Month: November 2021

The Top 5 Things You Shouldn’t Do When You Start Streaming

The cameras and mics are checked, you’ve got your games picked out, and your weekly schedule locked in. You’re ready to go live for the first time! Your channel growth may take a while but it’s never too early to start forming the habits of a successful streamer. Here, we highlight some things you shouldn’t do when you start streaming.

Things you shouldn’t do when you start streaming? Not talking enough!

One of the things you shouldn’t do when you start streaming is sit in silence while you’re live. It’s not easy to keep up what can feel like a one-sided conversation, but ­­­­­­­your audience will be in your channel to hear from you! Extended dead air is one of the top streaming mistakes you can make and may lose you viewers. It can be helpful to remember that your conversation doesn’t need to stay focused on the game you’re playing. Chatting generally about music for a few minutes, for example, can be just as engaging for your audience as analyzing the new Fortnite meta.

Someone playing Fortnite on a gaming PC with a headset on things you shouldn't do when you start streaming.
Photo by Priyam Raj on Unsplash

Not checking your audio before you start streaming

Another common mistake streamers make when they’re starting out is not double-checking their audio before they go live. Remember, that means checking the audio inputs on each scene as well as general mic checks. Nothing looks worse on stream than switching to a new shot and losing your audio mid-sentence. In XSplit Broadcaster, you can do this when you’re preparing to go live by switching between scenes within the main window and ensuring that you can see the levels moving up and down as you speak on the meter. This is located directly to the left of the microphone.

Things you shouldn't do when you start streaming would include buying all the gear you can see in this picture, a sound card, a microphone, a capture card, a webcam, a stand, headphones and a phone.
Photo by Stanley Li on Unsplash

Not shaping your audience from the jump

Another thing you shouldn’t do when you start streaming is not consider what kind of audience you want to have. Starting out, it can be really hard to kick one toxic viewer when you only have six viewers total. But your chat is inevitably going to follow your lead with how they treat you, and, maybe more importantly, how they treat each other. The best way to build a great community is to play the long game and make it your goal from the first time you go live to have an audience you really enjoy spending time with, and that will grow with you as a creator.

Going crazy on gear!

It can be very tempting to see streaming as an arms race, where if you don’t have the latest camera, the best monitor, or the fastest computer, you’ll never be successful. The truth is that the most important thing to upgrade when you’re just starting out is your own performance. So, take some time to really think before you sink cash into your stream, do two things: First, ask yourself “what am I going to get in return for this investment?” And second, check out our thoughts on good gear options for new streamers here to get you on the right track.

Not asking your viewers for feedback

Your stream is ultimately in your hands, but you listening to feedback with an open mind is a great way to grow as a creator. Massive international companies spend incredible amounts of money to get user feedback all the time! You have an advantage in that your “users” are always right there in front of you, so ask them about your stream from time to time. You can start simply by using polls for basic questions, like “what game should I play?” Or use some of your time on stream to speak directly with viewers who seem invested in what you’re doing. 

If you pay attention to the little things now, you’ll be on the right track for growth as you start your streaming journey. Stick with it, and be sure to check out our guide to the stream prep habits that will level you up to pro in no time.

The Best Work from Home Apps of 2021

We are living in an age of rapid developments in remote working as employers and employees alike are realising the many benefits of working remotely, at least part of the time. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges as well, many of which have to do with technology. To help, we’ve taken a look at some of the best work from home apps to support teams in staying productive and efficient, even when working at a distance from one another.

Guaranteeing a slick presentation

Nothing will ruin a meeting or presentation faster than background noise. Handily, Krisp is on hand. This AI-powered noise-cancelling tech suppresses pesky ambient noises picked up by your microphone. It offers one-button operation and, since all audio processing takes place locally on your device, it also guarantees your privacy. Better yet, the basic app is available for free.

Of course, our own XSplit Presenter is one of the best tools out there for making your delivery super polished when you have to present online. Use it to insert your webcam into a presentation, add in a virtual pointer to quickly draw focus. Even annotate your presentation in real-time if a colleague thinks of something brilliant to include mid-meeting. You’ll also find it makes it hassle-free to import from Microsoft Powerpoint or Google Slides, add videos, websites, connect to other platforms as you present and even bring in guests!

