Sometimes the best thing you can do as an instructional designer is to step into your learners’ shoes. Whether you’re delivering content on compliance or something completely different, keep your learners in mind at all times. That’s advice that’s served Cath Ellis well throughout her career. Cath is an eLearning Designer and Developer who creates powerful learning experiences for learners around the world. Cath joins us on The Visual Lounge for a fantastic talk about her backg...
Jan 25, 2023•50 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast Remote 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’, explain...
Jan 18, 2023•49 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast Color 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 ...
Jan 11, 2023•48 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast This is a special episode of the Visual Lounge podcast featuring tips and ideas from a variety of team TechSmith about our products, including Camtasia, Snagit, and Audiate. We discuss topics such as asynchronous communication, connection over perfection, hotkeys, and editing out mistakes. There is also a special opportunity for a few folks - listen for Emmie Musser - who has an exceptional opportunity for the first 5 individuals to follow her instructions. Find tips including: Keep it up—asynch...
Dec 28, 2022•17 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast Do 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 ab...
Dec 21, 2022•34 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast Everything 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 a...
Dec 14, 2022•48 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast If you want your learning content to have the best possible impact on your audience, there’s only one thing for it...you need a solid strategy in place! Whether your go-to learning method includes videos, images, or something else entirely, starting out with a strategy is the best way to ensure you’re choosing the right medium to deliver training. Treion Muller, CEO and Founder of The Modern Learning Architect, is on The Visual Lounge to share his strategy secrets and framework...
Nov 30, 2022•41 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast It 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 kickst...
Nov 23, 2022•29 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast How do you ruin a tutorial video? More importantly, how do you fix it? We’ve got you covered by providing strategies to fix common tutorial pet peeves in this episode of The Visual Lounge! We have an awesome panel of experts, including Andrew DeBell, Senior Learning Experience Strategist at Atlassian, Cara North, Founder & Chief Learning Consultant at The Learning Camel, and our Instructional Designer Lead at TechSmith, Chandra Owen. Andrew, Cara, and Chandra join forces to break...
Nov 16, 2022•46 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Instructional 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 Ma...
Nov 09, 2022•57 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast How 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'l...
Nov 02, 2022•37 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast Drumroll…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 imag...
Oct 26, 2022•50 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast Before 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...
Oct 19, 2022•45 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast Thumbnails 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 ...
Oct 12, 2022•42 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast What 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 actionabl...
Oct 05, 2022•36 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast Successful 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...
Sep 28, 2022•32 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast We've had a great break, but we're coming back soon with new shows, new guests, and some new ideas and approaches. This episode is a short one to give you some of those details. Some of the changes you can expect in future episodes include some new formats to the interviews, slightly shorter shows (in most cases), and a variety of other small tweaks to hopefully make watching & listening to the show even better. To watch the full video, go to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/gMwWX9Ffc7o...
Sep 02, 2022•7 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast Register 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 ...
Aug 02, 2022•6 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast Creating your first video can be a daunting experience, and this week’s guest has to do it in front of the entire The Visual Lounge audience! In this week’s episode, we’re joined by return guest Kassy LaBorie, Founder and Principal Consultant at Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC., as she navigates the ins and outs of creating her own video. Matt takes her through some editing basics, such as cutting, adding all sorts of media to her finished video, and even how to pick some accompanying music. Kassy...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep 129•Transcript available on Metacast Looking 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 TechSmith Tricia Ransom, Senior Learning...
Jul 13, 2022•57 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast Mistakes – 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 t...
Jul 06, 2022•43 min•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast Getting 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 secre...
Jun 29, 2022•58 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast Camtasia 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 featu...
Jun 22, 2022•59 min•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast Introducing 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 v...
Jun 15, 2022•59 min•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast Video 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 advic...
Jun 08, 2022•54 min•Ep 123•Transcript available on Metacast Whether 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 environmen...
Jun 01, 2022•54 min•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast Microphones, 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...
May 25, 2022•39 min•Ep 121•Transcript available on Metacast Leveling 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 Th...
May 18, 2022•50 min•Ep 120•Transcript available on Metacast When 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 Visu...
May 11, 2022•51 min•Ep 119•Transcript available on Metacast Communication 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 communicati...
May 04, 2022•51 min•Ep 118•Transcript available on Metacast 
