Why You Should Start Using Loom Videos in Your Release Notes

You know how most release notes are boring blocks of text that no one reads? What if there was an easy way to make them way more engaging and actually get people excited about the latest updates?

Well, there is - and it’s called Loom, which was acquired by Atlassian this week. Loom is a free video messaging app that lets you record your screen, webcam, and microphone.

Using Loom, you can create quick videos to spice up your release notes and share the latest features in an easy, conversational way. Not only will your users actually watch and understand the updates, but they’ll appreciate how personable and fun the messages are. In this article, you’ll learn why using Loom for your release notes is a complete game changer and how to get started making your own Loom release note videos today. Get ready for your users to become your release notes’ biggest fans!

What is Loom?

Loom is a free video messaging app that lets you record short videos—up to 5 minutes long—using just your webcam. It's perfect for creating quick release note updates to share with your team or customers.

Why use Loom for release notes?

There are a few key benefits of using Loom videos in your release notes:

1. They're personal. Hearing a friendly voice explain the new features and updates in your product helps to build a personal connection with your users.

2. They're engaging. Video is an engaging medium, and people are much more likely to watch a short video versus read a long release note email.

3. They're efficient. It only takes a few minutes to record and share a Loom video. No need to spend hours crafting the perfect email. Just open Loom, hit record, and talk through your updates.

4. They're visual. Being able to see the new features in action, watch a quick demo, or have updates explained visually can be much more helpful for users to understand changes.

5. They're trackable. Loom videos give you view counts and viewer insights so you can see how many people are engaging with your release notes and make improvements for the next time.

It's easy to add loom videos to your release notes

It is incredibly simple to include Loom videos in your release notes. Just paste the URL of the Loom video into the editor, and the video will be automatically embedded.

Best practices for creating engaging Loom videos for release notes

When creating Loom videos to include in your release notes, keep these best practices in mind:

Focus on one key feature or update at a time.

Don’t try to cram too much into one short video. Your viewers will appreciate bite-sized videos that are easy to understand and reference later.

Speak conversationally to your audience.

Your tone should be friendly and engaging, not stiff or robotic. Make eye contact with the camera and smile as you talk to help build a personal connection with your viewers.

Use visuals to demonstrate the feature.

Whether it’s screenshots, cursor movements, or actually using the feature on your screen, visuals help bring the video to life and give context for what you’re describing. Point out specific parts of the visuals as you speak.

Keep it short, around 1 to 2 minutes.

Release note videos should highlight the most important or exciting parts of an update, not cover every single detail. Short, concise videos are more likely to be watched and shared.

Share your excitement!

Let your passion for the product or feature shine through. Your enthusiasm will translate to your viewers and get them eager to try out the new update themselves.

Explain the benefits and value.

Don’t just show how the feature works, but why it matters to your users. Discuss the key benefits, problems it solves, and ways it can improve productivity or experience. Help your audience understand the impact.

Provide helpful tips and resources.

Give your viewers actionable tips for getting started with the feature or point them to relevant resources, documentation or tutorials for more information. Make it easy for them to take the next step.

Conclusion

The benefits to your users and customers are huge. They'll have an easy way to quickly understand the latest changes and new features in your product. You'll build stronger connections and engagement. And your support requests will likely decrease as people gain clarity on updates.

Next time you have product updates or new features to share, give Loom a try for your release notes. Your users will appreciate the personal touch and engaging experience. And you'll save time crafting those lengthy release note emails. It's a win-win!