Shows
The Visual LoungePractical AI Applications for Video ProductionHave you ever felt a little out of your depth when making an extra complex or brand new video type? Maybe AI could help. Host Matt Pierce shares his experience as someone used to creating training content, adapting to creating content for a commercial. We hear about the script drafting process, the challenges of balancing feasibility, including budget and resources, with creative ideas, and the different stages of storyboarding.Naturally, we should always look at tools to help us out in unfamiliar territory. So Matt breaks down how he’s been using AI for tasks li...2025-05-0716 minThe Visual LoungeVideo, Screenshots, and AI - Insights from a Customer Education ManagerGet to the point. That’s the way you entice audiences and ensure they stay. While front-loading instructional videos with the ‘why’ is tempting, it’s the ‘how’ that audiences have tuned in for.Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, which is why you need to deliver value as soon as possible. This means a clear narrative, great video quality, and authenticity. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce meets with Doug Brunner, the Customer Education Manager at TechSmith. They discuss why video is the most effective way to deliver content, their biggest pet...2024-12-1149 minThe Visual LoungeRevisited: Designing for How People LearnThe success of any instructional piece of content is in how well the information is retained, memorized and actioned. After all, we want the lessons we teach to have an impact. So, if you want to level up your instructional design skills, you need to know how people actually learn first and foremost.In this episode, we revisit a fascinating discussion with Julie Dirksen, Learning Strategy Consultant at Usable Learning and author of two brilliant books, Design for How People Learn and Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change.Julie joined us back...2024-10-2353 minThe Visual LoungeTrainers' Video Questions AnsweredYou asked, and we’re here to answer! Host of The Visual Lounge Matt Pierce has collected some of the most burning questions video trainers have about the art and science of making great videos.Ever wondered how to coach a camera-shy subject-matter expert to shine on screen? Matt's got you covered with tips that'll turn even the most reluctant expert into a video pro. And for those battling with stubborn colleagues who think they know better than the "rules of video," fear not! Matt shares diplomatic strategies to work with differing opinions without rocking the boat. ...2024-10-0230 minThe Visual LoungeUnleash Full Potential for Video: Leveling Up and LearningOn The Visual Lounge, we often talk about getting better, leveling up, and improving how we make and use video by 1%. It's great to talk about, but what's the secret to that happening? Pretty easy; you have to do something. However, for that to work, you need to not just talk about it but make the time available to play, experiment, to try new things with the videos you create.Thanks for being a viewer of the channel. From all of us at TechSmith & The Visual Lounge podcast, we want to wish you a wonderful...2023-12-2705 minThe Visual LoungeSnagit 2024 Feature Dive*Drumroll* Snagit 2024 is out and packed full of new and improved features to help you make video a part of your everyday toolkit – whether you’re a beginner or a video pro. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we sat down with TechSmith’s Nick Rich, Associate Technical Product Manager, who has been responsible for helping us launch these brilliant new features. Hear Nick explain how our new mouse cursor options, timeline display, combined videos, and sharing features can help to take the hassle out of creating videos. Learning points from the episode incl...2023-10-0438 minThe Visual LoungeWhat's New: Camtasia 2023What makes a successful video? The answer to that question is different for everyone. However there are some things that all creators more or less agree on. For example, as this week’s guest says, if your video is packed with information, engaging to watch and super-enjoyable, you’ve done your job (no pressure!). If you need some extra tips to help you reach these goals, this episode has them all. Kelly Rush, TechSmith’s very own Technical Product Manager, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge. Kelly explains what we set out to improve...2023-05-2439 minThe Visual LoungeThe Art of Starting BadlyHave you found yourself putting enormous time and effort into creating a video, only to end up dragging it straight to ‘trash’? Feeling like your work’s not good enough is tough, which is why it’s so great to hear that you’re not alone. On this episode of The Visual Lounge, we’re delighted to welcome creative powerhouse, Eddie Grey. Eddie is a Los Angeles-based musician, composer and video creator who has also collaborated with TechSmith. In this episode, he shares his journey – the good, the bad and the ugly. Eddie talks about the ar...2023-05-1731 minThe Visual LoungeAsync First ReportHybrid work is about balancing meetings with getting your head down, while allowing yourself the odd break, all while contending with family life continuing around you (or maybe noisy neighbours!). If that sounds familiar, this episode could help. Amy Casciotti, Vice President of Human Resources, joins Matt Pierce, Learning & Video Ambassador at TechSmith, to delve into our Async First experiment from July last year. The experiment helped us cut down meeting times and find new ways to communicate asynchronously. Amy shares why TechSmith chose to run the experiment, how it worked and...2023-03-0137 minThe Visual LoungeLeading Remote TeamsRemote working can add extra challenges for employees. It may feel harder to collaborate on projects, difficult to build structure and put systems in place, and for some it can feel isolating at times.So, in this episode, Emily Whitmer, Learning & Development Team Leader at Southwest Airlines, explains that when leaders in learning design manage remote teams, it can help their employees have the best possible work experience.Emily provides tips on how to build a ‘remote ecosystem’, explains why psychological safety is so crucial in remote teams, and shares her views on asynchronous work.2023-01-1849 minThe Visual LoungeUsing Color with PurposeColor is something we see everywhere, every second of every day. It’s something we never really question or think about too much.But color choices are so important in any design or branding and play a huge part in how we communicate with audiences and customers.Tracy Parish, Education Technology Specialist at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Toronto, Canada, joins Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning & Video Ambassador, on this episode of The Visual Lounge to discuss why color needs to be carefully considered in learning design.Tracy shares a ton of valuable tips...2023-01-1147 minThe Visual LoungeMake Videos 40% FasterDo you want to save time in the editing chair? Who wouldn’t?A lot of our video editing time is spent tidying things up. Getting rid of “ums,” “ahs,” and little pauses can feel tedious and time-consuming.But there is a better way – using Audiate. Rather than editing with waveforms in Camtasia, you can use Audiate’s handy text-based editor to clean up your videos much faster.In fact, we recently put Audiate to the test and found that it could save up to 40% extra time while editing! Hear all about it in th...2022-12-2133 minThe Visual LoungeChallenging Traditional Workplace LearningEverything needs a refresh eventually…and that includes e-Learning! Jonathan Hill, Head of E-Learning at Entain, believes it’s personality and humor that e-Learning often lacks. But why is it so important? Jonathan joins Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning & Video Ambassador, in this episode of The Visual Lounge to discuss challenging traditional workplace learning. He explains the benefits of adding humor to your educational content, what defines success in L&D for him and provides a ton of expert advice for anybody creating educational video content. A true must-listen! Learning points from the e...2022-12-1447 minThe Visual LoungeI Don’t Want to Make This VideoIt happens to the best of the best, even those people who have been making videos for years. A creative slump can feel impossible to get out of sometimes. You might lack inspiration or motivation, or self-doubt might have crept in, making any creative work an uphill battle. If that sounds familiar, then this episode of The Visual Lounge is for you. Host Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning & Video Ambassador, explores what it means to be in a creative slump, how you can kickstart your motivation again, and why perfectionism is the enemy of progress. He ex...2022-11-2328 minThe Visual LoungeDesigning for How People LearnInstructional design is not easy and, for that reason, getting feedback is essential. Making sure you’re on the right path and proving the efficacy of your work is so important in working towards a successful career.Ask fellow professionals, follow your customers and watch them use what you create. Gauging people’s opinions on what you build can sure be uncomfortable, but it’s worth it in the end.That’s the opinion of Julie Dirksen, Learning Strategy Consultant at Usable Learning, who joins Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador, on this episode of...2022-11-0957 minThe Visual LoungeUnderstanding Video Data and Using It To Make Better VideosHow effective are your videos? There’s only one way to find out – by digging into the numbers. Video metrics can tell you if your video is effective, reaching the right people, and performing how you want. That way, you’re not left guessing if your video strategy is on the right track. Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador, talks us through the importance of different metrics and how you can gather this all-important data. As you look at video metrics and data, you'll notice that each platform has its own way of displaying...2022-11-0237 minThe Visual LoungeSnagit 2023Drumroll…Snagit 2023 is here!And with it comes a host of intuitive new features and some new and improved fan favorites. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce sits down with Paul Donahue, Senior Technical Product Manager, and Emmie Musser, Senior Portfolio Marketing Manager at TechSmith, to get the latest.Emmie and Paul take us behind the scenes of Snagit 2023 to share details of the new release, their top features, and how Snagit helps you perfect workplace communication with images and videos.Tune in to see what’s new or download Snag...2022-10-2649 minThe Visual Lounge6 Things Before You RecordBefore you start creating video content, there are a few things you need to know.Whether you are starting at the beginning, or have plenty of experience behind you, this is a must-listen for anybody creating educational video content. TechSmith’s Learning & Video Ambassador, Matt Pierce, is joined by Tiffany Taylor, Director, EDU Success & Education at Handshake, on this edition of The Visual Lounge. She shares what led her to create video, how she defines success and why keeping things simple and small is key.Plus, Tiffany shares her definitive 6 R’s to cons...2022-10-1945 minThe Visual LoungeCreating Captivating Thumbnails & Titles with Paul WilsonThumbnails and titles are the bait that reels viewers into YouTube content. Not only are they great for SEO, but they also define your brand and catch the audience’s eye.But what makes a good YouTube thumbnail? And how do you write a great title?In this week’s episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning & Video Ambassador, is joined by Paul Wilson, freelance e-Learning designer and Adobe Captivate Teacher.Paul explains how he creates videos and shares his top tips for creating thumbnails and titles that grab attention and ge...2022-10-1242 minThe Visual LoungeWriting Video Scripts and Practical Tips for More Impactful OutcomesWhat makes a great video script?Whether you’re brand new to scripting or want to brush up on the best practices, there’s so much to unpack from this episode of The Visual Lounge. TechSmith’s Content Marketing Specialist, Ryan Knott, joins the show to share his advice on best practices, what to do vs. avoid, how to nail your tone, and so much more. If you’ve never scripted a video before, it’s easy to overthink it. The good news is that simpler is usually better, and Ryan has plenty of actionable tips to sh...2022-10-0535 minThe Visual LoungeEffective Presentations by Creating and Using Better VisualsSuccessful presentations require planning and focus…and one specific part of your presentation that needs a great deal of both is visuals.Visuals play a significant part in how presentations come across and so it’s important to remember a few things.In this week’s episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce, Learning & Video Ambassador, explores how to use effective visuals to enhance presentations. He explains how they should grab the audience’s attention but not distract them from what you’re talking about. It’s all about letting the audience hear what you say...2022-09-2832 minThe Visual LoungeAnnouncement: Level Up with TechSmith - A digital EventRegister for the Level Up Event by TechSmith here: https://bit.ly/3oBpi9l Looking to Level Up your video creation game? We have the event for you! Come hear more amazing speakers like Adam Avermascu, Tiffany Taylor, Dee Kapila, Matt Pierce, and more! Whether you’re making product demos, software marketing videos, explainer videos, onboarding videos, tutorials, or other screen recordings, this event will help you create more engaging content faster.At TechSmith, we’ve been helping our customers with various explainer and screen recording videos for over 30 years.Everyone seem...2022-08-0205 minThe Visual LoungeTop Tips For Images and VideosLooking to take your video and image content to the next level? Well, you’re in the right place!Matt Pierce, Learning and Video Ambassador at TechSmith, is joined by eight industry experts on this episode of The Visual Lounge. From embracing video imperfections to keeping things consistent and double-checking image attributions, these guests have a lot of helpful advice to offer.Joining this episode are:Andy Owen, Social Engagement and Video Manager at TechSmithTricia Ransom, Senior Learning Experience