The Visual Lounge

We get the question all the time: “What’s the perfect length for a video?” It makes sense. Grabbing and keeping a viewer’s attention is challenging, and you want to be sure they aren’t making videos that are too long (or short). In this episode, Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , and Justin Simon talk through the myths and and misinformation around video length and what you can do to make sure your video i...

What’s the secret to creating great customer education content, fast?  If you create content, you might get swept up striving for perfection. But when it comes to customer education content, this should be one of the last things on your mind. Dave Derington, Senior Manager of Outreach’s customer education program, believes that customer education doesn’t have to be perfect – it just has to be...

Are you making common mistakes when you record your screen? Probably. The good news is a lot of mistakes can be corrected with a few simple tweaks. In this episode, Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , and Justin Simon go over the top mistakes they've made that you can avoid when screen recording. Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episodes here. You can also find...

How do you incorporate accessibility into your content creation process? Is it something you think about when you’re planning your content…or is it an afterthought? Digital content accessibility hasn’t always been at the forefront of the content discussion, but the tide is shifting. Now, many new technologies make accessibility features easy to include, but how can you ensure that your content is...

Writing the script for your videos can be confusing and boring. But you don’t have to waste tons of time or energy to finish your script. In this episode , Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , an d Justin Simon talk through different templates and examples of scripts that will help you create high-quality videos. Templates: Justin's Script Template Andy's Script Template Matt's Script Template Do you want mo...

How can video templates speed up your video creation process? Templates are a powerful way to structure your videos. They help you avoid repeating the same edits over and over again and can streamline video creation between teams. If you’ve never considered using a video template before, this episode of The Visual Lounge shows you what you could be missing. Listen to hear host of The Visual Lounge...

Which microphone should I use? This is one of the most common questions we receive about making videos. In this episode, Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , and Justin Simon help you get the best bang for your buck and spend more of your time actually making videos rather than scouring the web looking for the best equipment. We also have a blog post where we compare and contrast a few different microphones...

When your customers, learners, or users run into issues, finding the information to move forward can waste precious time. In fact, this lost time can also have a wider knock-on effect throughout your business. So, how can you help your customers get the guidance they need? Context and microlearning strategies are just some of the ways you can support your users and help them find success. Asif Reh...

The quality of your audio in your video is critical. It’s the first thing people will notice. And if it’s bad, people will stop watching. We've collected our top strategies and tips for recording better quality audio for your videos. In this episode, Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , and Justin Simon talk through how to improve the sound quality of your videos without needing to go buy a bunch of new equi...

When you create instructional content, which media do you use? Perhaps you have a favorite type of media that you turn to time and time again, or maybe certain media types resonate better with your audience. But, with new innovative technologies working their way into our media, how can these be used for learning and development? And, which ones are best for your audience? Betty Dannewitz has over...

If you're regularly making videos, it's never a good idea to skip the prep work. But organizing video files can be a nightmare and there are lots of different options to do it.  In this episode, Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , and Justin Simon walk you through what's involved in the process before you hit record. Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episode...

How effectively are you communicating with your remote workforce? Remote communication is now more widespread than it’s ever been. Many people now have to communicate digitally, using virtual tools enabling written communication such as email, and audio and visual communication like video calls. But remote communication can bring new challenges. Ideas can get lost in virtual translation, and peopl...

Do you ever feel like you're just winging your way through the video creation process? One way to solve this is to set video goals and objectives before you start making your video. In this episode, Matt Pierc e, Andy Owe n, and Justin Simo n take a look at how to set clear video goals, define objectives, and what the best practices are for planning your videos before you press record. Do you want...

Are you looking for a video workflow to streamline your video creation process? Creating videos can be overwhelming – especially if you’ve never made one before. But building a video workflow can help you understand how to complete each part of the process and help you on your way to making better videos. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, TechSmith’s Video Producer, Andy Owen, and Global Conte...

Facing your first time in front of the camera can be scary. If you’re looking to create internal communications, social media clips, or professional-looking YouTube videos, getting in front of the camera is the best way to connect with your viewers. In this episode, Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , and Justin Simon walk through exactly what to do to get comfortable in front of the camera. Do you want mor...

Creating great educational content is one thing. However, creating videos that contribute to improving an organization's performance is a different ball game entirely. So, how can educators create better videos and educational content that contribute to business outcomes? This is the main topic of this episode of The Visual Lounge, where award-winning author and Workplace Performance Strategist, A...

For a lot of people, they want to make a video, but don't have a clue how to start. The best way to create videos is to develop a simple, repeatable workflow. In this episode, Matt Pierce , Andy Owen , and Justin Simon talk through video workflows that will let you create videos faster. Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episodes here. You can also find...

When you hear the word “comic”, do you think of your favorite cartoon strip, superheroes and graphic novels, or instructional content? Thinking outside of the box can often help instructional design content connect more successfully with users. Kevin Thorn advocates bringing external inspiration into designs and using creativity to communicate. His preferred educational visual is the instructional...

How can you help your videos reach more people? You’ve spent a lot of time and effort creating a great video, and you’ve just published it. What’s your next step? Is it to move on and start planning your next video? Or is it to get that video in front of as many people as possible? Repurposing your video, or any content you create, is a fantastic way to help more people find and engage with your c...

How can an audio-first workflow optimize your tutorial videos? Creating tutorial videos using an audio-first workflow is one of our preferred methods at TechSmith. The editing process is often more straightforward, flexible, and easier to control than any other method. But, as tutorial videos are primarily visual content, people often don’t think to start creating them using audio. In this episode...

How do you create a successful online course? Online courses are incredibly popular and effective ways to provide learning solutions. However, creating a course requires a very different approach from any other type of instructional content.  In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Emily Weiss joins Matt Pierce and shares the secrets behind creating successful online courses. Emily is Head of P...

Good tech isn’t just for Christmas. If you’re unsure what to get the video creator, audio editor, or remote worker in your life (or want to level-up your own content creation) we’re sharing our ultimate tech gift guide. In this bumper episode of The Visual Lounge, host Matt Pierce is joined by members of the TechSmith team to share the best tech gifts for creating better videos, images, and more....

Effective virtual instructor-led training is more vital than ever before. But converting training from a physical space into a digital one can present some challenges. Shannon Tipton specializes in converting instructor-led training from in-person to virtual environments. She is the founder of Learning Rebels, has over 15 years experience in corporate learning leadership, and joins Matt Pierce on...

Are you an educator exhausted with online learning? Pivoting your skills from in-person to a virtual environment comes with its challenges in any industry. But for training and education, the transition isn’t always straightforward, and there’s a lot of pressure to succeed. But don’t despair! There are many tools that can help educators confidently deliver online training, teach successfully, and...

How can a simple exercise help develop your skills, find gaps in your learning, and motivate you to progress to the next level? It might sound too good to be true, but the simplicity of the “maturity matrix” is what makes it so effective. Anyone, from teams to individuals, can use them to help grow any skills – that’s right, any skills. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, join host Matt Pierce a...