Are demos a necessary tool in L&D? Well, according to Troy Stein, TechSmith’s VP of Customer Advocacy, they’re super vital. He joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain why and share some tips on how to do demos the right way.

The way Troy sees it, demos are to instructional videos what trailers are to movies. They don’t just give a sneak peek into what’s coming, they also pique the viewer's interest and make them want to know more.

But there are key elements that need to be on point before a demo is considered successful. In this episode, Troy discusses everything from demo length to the importance of context, and he even shares a few demos he’s worked on himself.

He also shares a bonus tip for video creators: Do everything at 1080p.

Before becoming the VP of Customer Advocacy at TechSmith, Troy held a range of roles with the company spanning a decade. He also played a pivotal role in making Camtasia the popular software it is today.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 00:43 Intro
• 00:44 - 02:30 Matt introduces Troy Stein
• 02:31 - 04:12 What Troy does at TechSmith
• 04:13 - 07:34 Why demos are crucial in learning and development
• 07:35 - 10:49 Accuracy when creating demos (the role of accuracy when creating demos)
• 10:50 - 13:49 How long should a demo be
• 13:50 - 15:02 Troy shares one demo he thinks really hit the spot
• 15:03 - 17:54 Three takeaways from a discussion Troy had with tech marketers
• 17:55 - 19:22 The importance of giving context in demos
• 19:23 - 22:59 How to get started making a demo
• 23:00 - 24:27 Why intros and outros need to be consistent
• 24:28 - 26:52 Troy shares a sample demo
• 26:53 - 29:23 Cutting tips for instructional designers
• 29:24 - 30:36 Why your demo should never be generic
• 30:37 - 34:01 Why you should start small with your demo projects
• 34:02 - 37:26 The ins and outs of demo creation at TechSmith
• 37:27 - 44:20 Troy dives into some demo packages
• 44:21 - 45:41 How to apply the Hitchcock Principle to demo creation
• 45:42 - 49:44 Speed round questions
• 49:45 - 50:46 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Troy’s LinkedIn
• Camtasia Template Package Download
• Camtasia Package Download

Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.

To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/the-art-of-the-demo