The Visual Lounge

New ways of working, besides being in the office all day, have been a huge talking point since the pandemic pushed many of us into remote or hybrid work. But is this trend dying down in 2024? We published the 2024 Workplace Flexibility Trends Report recently to dig into what the data says about workplace flexibility today. To talk through the findings, we welcomed two experts on workplace flexibility and analytics – Nida Mehtab, the CEO and Founder of Caryatid, and Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics, to the podcast.We explore what the data says about workplace trends around remote and hybrid work, flexible hours, how different generations of workers prefer to work and take part in meetings, and much more. Download the report today to learn more. You can find the link in the resources section below. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 03:03 Introduction03:04 – 03:58 What the Workplace Flexibility Trends Report is about 03:59 – 06:30 The standout findings from our research06:31 – 08:32 How to find a balance between remote and office working 08:33 – 11:23 Tapping into the “why” of returning to the office11:24 – 16:41 Why companies aren’t providing the resources to return to the office 16:41 – 24:13 How to bring flexibility into meetings 24:13 – 26:18 How AI tools can help you give everyone a voice in meetings 26:19 – 36:18 Accommodating mixed feelings on commuting to the office and meetings 36:19 – 42:01 How younger generations prefer to communicate42:02 – 43:16 Why workplaces need to find a middle ground that works for the organization and employees 43:17 – 46:48 How to connect with and learn more from Nida and KateImportant links and mentions:    Download the 2024 Workplace Flexibility Trends Report: https://www.techsmith.com/research-2024-workplace-flexibility-trends-report.html Connect with Nida on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nida-mehtab-26499672/ Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klister/Caryatid: https://www.caryatid-space.com/Global Workplace Analytics: https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/Follow FutureWorkforce on X: https://twitter.com/FutureWorkforce

At first glance, it might seem that marketing and Learning and Development (L&D) are very different. But if you dig a little deeper, they both have similar goals – to grab attention, raise awareness, and spread a message to the audience.So, what can L&D creators learn from marketing? It turns out a lot! In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we speak with Bianca Baumann, VP of Learning Solutions & Innovation at Ardent, and Mike Taylor, Learning Consultant at Nationwide, to get their thoughts on using marketing tools and techniques to create great educational videos and eLearning materials. We look at some of the lessons we can take from marketing around getting audience attention and building audience personas to drive your message home. We look at tools and tactics commonly used in marketing that can be applied to anyone creating learning content and why, like in marketing, we need to think about the audience’s thoughts and feelings.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 02:33 Introduction02:33 – 03:38 Bianca and Mike’s top tips for using video03:38 – 05:09 Why Bianca and Mike borrow marketing strategies for L&D content 05:09 – 07:52 How L&D professionals can grab attention with their content 07:52 – 11:45 How can L&D start to learn from marketing?11:45 – 14:02 Why L&D people are hesitant about using marketing tactics14:02 – 16:15 What L&D creators can learn about audience emotion 16:15 – 18:36 Questions that L&D can ask learners to improve learning content 18:36 – 21:48 How L&D can avoid getting hung up on having limited budgets 21:48 – 25:39 Why we need to look beyond the L&D world for tools and tech25:39 – 29:48 Speed round questions29:48 – 30:40 Mike and Bianca’s final takes 30:40 – 31:40 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketaylor/Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabaumann/

By now, many of us are content connoisseurs. With millions of videos out there in all different shapes and sizes, we need to be selective with what we consume vs. scroll past. So, is your imagery – whether that’s images or videos – resonating with your audience?We invited Leanna Pham, Director & Executive Producer of the widely popular Social Pros Podcast, to The Visual Lounge to share her insights and expertise on creating imagery that engages audiences. In this episode, she shares some great advice for using images and video to reflect your brand more effectively and how brands can get started with visual content. We hear her thoughts on creating content that fits the platform and audience rather than trying to post everything everywhere and what the seven-second rule means for video content. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 02:00 Introduction02:00 – 03:14 Advice for using images in the workplace03:14 – 05:46 Practical production tips on video, lighting, and audio05:46 – 11:05 How brands can let their personality shine through11:05 – 16:51 Why you should adjust content to fit the platform 16:51 – 18:21 Why you can’t please everyone18:21 – 20:36 How to follow the seven-second rule in video20:36 – 24:05 Lessons from MrBeast24:05 – 26:37 Being “real” on social media and in your content26:37 – 32:20 Speed round questions32:20 – 33:11 Leanna’s final take33:11 – 34:12 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Leanna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanna-pham/

