Before I dive deeper into the reasons why it has become a tool we can't live without at Matcha Design Labs (MDL), formally known as AMSD, here's a quick intro to Loom. Loom lets you effortlessly record screen-captured video. You can film yourself, your screen, or both. In 2-clicks your video will be on its way. As we continue to adapt to a more remote-friendly world, tools like Loom will be increasing important fo improved collaboration and communication.
Loom's Starter plan also makes it really easy to test it out with your team before deciding if you would like to further invest. The primary feature that encouraged us to level up was the unlimited recording length. Before that time, however, the 5-minute length gave us great insight into when we were prepared to make the investment to upgrade our plan.
Diving in, the best way to describe the positive impact that Loom has had on our business is to outline what it helps us avoid:
- lengthy emails 😒
- inefficient meetings 😖
- unnecessary interruptions 😤
- miscommunications about visual work 😕
We find that communicating in this way has helped our remote team across 4+ timezones feel like we achieve all of the above but also feel like we can get to know one another better by creating office chatter in the virtual.
We use Loom predominantly for 4 main types of content:
- Assigning tasks
- While we are big fans of how our project management tool ClickUp supports our business, Loom is the jelly to ClickUp's peanut butter. Together, they give us the chance to stay uber-organized and clear with our expectations of one another. For most tasks that are assigned across our team, a Loom video is filmed to accompany the ask. This allows our teammates to hear from one another more frequently and adds color to ensure we are on the same page about outcomes and creative direction.
- Saying it in a video is often much easier, more effective, and less time-consuming than writing a long-winded set of expectations. This video, accompanied by our templated task outlines give us the best of both worlds with a written record and personal touch of what's on everyone's plate.
2. Providing feedback
As designers who work remotely, we can feel a longing for a drop-in opinion on where our design is headed or a quick second pair of eyes as we work through problems. Loom helps us get one step closer. At MDL, we'll often provide two forms of feedback using Loom: formal task-level feedback and informal requests for collaboration.
Oftentimes, projects will hit a checkpoint and be passed to a second designer for review before being presented to our clients. In these instances, the primary designer typically films a quick presentation of their design with context on their thinking behind their decisions. Next, the reviewing designer will have a chance to view the walkthrough as if they were sitting next to their teammate and provide their response in the same format.
This back and forth helps us articulate our visual feedback with cues from tone of voice, body language (if on video), and with direct visual reference as we record our screens. This type of feedback is more human-centered while also avoiding unnecessary scheduled meetings. Our team is notified that they have feedback pending/ready for review and they get to it when they can.
3. Client walkthroughs
Communicating design updates with clients can be difficult when everyone has their own preferred way/platform to chat. Loom is a great way to introduce a universally friendly way to connect about designs as it mimics a face to face interaction. When an explanation would benefit from a visual representation, our team hops on Loom, sharing the designs, and guides the client through updates. This is great as it also creates a lasting resource that clients can revisit for a refresher when it's convenient for them.
4. Tutorials and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
While Loom recordings are helpful for in-the-moment recordings, they also provide a helpful platform where evergreen tutorials can be filmed to build a library of resources for your team. At MDL, we have a folder where we store internal resources in the form of Loom recording for things such as how-to's for tools used across the agency and onboarding for new teammates.
We have also used Loom videos at the time of client project hand-off to provide a guide through designs and additional materials. These videos are helpful for providing context to teammates across their organizations and can be saved for reference in the future.
Loom in Action:
Here are some screenshots that help illustrate just how easy Loom is to use and some ideas for how you might be inspired to give it a try:
Super easy to use video controls
- choose what you want to record
- choose your video + audio sources
- start recording
Add your branding/video to personalize (business plan feature)
- add your logo to display branded elements on your videos
- you can even record yourself and your screen simultaneously
At MDL, we're always looking for ways to make our processes more efficient with the integration of tools that help us level up. Loom has supercharged our communications and we hope this review inspires you to consider how it might do the same for your team. Have another application for Loom that is helping you reach your goals? Let us know with a reply below.
