Loom

Master this essential documentation concept

Quick Definition

Loom is a screen recording and video messaging platform that enables documentation professionals to create, edit, and share visual explanations without complex video editing skills. It streamlines communication by allowing users to capture their screen, voice, and face simultaneously, making it ideal for creating product walkthroughs, software tutorials, and interactive documentation.

How Loom Works

flowchart TB A[Documentation Need Identified] --> B{Content Type Decision} B -->|Complex Process| C[Create Loom Recording] B -->|Simple Concept| D[Write Text Documentation] C --> E[Record Screen + Narration] E --> F[Edit Recording] F --> G[Generate Shareable Link] G --> H[Embed in Documentation] H --> I[Track User Engagement] I --> J{User Feedback} J -->|Positive| K[Maintain As-Is] J -->|Needs Clarification| L[Create Follow-up Recording] L --> H D --> M[Supplement with Loom Videos] M --> H

Understanding Loom

Loom is a cloud-based video recording and sharing platform designed to simplify asynchronous communication through screen recordings, webcam captures, or a combination of both. Documentation professionals can leverage Loom to create visual content that enhances written documentation, provides context to complex processes, and offers users a more engaging learning experience without requiring advanced video production skills.

Key Features

  • Screen and camera recording: Capture your screen, camera, or both simultaneously with audio narration
  • Instant sharing: Generate shareable links immediately after recording
  • Video editing: Trim recordings, add calls-to-action, and customize thumbnails
  • Drawing tools: Highlight important elements during recording
  • Viewer insights: Track engagement metrics like views, reactions, and comments
  • Embedding options: Integrate videos directly into documentation platforms
  • Team library: Organize recordings in shared workspaces
  • Password protection: Secure sensitive content with access controls

Benefits for Documentation Teams

  • Reduced documentation time: Create visual explanations faster than writing detailed text instructions
  • Improved comprehension: Demonstrate complex workflows visually for better user understanding
  • Multilingual support: Overcome language barriers with visual demonstrations
  • Version updates: Quickly update documentation when interfaces change
  • Contextual learning: Show real-world application of features instead of just describing them
  • Feedback collection: Gather comments directly on specific video segments
  • Reduced support tickets: Preemptively answer common questions with clear visual guidance

Common Misconceptions

  • Loom replaces written documentation: It complements rather than replaces text-based content
  • Videos are difficult to maintain: Loom's editing features make updates relatively simple
  • Users prefer reading to watching: Different learning styles benefit from multimodal content
  • Video creation requires professional equipment: Loom works with standard computer hardware
  • All content must be perfect: Authentic, conversational videos often perform better than overly polished ones

Turning Loom Videos into Searchable Documentation

When teams need to explain complex processes or software features, Loom has become the go-to tool for creating quick, informative screen recordings. Your subject matter experts can easily capture their knowledge through Loom videos, demonstrating workflows and explaining features with visual context that text alone can't provide.

However, as your library of Loom recordings grows, team members often struggle to find specific information buried within these videos. Someone might remember a helpful Loom about a particular feature, but they can't recall who created it or which minute mark contains the crucial information they need. This creates inefficiency as users spend time scrubbing through multiple recordings or recreating videos that already exist.

Converting your essential Loom recordings into structured documentation solves this problem by transforming temporal video content into searchable, scannable text. For example, a 12-minute Loom walkthrough of your customer onboarding process can become a comprehensive guide with clear steps, screenshots, and navigation markers—allowing users to jump directly to the information they need without watching the entire recording.

Learn how to transform your team's Loom recordings into structured, searchable documentation →

Real-World Documentation Use Cases

Software Feature Onboarding

Problem

Text-only documentation fails to effectively demonstrate complex user interfaces and multi-step workflows, leading to increased support tickets and user frustration.

Solution

Create short, focused Loom videos that visually demonstrate each feature in action, complementing written documentation.

Implementation

1. Map out the user journey for the feature. 2. Script a concise explanation (aim for under 3 minutes). 3. Record the feature demonstration with Loom, showing mouse movements and clicks while narrating. 4. Edit to remove mistakes or pauses. 5. Embed the video alongside step-by-step text instructions in the documentation portal.

Expected Outcome

Users can choose between reading instructions or watching demonstrations based on their learning preference, reducing support tickets by 30% and improving feature adoption rates.

API Implementation Guidance

Problem

Developers struggle to understand API implementation steps from text-based documentation alone, especially when troubleshooting integration issues.

Solution

Create Loom videos showing real-time API implementation examples with common use cases and error handling.

