Have you ever wanted to record a quick video for someone because you knew it would be faster to speak something than type up an email? Or you knew it would be easier and more effective to demonstrate something on your computer as you’re doing it, rather than write up the steps and hope you remembered to include everything? Interested in some surprising ways you can be using free videos to save time, develop connection and make money?

One of our favorite things here at Learn to Flourish is sharing how you can start using video in and for your business to rapidly share your messages.

Video is effective, personal, and engaging in ways that the written word cannot be.

With how simple and accessible video technology has become lately, organizations are creating and sharing user-generated videos with their customers and with their teams for so many reasons.

But before we go any further, maybe you’re asking yourself: what is user-generated video? User-generated video is exactly what it sounds like. It is videos that are created by you, the user. (We’ll get into the many purposes of user-generated video in just a moment).

But first, our favorite tool for creating user-generated videos is a resource called Loom Video.

WATCH MY DEMONSTRATION VIDEO USING LOOM HERE!

Loom is a free screen and video recording software. It’s a simple Google Chrome extension for your computer that enables the recording and easy sharing of you-generated videos.

And trust us: it’s simple. Once you install, it’s a single-click initiation and boom, you’re recording a video. We specifically chose Loom to demonstrate so we could show you just how easy it is to record for your organization, and even personal use.

Loom Video allows you to record two different types of video from the convenience of your computer:

1. The first kind of video Loom allows you to record uses your webcam and records a video of you speaking (like I am doing in the video shared in this blog post).
2. The second kind of video Loom allows you to record is the content of what is happening on your computer screen (a screencast or demonstration video).

You can also do a combination of both kinds with Loom. You can record what is happening on your computer screen, like when you record a demonstration, plus include a bubble picture that shows your face as you’re talking and demonstrating. It is the best of both worlds when it comes to sharing information and connecting with your viewer.

As soon as you end the recording, your video is saved to the Loom cloud and you can immediately get a link that you can share in an email, on a messenger app, or even social media.

Here are seven surprising ways that people are using Loom Video (user-generated video) in and for their business.

To promote their business, organization, or event.

A user-generated video is a great way to share information in an engaging and personal way. You can do this with a professionally created video, but depending on your audience and purposes, you can also use a quick but well thought-out Loom video of yourself sharing about something as a way to promote or market your business or event.

To follow up with potential clients.

Did you just have a meeting with a potential client that you’re trying to woo? Did you attend a networking event and meet a number of people for whom your product or service would solve a problem for them and be a good fit?

Follow up with them with a little Loom video letting them know that it was great meeting them and to share that you’re looking forward to the chance to connect again or excited at the opportunity to work together on their big project.

It is much more effective, personal and fast to send a short video to them than to type up an email. It boosts “know, like and trust” and gives that immediate reconnection.

To welcome new customers to your business.

Did you just land a big deal or new customer? Did someone just sign up for your membership program, or purchase a package that you offer?

It only takes a minute to create a quick video to say welcome and thank you and that you are grateful for their business.

This really shows that you care about every single one of your customers, and it is something that can really set you apart from your competitors.

To skyrocket your knowledge sharing.

Professionally created videos are fantastic for sharing complex processes within your organizations (which is something we help our clients with, producing these kinds of videos and online courses) but you can also use a Loom video to share a piece of your mission or vision, or to teach a quick, actionable concept.

Because video is engaging, your viewer absorbs and retains information better than by only words or audio alone.

For team communications.

Is there something that your entire team needs to know this week? Send them a video message about it.

A video for your team using Loom is a great way to connect with your team members, letting them know that you’re thinking of them and wanting to keep lines of communication open. It also ensures that your message is received in context. It is easier to read tone of voice and body language in a video than in the body of an email.

For internal or team feedback.

We use Loom Video to create feedback videos for our own business a lot. Did someone on your team create a draft of a document or project? Did a team member help move a project forward and their work needs a review? You can create feedback for them that shares your screen.

It is an efficient way to document your thoughts and ideas as you review something in real time, and it is also faster to speak your thoughts than to type them in. A Loom video for internal feedback fantastic if you have team members that work virtually or different hours, or if you have a difficult time aligning your schedules and getting together for feedback meetings.

The great thing is that your team members always retain access to the video and they can watch it as many times as needed to clarify your message and verify they are heading in the right direction after your review.

It also eliminates unfortunate misinterpretations of the message tone that can occur when feedback is provided in writing. When your team member can hear your voice and even see your face, they are able to see that you are connecting with them in an appreciative way.

To document your internal procedures.

There are so many little things in our business that we do in the “back of the house” everyday that takes up a lot of time when we have to share that information with people over and over again.

Maybe you have only one team member that knows how to do one thing in your business – you’re a bit stuck if that person goes on vacation or gets sick and no one else knows how to perform those tasks!

Recording a Loom video is a great way to capture knowledge in a way that is shareable in the future.

Creating a step-by-step video works for processes or tasks such as adding a new user for your email system, set up a new employee profile, fix the photocopier. The options are literally endless. These repeatable tasks are all things you can be creating videos about.

Here’s the secret to a great internal documentation video: be sure you are saying every single thing out loud as you are going through the process and recording the video. You need to verbalize every single step for it to make sense for your team and ensure success for those who are taking over that procedure for you in the future.

Check out our blog post for more tips on creating great demonstration videos.

These kinds of internal procedure videos are perfect for:

• Tasks or roles that have high turnover (or multiple people are performing those tasks)
• Tasks that are done frequently or regularly
• Tasks that are very complex to perform or difficult to explain in written documentation

If you want to record a video for a process that will be used internally for your team, just go for it. Keep the video nice and short, say everything out loud, and don’t stress about it. Just send that video out.

For external uses for clients that you want to be more professional, you should still record raw, more casual user-generated video as the documentation (or script) for the process.

Even if you intend to create a professional video of the same content at a later time, take the time to record the process in a Loom video to get that process documented. The initial raw footage can be used to create a professionally formatted video to send out externally later.

In conclusion, go and try it! User-generated video is so simple, easy, and even fun to experiment with. Go right now and install Loom on your computer and record your very first video.

(PS I would love to receive a video from you to hear how you’re using video in and for your business or organization! In fact, you can use me as your audience to practice on as you record your first Loom video, and then send it to me [email protected]. Can’t wait to hear what you’re up to!)