Those who take privacy seriously will also be glad to know XSplit VCam allows you to remove, replace and blur your background with any webcam, and without the need for expensive green screens and complicated lighting setups. This alone makes it, in our opinion, one of the best work from home apps!

The best work from home apps for you and your team.

As collaboration tools become more common, so do apps designed to manage those collaboration tools. One of the most talked about is Figma, an interface design system for team-based creative projects. Already a staple in design-related industries, the company’s FigJam app is an online whiteboard. This makes it easy for teams to creatively brainstorm together, so you can enjoy all the benefits of close collaboration from afar.

If you’re also finding it difficult to manage projects in synchronous chat platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams can help. If you’re looking for an all-in-one project management tool, ClickUp that lets you keep everything in one place. Import your work from other productivity apps, organise it however you want, and create your own view. ClickUp allows you to manage docs, spreadsheets, time tracking, and more. It also offers an excellent free plan.

A person sat at their desk at home working on a laptop with a notebook, glasses and a phone on a desk looking for the best work from home apps.
Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash

Balancing me time vs team time

If you’re struggling to get a real sense of exactly how you’re using your time while working remotely, you might consider Rescue Time, perhaps one of the best productivity apps available. It’s an automated tracker that monitors the time you spend on apps, internet sites, and even individual files. It then generates detailed reports about exactly where your time’s going to help you understand and manage your performance. What’s more, you can even track offline time to create a complete picture of your day and a free version is available.

While working from home is great for productivity, there’s no getting around the fact that it’s just not the same as seeing each other face to face, especially when it comes to connecting with colleagues on a personal level. If you’re a team manager looking for ways to help your remote team connect, consider Donut. It works in Slack and allows you to create virtual water cooler meetings, CEO coffee lotteries, peer learning events, DEI discussions, and more.

As remote working evolves, new tools and apps will continue to appear, aiming to improve your remote working experience and performance and keep your team productive and efficient. Staying current will help you choose the best tools for your particular needs!

Content Creation Strategies for Brands to Build Audiences

There are many different ways to build a brand identity. Content creation for brands is an excellent method for generating visibility and interest, as well as finding new audiences. You can build a greater connection with your customers by making content that shows who you are, what you represent, and what your goals are. So, what are some of the best strategies to use for content creation?

Use content creation to tell a story

A well-presented brand story is a very effective marketing tool. Storytelling helps people to learn new information because narratives are easy to remember. Research shows that neural activity increases when listening to a story, as the brain’s sensory cortex is stimulated. This enables the listener to feel, hear, taste, and even smell the story – and you can harness this for your brand.

A compelling and authentic narrative can build connections, loyalty, and interest. For example, for its 2016 ‘Live There‘ campaign, Airbnb developed content that told the stories of its customers rather than its business, to create the idea that Airbnb was not just about property rental, but about its global community. Their storytelling encouraged potential customers to see themselves as part of this community. 

Framing your story in an original way can help to differentiate your brand. Take software company Zendesk, which created an “anti-content” video featuring a fictional rock band called Zendesk Alternative. By poking fun at themselves, Zendesk seemed more relatable, and in turn, this humorous angle made the content very sharable. Content creation for brands will allow you to show your target audience that you share their values.

A person using a laptop to make a podcast, something that could be great content creation for brands.
Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash

Stand out from the crowd

While stories provide a way to relay facts using an entertaining narrative, there are a lot of stories out there – hundreds of millions of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram posts are published daily. That’s a lot of content.

In order to differentiate yourself, you could consider creating branded content that stands out from regular social media posts. You could start by using XSplit Broadcaster to create compelling videos, podcasts, and live-streaming events. This software lets you create rich content, broadcasting it as it happens with handy features like professional scene switching and multiple audio tracks. You can emphasize community development by creating content around your customers and their needs. For example, if you are a travel company, you could post video journals from the point of view of your holidaying customers.

Or, you could consider incorporating augmented reality features into your content marketing. These could be simple – AMC Theatres allows users of their app to scan movie posters to receive information like cast lists and trailers; or more complex – Sephora created an AR experience that lets customers virtually “try on” their makeup products. Anything that builds a connection between you your customers will help grow your brand.

Someone sat at a desk with a laptop in front of them, pouring coffee and thinking about content creation for brands.

