Loom

Control the preferences menu

The first thing you need to know about Loom is that it's a software that you can download on Windows or Mac, but that you can use it through the Desktop client or the Google Chrome extension. In any case, its function is to record the screen of the device you're using.

Loom's recording menu is basic and easy to use. To access it, click on the three dots at the top right and select Preferences. This will bring up a range of recording options from which you can choose: 

• Camera Only: This feature allows you to record only the image from your device's webcam or camera. This Loom feature is ideal if you only want to record a video message where you provide some information or additional content. 
• Screen only: With this option you can only share what is shown on your screen, including any voice explanations you want to make. However, since you are in screen only mode , you will not be able to use your device's camera at any time.
• Screen + camera: here you can capture both what is shown on the screen and your image on the camera.

Another of Loom's features in the Preferences Menu is that it allows you to configure the recording quality of your video. You can choose to have it automatically adjust to the bandwidth of your Internet connection or with a default video quality between 360p or 1080p, this will be adjusted depending on the type of content you want to present: a YouTube video, a video for a class, etc. 

In the Preferences you can also configure whether the menu will always be visible, whether a countdown will be added to indicate how long it will take to start recording the video, or whether you want to highlight each click you make with the mouse to draw attention to something in particular. 

In addition, in this preferences menu you can learn the keyboard shortcuts to record, pause, resume or cancel the recording immediately and quickly. It's very simple, you just have to remember which key you should press depending on the action you want to perform. It takes a little practice, but once you master it you will become an expert.

Edit the video like an expert

One of the most frequently asked questions by those who are just starting to use Loom is where the videos we record are stored. The answer is very simple: when you register with your email, you grant temporary permissions to the application to save your videos on its servers so that you can later share them via a link.

In its free version, Loom allows you to store up to 100 videos in 720p quality, while in the Pro (paid) version, all videos are recorded in HD quality and without space limits, and it also displays additional editing and publishing options.

Once you've recorded your video, Loom gives you the option to edit it easily and dynamically. In the Settings menu, you can allow viewers to react with an emoji (the default feature), leave a comment, or receive a notification directly to your email if they perform any activity with your content. In addition, it gives you the option to have your video downloaded by users who have access to it and to display the number of times the recording has been viewed.

Remove errors from your Loom video

Loom lets you trim parts of your video that you don't think are important or that you don't need to show. Simply scroll through the sliders on the side if you want to edit the beginning or end of the video, or use the Split option to remove a part in the middle. Any cuts you make to the video will be recorded so you can review previous edits later or revert to the original version of the clip.

Call To Action with your Loom video

This Loom feature is available in its Pro (paid) version and is essential if you want to redirect your users' attention to take a particular action with your video proposal: buy, subscribe, answer a survey, send a request, etc.

How can you add this option to your recording? Very easy! Once you have recorded your video, go to the editing menu and click on the Call To Action button. There you select the color you want for the button and another menu will appear in which you must indicate the URL to which you want to redirect your users. 

Share your video on social media

There are four ways to share your Loom recording with others:

1. Via a link: Your recording can only be viewed by users to whom you have shared the link. You can also add a password for certain users. 
2. Using your Gmail account: One of the advantages of Loom is its integration with Gmail. If you want to share your video directly from your email, you must click on the Gmail icon and add the recipient, the subject and the type of content you want to display.
3. Publish it on any website: This option is similar to platforms like YouTube. You must click on the Embed option and with this you can embed your video on any website. 
4. Share on Facebook and Twitter: Just below the Gmail and Embed buttons, you will find Facebook and Twitter buttons that will allow you to share your creation on these social networks. 

Work as a team

In addition to all the above features, Loom allows you to create breakout rooms, free of charge, for groups that need to share their team's screen constantly. This makes all recordings, files, and interactions made during the team screenshot available to everyone in the room. Each workspace can contain completely different members and content, and members of that team won't be able to see other rooms you're in, so you can be part of multiple rooms if invited by other members.

Use the screenshot from Loom

A key element of this type of tool is, precisely, screenshots, and for Loom, this type of functionality is available to everyone. You can take a screenshot and share that image with the rest of your team instantly , because it allows each captured image to be accompanied by a URL so you can send it to whoever you want. 

Plus, any screenshots you take will automatically be saved to your Loom library for easy access. To take a screenshot, press ctrl + shift + 1 

Download your video

Many of those who use Loom to record their computer screen need to share or show their video offline , and for this, Loom offers the option to download it in .MP4 format. 

Please note that files larger than 20 GB will not be downloadable, however, you can contact someone from the Loom online team to help you solve this problem, which is very common when recording 3-hour videos in 4K quality. If you need to download your video, click on the three dots at the top right of the menu and select the Download option.

Loom integrations with other apps

One of Loom's most popular integrations is with Gmail. Email is so deeply integrated into our lives that we take it for granted that we know all of its functions, but we don't. 

Loom's integration with Gmail allows you to add a video with just a click of a button , and best of all, the video can be viewed in the same email window without having to open another tab or window in the browser.

Another software that integrates with Loom is Jira, a tool that allows the organization of tasks across different work teams. For this type of software, Loom plays a very important role because it helps simplify the back-and-forth of product feedback and customer requests through video. Showing a customer what they need to do by recording their screen to fix a problem is faster than typing.

Loom currently offers integrations with: Google Docs , Hacker News, Confluence, InVision App, Notion , Dropbox, Product Hunt, GitLab, Salesforce, and Salesforce IQ.

Sales

It allows you to capture the attention of customers and establish a personal connection from the beginning by guiding the user through a presentation of a product or service. By using videos, you can measure the performance of Call To Actions , as well as who has stayed watching the message and for how long.

Computer Engineering

By using videos, development codes of a program can be shared with other engineers and immediate feedback is generated on the stated objective. It allows errors to be recorded in order to document, diagnose and resolve them more quickly.

Graphic Design

Whether you want to present raw material or the final design of a project , Loom lets you do so through short, simple videos in which you can also participate while recording your screen. With Loom, you can use the generated links to share your video on Slack, Figma, and Sketch.

Marketing

It lets you show a variety of customers how to get the most out of your product by creating informative videos that highlight its strengths. Best of all, you can monitor and measure responses to your video because Loom comes equipped with features that your audience can use to react, comment, or share your material.

Advantages

• It is not very complicated to use and is very easy to install due to its integration with Google Chrome and Gmail.
• It has a free version that allows you to use most of its features with a maximum of 10 minutes of extension per recording.
• Allows unlimited storage of screenshots
• It's ideal for teleworking groups because it connects people quickly and easily through a video message. 
• It seeks to replace long explanations of a topic with videos.
• It is a tool that is also available on Apple and iOS.
• It makes good use of privacy with the ability to protect the videos you record.

Disadvantages

• It does not work on any web browser other than Google Chrome.
• You must have a permanent Internet connection because it does not allow you to work on your recording offline.
• There is a limit of 25 videos per starter account . If the maximum number of videos is reached, you will not be able to create new recordings without permanently deleting the oldest ones.