Times have changed in the world of video creation. The “rules” of the past have been broken, issuing a new age of how we make and watch videos. Whether you’re a content creator, an influencer, or are creating videos in a corporate setting, you should still aim to master the basics of what makes a good video. After all, the goal of your video is to deliver value and solutions to your audience. But how we approach shooting, scripting, editing, and everything in between is ripe for experimentation. In this episode, host of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce, looks at the evolution of video and breaks down the best practices today. Tune in to hear about the latest video trends and how you can run with them to create engaging videos your audience will love. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:21 Introduction01:21 – 02:20 How video has evolved 02:20 – 03:03 Why you should learn the “rules” so you can break them03:03 – 04:03 Should you script your videos?04:03 – 06:45 The benefits of templatizing elements of your videos06:45 – 08:14 Should you use AI to help you create videos?08:14 – 10:40 Why the audience’s needs are still the top priority 10:40 – 15:01 The benefits of creating multi-purpose content 15:01 – 16:40 Why quality of production is irrelevant if you don’t have the basics 16:40 – 20:23 The evolution of editing videos 20:23 - 21:33 How restraints in the creative process impact video (for better or worse)21:33 – 22:37 What really makes a good video22:37 – 23:37 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Getting content out there fast is more important than ever. You don’t want to keep people waiting for your content, after all. But getting faster at video creation is no easy thing, and the last thing you want is to push out low-quality content just in the name of speed.  In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we hear from Brandon Burtner, the Senior Director of Learning Strategies and Solutions at Scaled Agile, on his approach to accelerating workflows in video creation.  A big takeaway from this episode is to not just focus on the production side of things but to also be mindful of the planning process, project management, file management, and everything that needs to happen before you hit record. Brandon takes us through some steps in the agile work method and explains how you can accelerate your workflows and collaborate with stakeholders and contributors more efficiently.  Learning points from the episode include: 00:00 – 02:18 Introduction02:18 – 05:09 Brandon’s top tip for improving how you create videos05:09 – 07:02 What it means to accelerate flow07:02 – 11:19 How to start accelerating flow for your videos11:19 – 12:32 How to approach project management in a team12:32 – 15:04 How to weigh up “busy work” vs. important project management work15:04 – 18:31 The importance of minimizing handoffs and dependencies18:31 – 21:41 Using templates to accelerate workflows21:41 – 27:10 Optimizing practices for production27:10 – 31:07 Speed round questions31:07 – 31:47 Brandon’s final take31:47 – 32:46 OutroImportant links and mentions: Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-burtner/ Scaled Agile: https://scaledagile.com/ 

With millions of videos at our fingertips, what is it that makes you stop scrolling and click on a video? Aaron King, an entrepreneur and filmmaker of the DeepSnap YouTube channel, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to give his take on what makes scroll-stopping videos. We hear about how he got started in content creation, coming in from the world of entrepreneurship, and what he’s learned about content in the past few years.  Aaron talks about the power of video in helping to build his brand and why he thinks that being yourself and true to your brand will help you forge a deeper connection with your audience.  This episode marks 200 and counting of The Visual Lounge! It was great to hear that Aaron shares the TechSmith philosophy of leveling up your skills with every video you create.  Learning points from the episode include: 00:00 – 01:47 Introduction 01:47 – 03:13 Aaron’s top tip for improving your videos 03:13 – 07:03 What is a video hook and how can you start using them? 07:03 – 11:21 How to create interesting content, no matter your topic 11:21 – 15:11 How to make sure your video has great audio that draws people in 15:11 – 16:29 Stumbling across new ideas in the comment section 16:29 – 24:27 Why Aaron decided to become a content creator  24:27 – 25:29 Why speed is so important when you’re starting out in your journey 25:29 – 28:43 Speed round questions  28:43 – 29:22 Where to find Aaron and information about his brands 29:22 – 30:11 Aaron’s final take on creating great videos 30:11 – 31:21 Outro Important links and mentions: Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepsnap/ Follow Deep Snap on X: https://twitter.com/deepsnap  Deep Snap: https://deepsnap.com Subscribe to Aaron’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@deepsnap 

Dr Clark Quinn PhD joins the podcast to discuss cognitive properties in media creation, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful video production. Topics include: not creating video for video's sake, utilizing cognitive properties in media, the value of templates for video creation, and advice for creators on time management. The episode explores integrating technology with learning for improved organizational performance.

Content creation is no walk in the park. While many underestimate what creators do all day, there’s a lot of work and necessary skills that go into producing content week in, week out. Joining this episode of The Visual Lounge is Britt Carter, the Creator Success Manager at GigaStar and one-half of the duo behind The Betting Belle YouTube channel. Britt’s career has seen her work with big-name content creators, including MrBeast and Ryan Christopher Slots. Now, she runs her own YouTube channel featuring casino and gambling content.  Fully immersed in the world of content creation, Britt has some great advice for creators on video creation, networking, using analytics, and learning to use video editing tools. Tune in to hear why she believes that building solid relationships in your industry and consistency are the keys to success.  Learning points from the episode include: Introduction Britt’s top tip for improving your videos Advice for staying consistent with your content Why content creation is no easy feat What new content creators should focus on  Britt’s advice for building relationships in the content creator world How to become more comfortable on camera  The challenge of creating gambling content  Britt’s journey to becoming a video editor  Why it’s important to find the right tool for your needs Speed round questions  Where to connect with Britt and her content  Britt’s final take on content creation Outro Important links and mentions: Connect with Britt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyjocarter/ Follow Britt and The Betting Belle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrittc/  and https://www.instagram.com/bettingbelle/   The Betting Belle: http://bettingbelle.com The Betting Belle YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/@bettingbelle 

In this episode, the guest Rob Balasabas, Head of Partnerships & Community at Uscreen, emphasizes the importance of collaboration among video creators. He shares advice on working with brands as a creator and how brands can hire creators themselves. Rob also discusses the top two trends in the video space and highlights the value of having a supportive community and mentor for new creators.

Debating the pros and cons of scripting videos, with insights from video producers at TechSmith. They discuss the benefits of having a writer in the recording studio and the challenges of speaking without a script. The trade-offs between scripting and not scripting videos are explored, including the importance of continuity and clarity. Personal experiences and advice for scripting are shared.