Designer at TaskUsJason Valade, Instructional Designer/ATD Master Trainer – Customer Education at TechSmithJoseph Suarez, Independent Lear...2022-07-1357 minThe Visual Lounge6 Video Mistakes I Still MakeMistakes – everyone makes them, but most of the time we try to hide them. What should we be doing instead?Acknowledging that we’re not perfect while looking for ways ‘level up’ in every single video we make.That’s why in this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce, Learning & Video Ambassador, explores the six top mistakes he still makes in his videos. Matt doesn’t just point out the blunders, he also gives clear and precise steps on how to tackle them.So, if you find yourself making the same mistakes over and ove...2022-07-0642 minThe Visual LoungeChoosing the Right Images and VideosGetting started with video creation? Then one of the most basic things you need to master is how to choose the right types of videos and images to get your message across.With that in mind, Matt Pierce, Learning and Video Ambassador at TechSmith, talks about the ABCs of making videos in this episode of The Visual Lounge. As he tells us, video creation isn’t as hard as some people make it out to be. But there are some key decisions that can either make or break the final product.Learn the secret formula fo...2022-06-2957 minThe Visual LoungeWhat You Can Do With Camtasia 2022Camtasia 2022 unlocks even more great features and capabilities than ever before. Joe Dearman, User Experience, and Brooks Andrus, Product Technical Manager at TechSmith, hopped on to this episode of The Visual Lounge to share their favorite features, what to expect from Camtasia 2022, how its “epic cursors” work, and much more.Joe and Brooks take us behind the scenes of Camtasia’s development and how this new iteration aims to help video creators level up their content. Find out what new features to expect and see some sneak peek demos in the full episode. Learni...2022-06-2259 minThe Visual LoungeTime to Make a Video, Part 1Introducing video content to your arsenal is not an easy task. It’s a gradual procedure, and mistakes will certainly be made along the way. But that’s OK.In this episode, master virtual trainer Kassy LaBorie joins Matt Pierce on The Visual Lounge for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create her first video for her business. From the early planning stages to nailing your script (or deciding whether you need one), Matt and Kassy discuss how to navigate the basics when stepping into the world of video. Learning points from the episode include:00...2022-06-1558 minThe Visual LoungeHow I Improved My VideosVideo creation skills aren’t “built in a day.” Like everything else worth learning, it's a gradual process that you’ve got to embrace every step of the way.To share the story behind his stellar video creation skills, Jeff Batt, Learning & Development Specialist and Founder of Learning Dojo, joins The Visual Lounge. He takes us back in time to where it all started to talk about his humble beginnings in video creation. Jeff also explains his production process and shares some insightful advice for anyone looking to up their video-making skills.Jeff has a wealth o...2022-06-0853 minThe Visual LoungeStrategies for an Effective Hybrid WorkplaceWhether you’re an L&D professional, video creator, or a software developer, your industry has probably been bitten by the hybrid work bug in one way or the other.This isn’t a challenge we can master overnight, but all it takes is the right information to get you moving in the right direction.Michelle Massey, VP of Community Outreach and Customer Operations at TechSmith, joins Matt on this episode to share some practical steps and advice that make for a more wholesome hybrid work environment. She talks about organizational culture and how it affe...2022-06-0153 minThe Visual LoungeLighting Yourself on CameraMicrophones, lights, and cameras —the trifecta of good video creation.But this time, we’re focusing on lighting and all the amazing things it can do for your videos.Here’s the thing about lighting, it doesn’t just affect picture quality. It also sets the mood and tone for any video you’re creating.So, if you’re looking for pointers on how to use camera lighting to your advantage, this episode of The Visual Lounge is a good place to start.Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador, delves into ev...2022-05-2539 minThe Visual LoungeImproving Your On-Camera PresenceLeveling up your videos is sometimes all about getting back to basics. When creating live training or pre-recorded learning content, there’s one question you should ask yourself - what is your on-camera presence like? In the learning industry, your on-camera presence is key to getting your message across. But what if you’re not a natural in front of the camera? Don’t worry, the truth is most people aren’t. If you want to learn how to improve your on-camera image, we’ve got just the episode of The Visual Lounge for you.2022-05-1850 minThe Visual LoungeCompelling Video Content for LearningWhen it comes to creating learning video content, the key to success is in how engaging it is. A video can have all the right information and be clear and comprehensive, but unless it’s compelling, it can fall flat with the viewer. A compelling video keeps viewers engaged, and that means any message you want to convey is much more likely to stick.But what’s the secret to creating compelling instructional videos? Mark Lassoff, Video Instructor and Founder of Tech Learning Network, is on The Visual Lounge to share some words of w...2022-05-1150 minThe Visual LoungeDon’t Jump to the Media First in Remote CommunicationCommunication is a natural part of everyday life, and yet most people don’t consider how they communicate. Whether it’s internal team communication or communication with customers and clients, it’s easy for mixed messages and confusion to crop up.The solution? Build a communication strategy. That’s Jesse Lahey’s, Co-founder and Strategic Partner at Workforce Communication, secret for communication success. Jesse joins The Visual Lounge to break down his strategies and frameworks for communicating more effectively – without relying so much on media to paint a picture.Jesse is also a consultant s...2022-05-0451 minThe Visual LoungeMic Check! Upgrade Your Microphone for Better AudioAre you ready to upgrade your microphone but aren’t sure where to start in the complex world of audio equipment and microphones?You’re in luck. This episode of The Visual Lounge is all about audio – how to pick the best equipment, how to use it correctly, mistakes to watch out for, and much more.Host Matt Pierce has some helpful need-to-know tips and even tests some of the most popular microphones on the market. Learning points from the episode include:1:28 – 2:38 How much should you spend on a microphone?2:38 – 5:54 USB vs. XLR microp...2022-04-2755 minThe Visual LoungeThe Art of the DemoAre demos a necessary tool in L&D? Well, according to Troy Stein, TechSmith’s VP of Customer Advocacy, they’re super vital. He joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain why and share some tips on how to do demos the right way.The way Troy sees it, demos are to instructional videos what trailers are to movies. They