Use content creation to define your values

It is no longer enough to have a great product – consumers also want brands to reflect their own values and identity. Developing content that reflects your values will help you to keep customers engaged and excited about your brand. Your content, and the channels you use to push that content, should align with the interests and concerns of your target audience.

This may mean going where your customers are and publishing content where they will be most likely to see it. It also means being realistic with what you produce – anything that looks too idealized and “perfect” will come across as inauthentic. You could consider including imperfections in your content, such as pairing untouched photos with humorous copy, to demonstrate that your brand is genuine or that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

You can also use content to engage in conversations with your customers by sharing news, seeking feedback, asking questions, and demonstrating that you are listening by answering.
From telling your unique brand story to defining your values to differentiating yourself from the crowd, you can grow your customer base by creating unique videos, podcasts and live streams.

Is Sending A Short Video Better Than An Email?

You have a lot of information to get across to your team. What’re your chosen means of communication? Most of us default to email when we want to reach several people quickly: but is a written email the most effective method?

Software like our XSplit Presenter enables you to pre-record a seamless presentation. Instead of sending out lots of text and attachments, why not try sending a link to a short presentation instead? Here are a few reasons why you and your colleagues may prefer watching to reading.

TL;DR

Or, “too long; didn’t read”. We’ve all opened emails and, faced with what looks like a whole dissertation to wade through, quickly closed it “for later” and then forgotten about it. If you have a lot of information to get across, maybe a presentation is better suited to your needs. As advertisers know, 80% of people will watch a video, but only 20% will read all the text, so why not borrow a tip from marketing practice, and use visual rather than written media?

This still requires work from you as you’ll need to write the script and record the delivery. But, thanks to XSplit Presenter, this is super-straightforward, and when you get used to it, it’ll seem even easier than just writing the text. Import your Microsoft Powerpoint or Google Slides presentation, include clips from YouTube, or connect to Zoom, Skype, and other platforms to add flair to your presentation.

Two people, both laughing, one looking at a laptop at better email, a video sent rather than a wall of text!
Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

Unattached

Then there are attachments. Not only do emails have paragraphs of text to get through but there are multiple attachments and links to open. If you are sending a pre-recorded link, you can incorporate the information from these attachments into the presentation itself.

XSplit Presenter lets you import PowerPoint or Google Slides into your presentation, cutting down on the need to attach graphs or images, which can be simply included in your PowerPoint or Google Slides instead. You can also play videos directly in your presentation. Rather than provide your recipients with multiple links, this allows you to show snippets in a more convenient and user-friendly way. The result of all this? A straightforward email with a link to the presentation.

This video was created with XSplit Presenter!

Better Email Has Access for all

There are plenty of ways to make the text of an email more accessible; however, a subtitled presentation will reach most people without the need for any adjustments. As well as providing email alternatives for colleagues with visual or hearing impairments, you’re also helping your neurodiverse teammates.

XSplit Presenter is simple to use and has the tools to facilitate bringing teams closer together in a way that accommodates accessibility needs. For one, it allows you to add text to provide a subtitled presentation for your colleagues. It can also make things easier for you if you prefer to speak than to write, or if the thought of speaking in front of a live audience gives you the jitters.

We’ve covered several compelling reasons why a video can make a better email than text. Download XSplit Presenter to make your business communications easier and more accessible. Find out more about XSplit Presenter in our blog (and yes, it does include a short film).

Why You Should Pre-Record Your Monthly Company Meetings

In the busy world of work, it can be difficult to get everyone together for an all-hands meeting or for a big announcement.  This may be down to holidays, busy schedules, or other commitments. You can make your company updates slicker, more streamlined, and more flexible for your colleagues by pre-recording them instead of doing them live!

What are the advantages of pre-recording meetings? 

Using XSplit Presenter to record your presentation has many advantages. You can script it in advance and then record it carefully, making sure you don’t stumble over your words. You can check everything in your demonstration goes smoothly, include a voiceover, and make annotations on your presentation as you go along. This will come from rehearsing as well as recording your presentation and watching it back to see what you need to improve.

Using these points can make your presentation more interesting and engaging, and of course smoother and slicker. But don’t forget that it can make it shorter as well – by removing any awkward pauses and speeding up anything obvious or slow. This can remove dead air time, getting all the same information across but in less time. This is something that will definitely be appreciated by your busy colleagues! 

