward mastering video SEO. She also provides practical tips on keyword research, video optimization, and leveraging AI tools. The episode rounds out with Samantha’s advice on building a diverse online presence to enrich your brand and safeguard against algorithm changes. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:14 Introduction 01:14 - 04:40 Tips for using video to enhance your SEO 04:40 - 07:10 The basics and the importance of understanding SEO 07:10 - 10:14 Practical steps and tools for starting with SEO 10:14 - 17:00 Creating SEO-optimized content17:00 - 21:47 The power of video in SEO and content strategy21:47 - 24:26 Building an online brand universe24:26 - 29:27 Speed round questions29:27 - 30:55 Final thoughts and takeawaysImportant links and mentions:Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/northsamantha/Connect with Samantha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjnrth/Visit Samantha’s Website: https://samanthanorth.com/Find Samantha on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaOtpoJyMj18q31bdHqP-Ug/

Join branding and marketing expert Brian Sykes as he delves into the practical uses of AI, emphasizing its role in enhancing human creativity and productivity. From image and video generation to addressing copyright concerns, this episode explores AI as a powerful tool for innovation and growth.

Anastasia McCune, an Instructional Designer, talks about the power of interactive videos in training. She explains how interactive scenarios help viewers practice lessons better. She discusses her process for designing eLearning experiences and shares examples of successful projects. The episode highlights the importance of incorporating interactive elements in videos for learning purposes.

Jonathan Halls, President of Jonathan Halls LLC, shares tips on video training, reflecting on his TV background and common video misconceptions. He discusses provoking learning with videos, the importance of polish, and the three principles of training video creation. Halls also explores the role of purpose, polish, and professionalism in enhancing video training outcomes.

As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Visuals are a quick, efficient, and effective way of getting your message across, so your audience understands and retains key information. But how do you create effective visuals? In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we welcome back Mike Parkinson, keynote speaker and trainer, Principal of 24 Hour Company, and Owner of Billion Dollar Graphics. Mike gives an in-depth look at how you can tap into the nature of the human brain to create the best visuals. We hear how to work with the automatic and manual sides of our brains to deliver information effectively.He explains his step-by-step process, starting with goals and audience to working out your means and motivators – all before you even start thinking about how your visuals will look. For a masterclass in creative visuals and visual messaging, don’t miss this episode!Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:55 Introduction01:55 – 02:54 Mike’s tip for making images better02:54 – 06:21 Why should you deliver your message in visual form06:21 – 09:27 How to start crafting your message09:27 – 14:00 Tying messages to emotions to engage people14:00 – 17:16 Means and motivators in your messaging17:16 – 22:05 Taking chunks of information and turning it into a story22:05 – 24:24 How to convey a message visually24:24 – 26:14 The benefits of following a clear process26:14 – 29:45 Why AI can be a “smart start” but not a replacement for creatives29:45 – 33:50 Speed round questions 33:50 – 34:32 Mike’s final take on using visuals 34:32 – 35:27 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-parkinson-bb364/Follow Mike on X: https://twitter.com/Mike_ParkinsonFollow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeparkinson_bdg/Mike Parkinson and Billion Dollar Graphics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRDQaYfze62MYQ_CO5rjo1wBillion Dollar Graphics: https://billiondollargraphics.com/

What makes great educational content? We dig into the anatomy (quite literally) of what makes a successful video in this episode with Taim Dawod, a recently graduated medical doctor who found success on YouTube. Taim began his channel as a way to learn and remember information in med school, but quickly realized that he wasn’t the only one benefiting from his videos…The Taim Talks Med YouTube channel has built a following of over 150k subs with hundreds of videos on anatomy. What started as a channel of humble presentations for his own benefit has grown into a library of engaging and helpful animated medical lectures. We hear about his journey from med school to media and the process he uses to craft each video. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:40 Introduction01:40 – 02:46 One tip for creating videos 02:46 – 06:30 Why Taim started a YouTube channel06:30 – 08:15 The main thing that made a difference to his videos 08:15 – 10:34 Making learning content in the way you like to learn10:34 – 15:34 How Taim decides what content topics to cover15:34 – 19:47 Taim’s step-by-step process for creating videos19:47 – 21:12 How Taim balances making videos with his job as a doctor21:12 – 24:23 How Taim battles with the expectation to upload and found a healthier approach24:23 – 26:46 Tips for medical students looking to make content26:46 -34:16 Speed round questions34:16 – 35:06 Taim’s final take35:06 – 36:16 OutroImportant links and mentions:Follow Taim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taimtalksmed/ Subscribe to Taim Talks Med on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaimTalksMed Watch Taim’s video - How I Make Educational Videos (2024) – 7 Steps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZx5UWhkHaI

It’s no news that our attention spans are tiny in the modern world of online content, social media, and everything else on the internet. For video creators, this means it’s a constant battle to grab attention and share information that people absorb. You might think you’re safe in the L&D space. After all, workplace educational content means you have a somewhat captive audience. But is that audience really engaging with and absorbing the content? Or is that content competing for brain space with the latest MrBeast video?In this episode, we welcomed Matt Gjertsen, Founder of Better Every Day Studios, a learning and development consultancy that teaches people how to create better content. We explore the challenges that L&D creators are up against, how we can create better videos, and the lessons we can take from successful content creators on YouTube. He explains how L&D creators can scale their efforts, speed up content iteration, and develop a pre-planning strategy for videos. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:57 Introduction01:57 – 03:24 Matt’s top tip for creating better videos03:24 – 05:53 Why L&D should take lessons from YouTube creators 05:53 – 08:54 How L&D can scale and speed up content iteration 08:54 – 12:42 Why a solid pre-planning strategy is essential before you hit record12:42 – 16:27 What YouTubers and content creators get right when it comes to grabbing attention16:27 – 19:32 Why your videos’ titles and descriptions shouldn’t be an afterthought19:32 – 21:21 Why better videos mean better learning 21:21 – 24:22 Does L&D content need to be entertaining?24:22 – 26:42 What not to copy from YouTube as an L&D creator26:42 – 30:12 Speed round questions30:12 – 31:00 Matt’s final take 31:00 – 32:05 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen/Better Every Day Studios: https://www.bettereverydaystudios.com/Better Every Day Studios YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6sHpKEkdnD0-VKOIBAxcMAMaking Better podcast: https://www.bettereverydaystudios.com/making-better