don’t just give a sneak peek into what’s coming, they also pique the viewer's interest and make them want to know more. But there are key elements that need to be on point...2022-04-2050 minThe Visual LoungeMake Helpful Images Not Just Beautiful OnesHow do you balance aesthetics and helpfulness when creating videos? Diane Elkins, the Co-owner of Artisan E-Learning and E-Learning Uncovered, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to discuss.Diane is a national e-learning expert. She’s in the business of helping people create courses they can be proud of —and visual aids happen to play a big part. It’s not simply about creating visuals that look great.They also have to be purposeful, offer value, and complement the rest of your content.For the yes’s, maybes, and absolutely-nots of creating visual c...2022-04-1356 minThe Visual LoungeOut of the Box with CamtasiaWant to take your video editing skill to the next level (we’re talking ‘coloring outside the line' levels)? Then this episode has your name on it.Cristi Cotovan joins The Visual Lounge to take us through some of the ‘out of the box’ work he’s been doing on Camtasia.Cristi is a video editor, educational content creator, developer, and Founder of Design Catchup and Graphicious. One of his superpowers is having a “visual brain,” and that certainly comes in handy in his line of work. One of Cristi’s core focuses is Camtasia, whic...2022-04-0657 minThe Visual LoungeStop Reinventing the Wheel for Faster Video CreationCreating videos can be a work-intensive process – especially when you’re doing everything from scratch.But it doesn’t have to take eons to come up with a well-rounded video, and that’s what Andy Owen, the Social Engagement and Video Manager at TechSmith, discusses in this episode of The Visual Lounge.As Andy explains, recreating every element of your video from scratch is just not practical as your career progresses, it’s important for content creators to embrace the efficiency that comes with templatizing in order to make the most of their time.Andy als...2022-03-3057 minThe Visual LoungePowerful Stories and Your MessageStorytelling can be a powerful tool in the L&D community.But, as it is with most tools, you need to know how to use it to get the desired end result. That’s what Hadiya Nuriddin, Learning Strategist, speaker, and CEO of Duets Learning, explores on this episode of The Visual Lounge.Hadiya doesn’t just have a wealth of experience developing and delivering both technical and professional development courses, she’s an advocate for storytelling. She believes that the right stories can deliver context, spur empathy, and inspire people to take “expected” actions.As Ha...2022-03-2353 minThe Visual LoungeIncreasing Impact of Videos through Lessons from MarketingWhat can learning and development professionals learn from marketing experts? That’s the question we tackle in this episode of The Visual Lounge featuring Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist from Beyond the Sky. Danielle specializes in coming up with innovative ways to infuse marketing into training to create learning content that sticks.Believe it or not, we can learn so much from marketing teams, especially when it comes to identifying learner (or consumer) personas, defining the content’s objectives, and creating materials and resources that our target audience wants and needs.So, where shou...2022-03-1645 minThe Visual LoungeThe Power of Producers for Live Training and Digital EventsWith the world shifting more into virtual spaces, live events are becoming the order of the day. If you’re in the L&D community,it’s probably time to think about ways to manage your time, space, tech and everything in between. To speak more on how to own your virtual training space, Kassy LaBorie, the Founder of Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC and virtual classroom master trainer, joined The Visual Lounge. Kassy is the “Original Virtual Training Hero" and is in the business of helping people give their best in virtual training sessions. She covers...2022-03-0955 minThe Visual LoungeGraphics That Just Don’t WorkWhat makes graphics click with your audience?Is it your skill level, the finer details like color or shape, or could it be something else altogether? While those things definitely contribute to the success of your graphics, you could still end up producing graphics that just don’t work even if you have the skills to show for it.Mike Parkinson, author and Founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain what it takes to make graphics that work. He explains why graphic designers need to...2022-03-0249 minThe Visual LoungeMaking Impactful Videos Using StoriesUsing stories to make more impactful videos is not a new idea. But it’s an overlooked part of video creation, especially when it comes to tutorials or corporate videos.But storytelling isn’t just for the fun, creative videos out there. Even if you’re creating a video tutorial about car insurance, injecting a little storytelling can go a long way in hitting your primary video goal – connecting with your audience.Andrew Kan, filmmaker, storyteller, and YouTube creator, joined The Visual Lounge to talk all about story, and how it can help you level up your...2022-02-2348 minThe Visual LoungeVideo Editing WorkflowWhat’s the secret to the perfect video editing workflow? Same as for many great questions we hear, the true answer is that it depends. But it all depends on you.Building a workflow that’s efficient, doesn’t cut corners, and saves time can take a while to figure out, especially if you’re new to it all. But once you’ve figured out what works for you, you can start to level up your videos and fine-tune your craft. The Visual Lounge host Matt Pierce breaks down a sample video editing workflow t...2022-02-1645 minThe Visual LoungeLearning Myths vs Science/ Approaches to Creating Effective LearningHow do people really learn? As an instructional designer or learning and development professional, understanding how people learn helps you deliver training that hits the nail on the head. It’s more complicated than learning styles or picking video over written instructions. In fact, there’s a whole science behind it. Clark Quinn, Executive Director of Quinnovation, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to impart some words of wisdom and share his knowledge on the science of learning.He takes us through what the research shows and busts some common myths we coul...2022-02-0950 minThe Visual LoungeTypes of Cuts for Video You Should KnowIt may be considered the most basic part of editing, but there’s nothing basic about a cut.Cuts can be powerful tools in the hands of anyone who knows how to wield them. They don’t just make videos look way cooler, they bring an extra dash of clarity, brevity, and seamlessness to the table.