When you pre-record meetings, you can also easily bring in your chosen guest speakers to make a contribution to the presentation. Of course, this can be done live too but pre-recording can make things easier. Now, you can work around your guest’s schedule, making it more likely to secure someone’s time. You can also help your viewers focus on what’s important by adding quick and easy annotations that capture their attention.

A crowded all hands meeting room with lots of people taking notes could be avoided if you pre record meetings
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Videos can be reused

Once you’ve made your video, it can be watched at a later time by anyone who missed the meeting, without you having to spend time delivering the presentation again. It can also be sent as a file or uploaded to places like YouTube so your audience can watch it back as and when they wish to. Choosing to pre-record allows busy staff to prioritize their workload and to pick an hour that best suits them during the day without compromising their other tasks.

Doing this for your colleagues will prevent them from being taken from their most vital and pressing work to attend a meeting. This allows them to instead structure their day without missing out on the information. It will essentially give your guests greater control over their working day and, in turn, help them to perform at their best.

Having a pre-recorded video allows the meeting attendees to watch the video more than once if they want to. This allows them to make sure they picked up all the information or to show it to a colleague if they wish. This can, again, save you time and increase your reach, whilst still making it more convenient for your audience and their schedule. 

Pre-recording your big company updates can improve the quality of the presentation and make it easier for your colleagues to watch when it’s most convenient for them. We have some handy tips to get you started and some pointers on how to add some sparkle as well!

Your Perfect Pitch Deck, Starring You!

These days, every presentation has a set of slides. As your perfect pitch deck, it should be well-formatted and engaging, as well as containing pictures and video content. Why not take yours to the next level? Instead of just showing your slides and talking about them, you could take it up a notch and appear in them in a video pitch deck. This will help you stand out from the crowd and might even make putting your presentation together easier.

Make your perfect pitch deck a live video

There are a number of good reasons to create a recording of yourself delivering the presentation. The first one is the wow factor of the perfect pitch deck – by being that little bit different, it’s more likely to pique your audience’s interest. It also allows you to script, practice, and pre-record your lines, meaning that you can edit out any fluffed delivery. This would be perfect if you’re nervous about presenting, allowing you to deliver a much slicker, smoother, and more carefully paced presentation.

Having your presentation pre-recorded in advance takes a lot of pressure off you as a presenter. You now know you can just hit go, and then make yourself available to answer questions at the end. You can amp up audience engagement by speaking to your viewers in the chat while your presentation plays.

Getting yourself prepared to make the perfect pitch deck is important! Here we have someone making notes on paper on a desk with pens and post-it notes.
Photo by Felipe Furtado on Unsplash

What else can you do with a video presentation?

Video pitch decks allow you to plan and implement special effects, such as having your recorded self point to bullets on a slide or pull a graph out of thin air. As you put the video together in XSplit Presenter, you can time transitions to fit your movements and cut out any pauses while you try to find the next graphic or video. This helps make sure that all your media, graphics, and notes appear at exactly the right time in your perfect pitch deck. Now this will require some rehearsal on your part, but getting everything perfect is what we’re after here!

It also gives you the option to include webpages as part of your media, again removing any loading times or worrying about whether a site will work properly when you load it. The platform also pulls in presenter notes from your original presentation, making it easier to remember what to say when you present. To help your viewers focus on the right parts of your presentation at the right time. You can annotate it in real-time using a handy virtual pointer tool. 

How do I make the perfect pitch deck?

XSplit Presenter allows you to take control of your presentations in many ways. At the basic level, you can overlay media, including webcams, NDI guest calls from Zoom or Skype, pictures, and videos over your slides. At its most advanced, you can pre-record your entire presentation and then work through it again. Tidying it up, moving elements around, and producing a more polished and efficient show for your audience when you record it again. Presenter offers the tools to make your presentation stand out, allowing you to concentrate on making the content and writing the script. 

Does your deck require more than one presenter? XSplit Presenter makes it easy to mix things up and add more speakers to your presentation with NDI sources like Zoom or Skype to make it more engaging. 

Presentations can be a challenge no matter what industry you’re in. You can find out more about what XSplit Presenter can do for you here, and we’ve got some additional useful advice for improving your presentations, too.