Recently our CEO at Steer73 shared a Loom as part of a client update. And this got me thinking – there are so many great tools out there that help us make work easier, faster and more collaborative. As part of a ‘Tools’ series I’m going to dive into things that I use or that people have recommended to me to improve my day-to-day or work processes. If you’ve any tools that you think are worth mentioning please comment below and share.
When running product teams, efficiency and clarity are paramount. There are a plethora of tools to streamline our processes and enhance collaboration. Some are loved, others loathed. Today, I want to shine a spotlight on one particular gem that I LOVE: Loom.
Why Loom?
Loom revolutionises communication within product teams by offering seamless video messaging capabilities. Initially a screen recorder, Loom gained traction on Product Hunt due to its sheer simplicity – record on any device, your screen or yourself or both and share the results instantly.
Here’s why it’s indispensable:
- Efficient Communication: With Loom, conveying complex ideas or providing feedback becomes effortless. Instead of typing lengthy emails or scheduling time-consuming meetings, team members can simply record a quick video to articulate their thoughts with clarity. I cannot express how much NICER and valuable it is having a person talk over a presentation in Loom’s little circle on-screen. It provides context to what I’m viewing, injects personality and makes me feel that the communication has been ratcheted up a notch!
- Enhanced Collaboration: Product management thrives on collaboration, and Loom facilitates this by enabling real-time interaction and feedback. Whether it’s sharing prototypes, discussing user stories, or brainstorming new features, Loom fosters a collaborative environment where ideas can flourish. Comments get the creator excited, analytics also provide enthusiasm to creators when they see that their video has been viewed x amount of times.
- Visual Documentation: Actions speak louder than words, and Loom empowers product teams to visually document processes, workflows, and problem-solving sessions. This not only improves comprehension but also serves as a valuable resource for onboarding new team members.
The evolution of Loom
Loom’s always been great but recently the augmentation of AI (A premium offering) has led to some very useful features.
Auto Titles lets Loom generate a title from your content, Auto Summaries produces a neat summary after your recording and drops it into the description box below your video. And there’s more! Auto Chapters, AI workflows (beta), Auto CTA, Auto Tasks (!), Filler Word Removal (’ums’ and ‘uhs’ a thing of the past – removed in AUDIO and transcript!), Silence Removal. These are all supercool and useful features!
Real World Examples
Some real-world scenarios where Loom proves its mettle:
- User Feedback Analysis: Imagine receiving a flurry of user feedback on a newly launched feature. Instead of sifting through lengthy written reports, use Loom to record video summaries, highlighting key insights and discussing potential action items. This not only expedites the analysis process but also ensures everyone is on the same page.
- Design Reviews: Design plays a pivotal role in product development, and Loom simplifies the design review process. Designers use Loom to walk through prototypes, explaining their design decisions and soliciting feedback from stakeholders. This visual approach fosters better understanding and accelerates iteration cycles.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Product management often involves collaborating with teams across the organisation. Whether it’s aligning with marketing on a product launch or coordinating with engineering on feature implementation, Loom bridges geographical barriers and facilitates seamless communication.
In most organisations I’ve worked with over the past few years each has used Loom in a slightly different way. And there’s the rub – try it out and you’ll find the way in which it suits you best. Whether it is team updates recorded on the go via your mobile or deep analysis of design reviews or presentations I honestly think Loom has done wonders to facilitate remote work and distributed teams.