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce takes us through some handy cutting techniques as well as how to use them on Camtasia or any other video editing tool. This is a great episode to sink...2022-02-0256 minThe Visual LoungeYour Year for Video! Getting Started, Leveling Up, and Making Better VideosAre you ready to level up your video creation skills this year?Whether you’ve been creating videos for the past month or several years, there’s always room for improvement to make your content the best it can possibly be. Matt Pierce, host of The Visual Lounge, breaks down some ways to hone your skills, improve your videos, and level up for 2022. If you want to make 2022 your year for video, start by tuning in to this episode.Learning points from the episode include:Why you should try out video types you usu...2022-01-2648 minThe Visual LoungeSnagit 2022 RevealedSnagit 2022 is here! And it comes packed with brand new and updated features to help instructional designers, L&D professionals, and anyone who wants to create video level up their content. To explain more about what’s new on Snagit and why, TechSmith’s Chris Larson, Technical Product Manager and Daniel Foster, Strategy Manager, joined The Visual Lounge to give us a breakdown.Chris currently works remotely with an amazing development team dedicated to Snagit.He’s a graduate of Michigan State University and joined TechSmith 14 years ago with a background in user experi...2022-01-1258 minThe Visual LoungeWhat Viewers Want: 2021 Video Viewer Study Deep DiveWhat’s new in the world of instructional and informational video? If you’re in the business of creating videos, having the latest research and stats at hand is always important.Luckily, we’ve got you covered. We’ve just released our 2021 Video Viewer Study – a collaboration between TechSmith and Dr. Jane Bozarth, Director of Research at The Learning Guild. We publish this study every year, but this time, we invited Jane to help us out as an unbiased third party. Jane joined this special episode of The Visual Lounge to discuss the most inter...2022-01-051h 00The Visual LoungeWhat Did You Learn in 2021?Thank You for ListeningJust a quick end-of-the-year episode to say thank you and to share with you some of the things we have learned. I asked a few of my TechSmith friends and colleagues to share so of their takeaways about visuals and images this year. We'll be back with full episodes in 2022 and look forward to continuing the conversations in The Visual Lounge. Share What You've LearnedWe'd love to hear from you! What have you learned from The Visual Lounge this year? Who was your favorite guest? What...2021-12-2004 minThe Visual LoungeDiversity and Inclusion in Video & Workplace MediaYour video and workplace media can have a big impact on users, but is it affecting everyone in the same way?Understanding how your media choices represent people and their experiences can help you select more diverse and inclusive images and videos that impact everyone more effectively. Jess Jackson, Racial Equity Strategist, and Megan Torrance, CEO, both of TorranceLearning, join this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain how to incorporate a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) mindset into your video and workplace media decisions.They also talk about the unique position...2021-12-1558 minThe Visual LoungeVideo Gear Wish ListWhat’s the best budget-friendly microphone to make videos? How do you set up your lighting in a home studio? Do you need a green screen? What’s a stream deck?The TechSmith team has all these answers covered and much more. On this episode of The Visual Lounge, host Matt Pierce, Kara Swanson (Content Marketer), Andy Owen (Video Production), and Anton Bollen (Customer Success) share their top picks for audio, camera, lighting, and accessories. If you’re looking for some recommendations to point you in the right direction, be sure to tune in today or keep...2021-12-0859 minThe Visual LoungeLessons Learned about Visual Communication from Comic BooksWhat can we learn from comic books that we can apply to instructional design or marketing?It may seem like an odd question, but it turns out we can learn a whole lot from comic books.Buddy Scalera, comic book writer, educator, and Founder of Comic Book School, joins The Visual Lounge to share those lessons with us.Whether you’re creating your own comic book or designing instructional videos for a corporate environment, we can all take something from comic books.In this episode, Buddy explains why comics can help co...2021-12-0159 minThe Visual LoungeThe Role of Images & Video in Workplace Productivity | Tom SolidThe digital age has ushered in its fair share of upsides and challenges, especially when it comes to productivity. While there are so many applications and tools that promise to make it a lot easier, sometimes, they do the opposite.That’s probably why people end up getting lost in the maze of keeping up with the times, are overwhelmed while finding information, or are just plain unproductive.The critical question here is, how do you address this productivity problem? And how can videos and images play a part?With us on this ep...2021-11-2458 minThe Visual LoungeFinding Your Groove with YouTube and Video Creation | Sean CannellBecoming a content creator is a dream that many people have these days. But it’s far from an easy road to follow. It takes a great deal of grit, determination, and a commitment to learning and growing to get your channel off the ground. On top of that, there’s also the big learning process of developing your camera and editing skills. Joining this episode of The Visual Lounge is Sean Cannell, CEO of Think Media, and host of the Think Media Podcast. If you’ve ever looked up YouTube or content creation tips or tut...2021-11-171h 03The Visual LoungeGood Training Is All about the Audience | Kati RyanWhat does it take to be great at learning and development?Is it down to fancy tools, qualifications, or top video creation skills? Not exactly.It’s all about your audience and focusing on what they need to know. The other stuff can come later.In her career, Kati Ryan, Founder of A Positive Adventure, has picked up so many fantastic tips for L&D professionals. She joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to share her best advice for new and experienced L&D professionals alike.She explains why we ne...2021-11-0327 minThe Visual LoungeAccelerate Product Adoption and Improve Customer Retention | Cutler BleeckerDid you know that customer education can help to boost both customer adoption and retention?Education is often an overlooked part of the customer experience, but companies that prioritize it see great results.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Cutler Bleecker, Learning Experience Designer at Skilljar, joins to share his expertise on customer education and creating great training content.Cutler has a passion for both teaching and technology, with an undergraduate degree in education as well as a Master’s in Instructional Technology. As a former high school Business and Technology teacher, Cu...2021-10-2755 minThe Visual LoungeHow to Succeed as a Content Creator | Nick NimminAre you ready to take the plunge and become a YouTube content creator?Before you wing it and hope for the best, you need to know the best practices. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we invited Nick Nimmin, a YouTube content creator and educator, who’s seen great success on the platform with over 800,000 subscribers and counting!Nick is passionate about the power of YouTube and online video to help people connect with an audience, expand influence, and grow their businesses.In this epis...2021-10-201h 25The Visual LoungeAudio Production Mastery Tips from a Grammy Winner | Justin David ProctorWhat does it take to record great audio? A recording studio? A degree in sound engineering? You may be surprised. Justin David Proctor, audio recording master and two-time Grammy Award winner, joined this episode of The Visual Lounge to share his expertise on creating great audio. Justin takes us through his advice on getting the right equipment, pre-production and planning, preparing the room, dealing with background noise, software, and much more. Justin has worked in professional audio and music recording since 2005, engineering in multi-room large format commercial studios and cutting albums for major...2021-10-1355 minThe Visual LoungeCreating Learning Experiences With Images and Video | Mel MillowayHow do you ensure great learning design?Whether you’re working with video, PDFs, or blog posts to deliver training content, visual elements are key to delivering a clear message to your audience.Mel Milloway, Learning Experience Design Manager at Miro, joined this episode of The Visual Lounge to talk about the importance of visuals and video in learning design.Prior to working at Miro, Mel worked in learning design at Amazon and has held other learning and development roles at various organizations.She’s known for promoting and talking about UX d...2021-10-0657 minThe Visual LoungeSecrets of Visuals for Instruction | Connie MalamedWhat’s the secret to great visual design?We asked Connie Malamed, The eLearning Coach, to share her eLearning and visual design expertise in this episode of The Visual Lounge.Connie helps people build their instructional design skills. She’s a consultant, an author, and speaker in online learning and visual communication. Connie is the author of ‘Visual Design Solutions: Principles and Creative Inspiration for Learning Professionals’ and also runs The eLearning Coach website and podcast.Connie’s interview is packed full of fantastic advice for instructional designers, experienced or otherwise. She explains how creati...2021-09-2952 minThe Visual LoungeHow I Make Videos | Oz du SoleilWhat’s the best process or framework for creating videos that leave an impact?The truth is that every video creator does things differently. And you’ve got to find whatever works for you. Oz du Soleil is someone who’s found a process that works for him. He’s the host behind Excel on Fire, a YouTube channel that makes Excel tutorials both fun and interesting.As well his YouTube channel, Oz is also a Microsoft Excel MVP, lead author of Guerilla Data Analysis 2nd Ed., and has several courses on LinkedIn Learning. We sat...2021-09-2259 minThe Visual LoungeLevel Up Your Workplace Communication | Special AnnouncementYou’re invited to Level Up!On October 5th, 2021, we’re holding a free, four-hour digital event to help you improve your workplace communications.This explosive interactive event will guide you through evolving your video communication skills, no matter your level. Whether you’re an experienced video communicator or starting from zero, we want you there! Hosted by the incredible Dave Patton, TechSmith Partnership Marketing Specialist, Level Up is packed with presentations from brilliant TechSmith experts, including:Effective Communication with a Hybrid Workforce: Lessons Learned from a Year of Remote Work with Wendy...2021-09-1525 minThe Visual LoungeChoosing to Create Video - You’re in Charge | Andrew KanIf anyone can help you gain the confidence to get behind the camera, press record, and create awesome videos, it’s Andrew Kan.Andrew Kan is a leading YouTube video creator who’s worked with TubeBuddy, Salesforce, and other big brands to create videos that audiences find valuable and enjoy. We sat down with Andrew at Video Marketing World to get his thoughts on what first-time video creators should know before they hit record, why video is such a valuable and impactful medium, and how to incorporate storytelling in your content.Andrew’s interv...2021-09-0823 minThe Visual LoungePerfecting Your Tutorial Video Workflow | Josh CavalierTutorial 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...2021-09-011h 00The Visual LoungeHow to Easily Get Perfect Audio for Your Videos | Jake PechtelResearch 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...2021-08-2553 minThe Visual LoungeTips and Tools We Use to Make Our Tutorial Videos | Jason Valade and Ryan EashWhat 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...2021-08-181h 00The Visual LoungeHow to Scale Your Tutorial Videos and Create More Successful Users with Chandra OwenCreating 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....2021-07-2854 minThe Visual LoungeMastering Customer Education with Daniel QuickThe main aim of customer education content is often to help customers overcome the odd hiccup or knowledge gap. But a truly successful customer education strategy does so much more than that.Customer education is also a business strategy focused on keeping customers happy so that they return to your products again and again. Simply put, good customer education can be instrumental to scaling your business.Daniel Quick is a master in customer education with over 20 years of experience designing learning, delivering training, and building customer education programs. His background includes leading customer education at...2021-06-231h 00The Visual LoungeLeading Teams & Saving Time with Video with Sherri PowersWhen it comes to team communication, sometimes speed is the most important factor. A busy organization can save hours and hours of working time collectively by hosting a simple 30-minute meeting. Email and instant message solutions like Slack are the go-to options for internal communication day-to-day, but even those have their downsides.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Sherri Powers, VP of Marketing at TechSmith talks about how video communication can save time.Short videos and simple screen recordings can often get the message across faster and more efficiently than email or in-person meetings...2021-06-1657 minThe Visual LoungeEasy Ways to Improve Team Communication with Austin Norton & David PattonHave you ever thought about the best ways to communicate with your team?Many businesses put their heart and soul into crafting the best ways to get their message across to customers. But when it comes to internal communications, it’s often overlooked.