Implementation

1. Prepare a development environment with the API ready to demonstrate. 2. Record the implementation process using Loom's screen capture. 3. Narrate each step while showing code examples. 4. Deliberately trigger and resolve common errors. 5. Organize videos in a dedicated API troubleshooting section of the documentation.

Expected Outcome

Developers implement APIs correctly the first time, reducing integration support tickets and shortening time-to-implementation by providing visual context for abstract concepts.

Internal Documentation Training

Problem

New documentation team members struggle to maintain consistency in documentation style, structure, and processes across the organization.

Solution

Create a library of Loom videos demonstrating documentation standards, template usage, and review processes.

Implementation

1. Identify common documentation tasks and standards. 2. Record step-by-step Loom videos showing the documentation creation process from start to finish. 3. Create separate recordings for each documentation platform or tool used. 4. Organize videos in an internal training library. 5. Reference specific videos during onboarding and training sessions.

Expected Outcome

New team members become productive faster with a 40% reduction in training time, while maintaining higher documentation quality and consistency across the organization.

Release Notes Enhancement

Problem

Traditional text-based release notes fail to effectively communicate the impact and value of new features, leading to low feature discovery and adoption.

Solution

Supplement release notes with Loom videos that demonstrate new features in context, highlighting user benefits visually.

Implementation

1. For each major feature in a release, script a brief (60-90 second) demonstration. 2. Record the feature in action using Loom, focusing on user benefits rather than just functionality. 3. Edit videos to add emphasis on key points. 4. Embed these videos directly in release notes alongside text descriptions. 5. Track view counts to measure engagement with specific features.

Expected Outcome

Users better understand and adopt new features, with engagement metrics showing 3x higher interaction with video-enhanced release notes compared to text-only versions.

Best Practices

✓ Keep Videos Concise

Maintain viewer engagement by creating focused videos that address a single topic or process. Long videos dilute key information and discourage completion.

✓ Do: Aim for 2-5 minute videos that focus on a specific task or concept. Break complex processes into a series of shorter videos rather than creating one lengthy recording.
✗ Don't: Don't try to cover multiple features or concepts in a single video. Avoid tangents or unnecessary background information that extends the length.

✓ Script Your Recording

Prepare a concise script or outline before recording to ensure clear, organized delivery of information without unnecessary pauses or tangents.

✓ Do: Create a bullet-point outline of key points to cover. Practice your demonstration path once before recording. Include an introduction that explains what users will learn.
✗ Don't: Don't wing it completely, which leads to rambling or missing key steps. Avoid reading a full script verbatim, which can sound unnatural.

✓ Optimize for Searchability

Make videos discoverable by adding appropriate metadata, descriptions, and integration with documentation search functionality.

✓ Do: Add descriptive titles that include key terms users might search for. Create timestamped descriptions highlighting key sections. Tag videos with relevant categories and topics.
✗ Don't: Don't use generic titles like 'How-to Video #3'. Avoid uploading videos without descriptions or contextual information about their content.

✓ Maintain Visual Clarity

Ensure viewers can easily follow your demonstration by optimizing what's visible on screen and highlighting important elements.

✓ Do: Close unnecessary applications and tabs before recording. Use Loom's drawing tools to highlight important elements. Zoom in when showing small UI elements or text.
✗ Don't: Don't record with a cluttered desktop or browser with many tabs. Avoid moving too quickly through steps without giving viewers time to process what they're seeing.

✓ Create Updating Strategies

Establish processes for identifying and updating videos when product changes occur to prevent outdated documentation.

✓ Do: Maintain an inventory of all documentation videos with links to corresponding features. Review videos during product updates. Design recordings to minimize elements that frequently change.
✗ Don't: Don't show version numbers or date-specific information that will quickly become outdated. Avoid creating videos for features still in heavy development without a plan for updates.

How Docsie Helps with Loom

Modern documentation platforms enhance the value of Loom videos by providing seamless integration capabilities and contextual presentation. These platforms enable documentation teams to create rich, multimedia experiences that combine the benefits of written content with the visual clarity of Loom recordings.

  • Embedded video integration: Insert Loom recordings directly into documentation pages without requiring users to navigate away
  • Contextual presentation: Position videos alongside relevant text instructions, creating comprehensive learning resources
  • Unified search functionality: Enable users to find video content through the documentation platform's search capabilities
  • Version control: Track and manage video updates alongside text documentation changes
  • Analytics integration: Combine documentation usage metrics with Loom's video engagement statistics for comprehensive insights
  • Conditional display options: Show different videos based on user roles, product versions, or other contextual factors
  • Collaborative workflows: Streamline review processes for both written and video content through unified feedback systems
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