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Austin Norton (Project Manager) and David Patton (Partnership Marketing Specialist) from TechSmith join to discuss the importance of great communication in your team. Austin and David talk about using simple screenshots or videos to get messages across much faster and clearer. They take us...2021-06-0954 minThe Visual Lounge5 Things You Need to Know About Camtasia 2021The latest Camtasia release is now available, but which of its new features will help you create better videos?In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce guides you through his favorite new features from Camtasia 2021. He guides you through how to use them and gives his expert advice on how to add that extra spice to your videos.Matt is also joined by TechSmith Trainer, Jason Valade, who shares his top Camtasia tips and more about putting the new features into practice.Learning points from the episode include:What proxy...2021-05-2657 minThe Visual LoungeLessons about Video from YouTube CreatorsYou may not be creating videos for the same reasons as the top YouTube creators, but they know what makes a good video.Many of the same principles that make their content so successful apply to your videos too – no matter whether you’re creating training, customer education, instructional design, or any other type of video.If you want to get more comfortable on camera, streamline your video creation process, or generally improve the look and feel of your videos, look no further than this episode of The Visual Lounge.Tune in to hear...2021-05-1252 minThe Visual LoungeLessons from TechSmith Customer Education with Doug BrunnerAre you educating your customers effectively?Video tutorials, blogs, and technical documentation are just some of the different ways you can provide users of your product with the help they need to be successful. But truly empowering your customers goes beyond the material you provide.Joining Matt Pierce in this episode of The Visual Lounge is TechSmith’s Customer Education Manager, Doug Brunner. Listen in as Doug shares his thoughts on creating customer education content that powerfully impacts your customers – and, therefore, your business.Learning points from the episode include:The purpose of c...2021-05-0553 minThe Visual LoungeMaking Engaging VideoIs there a silver bullet for making engaging video?Think about a video that’s really captivated you before. What was it about the video that made you not want to look away? Did it use compelling visuals or a storyline that sucked you in? Or perhaps it left you with some food for thought.There are many techniques video creators use to make their videos engaging. Unfortunately, there’s no “silver bullet” but there are many tips and tricks you can learn to help draw people in and keep them watching your videos.TechSm...2021-04-2152 minThe Visual Lounge7 Mistakes Video Creators Should AvoidIf your videos aren’t meeting your expectations or you’re struggling with the video production process, you may be making one (or more) of these common video mistakes.There are seven common mistakes or traps that video creators often fall into. However, once you know what they are, they’re easy to avoid! Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador, reveals the 7 deadly sins of video creation and advises how to avoid them so that you can make better videos.Learning points from the episode include:How to prevent issues and mist...2021-04-1454 minThe Visual LoungeWhy Videos and Images Rule for Social Media with Jessie O'DonnellSocial media is a great place to connect with your customers. But when your users have a question or problem, it’s often better to show, rather than tell.Videos and images win on social media channels. They generate engagement, provide value, and increase brand trust. They’re also a brilliant tool for communication, so how can you use visuals can level-up your social media game?Sharing her thoughts in this episode of The Visual Lounge is TechSmith’s Social Media Coordinator, Jessie O’Donnell. Jessie has over 10 years’ experience working in social media for TechSmith...2021-04-0759 minThe Visual LoungeHow to Create Successful Customer Education Content Fast with Dave DeringtonWhat’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 helpful. He joins Matt Pierce in this episode of The Visual Lounge to share a faster way to create fun and relatable customer education content and explains why you shoul...2021-03-3156 minThe Visual LoungeWhy Video & Image Accessibility Matters with Ryan KnottHow 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 adequately accessible?Ryan Knott, TechSmith’s Marketing Content Specialist, joins Matt Pierce in this episode of The Visual Lounge to share his tips for removing barriers to your digital...2021-03-2445 minThe Visual LoungeSimple Templates to Create Videos in No TimeHow 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 and TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador, Matt Pierce, explain how to use Camtasia to build templates that optimize your video editing process and share more abou...2021-03-1755 minThe Visual LoungeHow to Build a Successful Video WorkflowAre 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 Content Manager, Justin Simon, join Learning and Video Ambassador Matt Pierce to share their video workflow experience. They also announce the launch of their new series, "Video Workfl...2021-02-1754 minThe Visual LoungeWhy You Should Repurpose Your Video to Amplify Reach with Amy WoodsHow 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 content. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Amy Woods joins host Matt Pierce to reveal...2021-01-2745 minThe Visual LoungeWhy You Need to Try an Audio-First Workflow for Your VideosHow 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 of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce walks you through a step-by-step guide to creating a high-value tutorial video using an audio-first workflow.There are visual elements to this podcast as...2021-01-2041 minThe Visual Lounge5 Secrets Every Online Course Creator Should Know With Emily WeissHow 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 Partner Marketing at Thinkific, an all-in-one online course platform. She works with top course creators to find out what works – and what doesn’t.Learning points from the episode include:How to pr...2021-01-1355 minThe Visual Lounge10+ Gift Ideas You Need to Ask For This YearGood 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. Find out how you can improve your communication with better audio, change your focus with a background, and create a video gift that j...2020-12-2354 minThe Visual LoungeHow Educators Can Avoid Panic and Find Success Teaching Online with Janet LeeAre 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 avoid burnout.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce is joined by Education Innovator and Instructional Designer Janet Lee. Janet has developed many tools over her 25 years...2020-12-0943 minThe Visual LoungeHow to Grow Skills and Identify Learning Needs with Phylise BannerHow 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 as he interviews guest Phylise Banner, Learning Experience Design Consultant, about this innovative tool and how you can start using it today. Listen a...2020-12-0253 minThe Visual LoungeThe Best Script Writing Strategy When You’re Just Getting Started With Andy Owen and Justin SimonIf you’re a beginner video creator, it can take time to develop a scriptwriting strategy that suits your style and helps you create better content. But there are ways to streamline and improve your process if you’re just getting started.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we discuss how to write a video script – even if you’re not a scriptwriter (or video producer!) Listen in as TechSmith’s Video Producer, Andy Owen, and Global Content Manager, Justin Simon, join podcast host Matt Pierce and share their advice for optimizing your scriptwriting process and tell you w...2020-11-2555 minThe Visual LoungeHow To Overcome the Challenges of Communicating Digitally With Jay BaerDigital communication can often straddle the space between problem and solution. For example…Problem: You’re a live speaker, but all live events are canceled.Solution: Pivot to virtual speaking and utilize technologies and tools to continue your career in a new way.Problem: You’re unsure about how to transition from live speaking to virtual speaking.Solution: Get some advice from the experts (listen to find some!).In March, TechSmith collaborated with the one and only Jay Baer to find out more about how 2020’s significant digital shift affected a r...2020-11-1856 minThe Visual LoungeThe Tool You Need to Create Awesome Visual InstructionsDoes your informational content take too long to create?If you create visual instructions, like a job aid or a step-by-step guide, you’ll know that gathering the information is just part of the work. The other part is making sure that you display the information so users can effectively learn from it.It can be time-consuming to design your informational content, especially when you might not need a whole new design.Templates are a great way to optimize the way you create your informational content. With drag and drop functions, intuitive features, an...2020-11-0437 minThe Visual LoungeHow to Write Helpful Help Content with Michele WiedemerWhat is help content? You don’t have to be a technical writer to create content that helps people use your product. Your content just needs to help your customers help themselves. Customer education content helps customers to solve problems and perform the tasks they need. Providing this content is an essential ingredient for ensuring the success of your product with your customers.There are ways to create effective help resources, and in this episode of The Visual Lounge, Michele Wiedemer shares her twenty years of knowledge for creating, evaluating, and improving your cu...2020-10-2845 minThe Visual LoungeWhy A Job Aid Might Be the Best Thing You Need with Dawn MahoneyIf you're looking for a learning solution to help empower your employees, you might have considered investing in a training course or eLearning materials. But have you considered the benefits of job aids for your business?Job aids can be instrumental in helping employees complete tasks effectively, and as business owners know, empowering employees with the information they need is an integral part of running a successful business.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, discover how job aids could improve your business as Learning & Video Ambassador, Matt Pierce, interviews Dawn Mahoney, founder of Learning...2020-10-1636 minThe Visual LoungeWhy Viewers Start and Stop Watching VideosWith so much video content online, how do you get viewers to watch your videos? Once you've won that battle, how do you keep them watching to the end?If you've ever seen your watch-rates plummet and wondered why, or if your videos are struggling to get traffic, brushing up on your video consumer behavior knowledge could help you find some solutions to your video-viewer problems.Understanding video-viewer behavior can help you create more attractive videos that keep people watching longer. We know this because we’ve been collecting data about why people stop and star...2020-10-1439 minThe Visual LoungeHow to Write an Awesome Script (Fast) With Dana HainesHow can you write better video scripts, faster?Scriptwriting can heavily influence the amount of time it takes to see a video through from conception to completion and while there are many different ways to write a script, having an efficient process to go from the blank page to the finalized video is the key to faster production. In this episode of The Visual Lounge from TechSmith, Dana Haines, a multifunctional content creator who specializes in video development and scriptwriting, shares her best advice for creating a scriptwriting process that can reduce the number of r...2020-10-0737 minThe Visual LoungeHow To Make Your Screencasts Look Better (and Easier To Edit)Screen recording can be a very useful and powerful tool in your video arsenal, however, few people know how to utilize it well and, if you’ve never used it before, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.Understanding how to start creating screen recordings is the first step to optimizing your screen recorded video process. Learn how to set your videos up for success and you’ll discover a faster workflow that gives you better quality screen recordings and more engaging videos.Learning points from the episode include:Know what size you...2020-10-0235 min
The Visual LoungeTaking Time to Learn with Alex SalasAlexander Salas an award-winning learning experience designer, eLearning expert and Chief of Awesomeness at eLearning Launch. As an expert in the integration of instructional science with popular authoring tools, Alex has been a designer of learning programs for Fortune 100 companies such as Centene Corporation, Philips and Dell Technologies.
There’s no one better to talk about taking more time for learning new skills, and how we can put that into practice in our daily lives.
Learning points from the episode:
Key skills missing from learning development
Learn creativity
Learn to express that creativity
Express it with a good sense of qu...2020-09-2548 minThe Visual LoungeHow to Add Video (and YouTube) to Your Content Strategy with Andy CrestodinaIt is increasingly impossible to think of a content strategy that doesn’t utilise video as a strong and effective component. Yet for many people there are still barriers and obstacles stopping them from breaking into the video world.To get some expert insights into this, we spoke with Andy Crestodina, co-founder and CMO of the award-winning digital agency Orbit Media. Over the past 20 years, Andy’s provided guidance to over a thousand businesses, written hundreds of articles on content strategy, SEO and Analytics, and authored the book Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing.Learni...2020-09-2348 minThe Visual LoungeDesigning for Learning with Mike TaylorHow can you design content that will help people to learn?You don’t have to be a teacher in the traditional sense to teach others. You might find yourself faced with a teaching role that you didn’t expect.Perhaps you need to give a presentation, create an educational video, or even host an online course? Whatever the case may be, you must design your educational content for learning.Sharing your knowledge with others and creating an effective learning experience for your ‘students’ (whoever they happen to be) doesn’t have to be difficu...2020-09-1851 minThe Visual LoungeBetter PowerPoint for Better VideosPowerPoint is boring. That’s what we’ve all heard, right? Too much text, too many bullet points, too much of the presenter just reading off the slides. But is it a PowerPoint problem or a design problem? There are a lot of ways to build slides for PowerPoint that convey information effectively and don't fall into the stereotypical design problems. Understanding how to make better slides is vital for holding your audience’s attention and conveying your message. It's also important if you're going to turn your PowerPoint presentations into videos. Here’s how you can de...2020-09-1628 min