How to Record a Screen Tutorial with Loom

Making a screencast tutorial used to be a burdensome task. One was supposed to have editing tools and an amount of their time. No more.

With Loom, you can record your screen, your voice, and also your laser face with just some clicks. It is available on desktop browsers and even on your mobile. After finishing capturing and recording, Loom will instantaneously provide you with a shareable link, so you don’t need to export.

This article will show you the whole process effortlessly. Just follow all those steps, even if you have never done a video in your entire life.

Why Use Loom for Screen Recording Tutorials

Let us look at Loom and why it’s an excellent choice for recording tutorials. Loom offers a plethora of features for recording tutorials. Loom’s design prioritizes fast and efficient communication through video. You don’t need to deal with a complicated technical setup or an involved editing phase. You record a video, and it uploads automatically. Not only that, but you can easily share it through a link. You don’t have to save files or upload them using other tools to share them.

Speed is one of the standout features of Loom. You can record and share a video tutorial in a matter of minutes. This is especially useful when you need to respond to an inquiry quickly without the need to write out a long response.

Loom also increases your ability to clarify your point. In lieu of writing out a long description of what to do, you can use Loom to record your screen and step people through the process verbally and visually. This aids in the viewer’s understanding of the process and helps them follow along.

Loom allows you the highest amount of flexibility. You can record just your screen, your camera, or both for a video.

Streamlined, fast, and efficient, Loom allows you to explain things briefly with less effort.

What You Need Before You Begin

There are a few things we will want to get done before we record.

You don’t need much:

• A laptop or desktop
• An internet connection that works
• A microphone (most devices have one built in)
• Optional: webcam (if you show your face to the world)

Loom operates in three different ways:

• Desktop app
• Chrome extension
• Mobile app

Step 1: Establish Loom Account

For example, when creating a Loom online account, go to their online portal.

Once here, you need to do the following.

1. Visit loom.com
2. Click on “Sign Up.”
3. Choose to register with an email or Google account.
4. Finish verification.

Once this is properly done, you will be directed to your account dashboard.

Step 2: Download Loom

Now, the next step is to get the recording tool.

Option 1: Desktop App Loom Recording

For the desktop option:

1. Download from Loom.com.
2. Proceed to install the normal applications.

Option 2: Loom for Chrome Users

If you are using Chrome, you will need to do this.

1. Go to Chrome Web Store
2. Look for the Loom Extension
3. Click “Add to Chrome.”

Which option to go for?

If you need more power, control, and quality, select the desktop app. For quick recordings within your browser, use the Chrome extension.

Step 3: Open Recorder

Once you have completed the installation, Loom is all set to go.

The first thing you’ll see is a small recording panel.

The first options you’ll see include:

• Screen + Camera
• Screen Only
• Camera Only
• Select Microphone
• Select Camera (if you want)

Step 4: Select What to Record

Next, pick the part of the screen you want to record:

• Full screen → record everything
• Window → Record this specific app
• Custom Size → Record this desired part.

Pro Tip:

• Use Window mode when you intend to do a clean tutorial.
• This way, you can avoid recording irrelevant tabs or decoding notifications.

Step 5: Recording

Then click “Start Recording”.

There will be a small countdown (3 seconds), and then the recording will start.

This entails the following:

• Your screen is captured, and a voice recording is being made.
• The camera will pop up (this is optional).

A couple of tips:

• Speak clearly.
• Move your mouse slowly.
• Follow a step-by-step flow.

Step 6: Use Recording Controls

While recording, Loom comes with basic controls.

The main controls are:

• Pause → to stop temporarily
• Restart → start the recording over
• Cancel → discard the recording

Loom also lets you:

• Draw for emphasis.
• Highlight your mouse clicks.

These are especially helpful when you want to explain something in detail.

Step 7: Stop Recording

To finish your video, hit stop recording.

Then Loom will:

• Process the video.
• Automatically upload to the cloud
• Open an editing page.

The absence of a save function is extremely useful.

Step 8: Edit Your Video

Your video page is the editing page.

You can:

• Rename the video.
• Trim
• Thumbnail
• CTA (depending on your subscription)

You can trim mistakes.

Step 9: Privacy and Sharing

Your video is editable and can be saved.

You can share it by speech, website embedding, or by mail.

You can set the access to the video as:

• Public
• Private
• Specific
• Password protected

Loom creates a shareable link immediately.

Step 10: Share Your Tutorial

You can really do a lot with Loom video.

You can share it with your audience to:

• Train your audience
• Demo your product
• Explain to your clients
• Share with your team

You can replace long emails with Loom links.

Guide to Loom for Screen Recording

There are services designed to make screen recordings easy. Loom is one of those services. However, that has led to a proliferation of low-quality recordings. Good screen recordings require a good bit of thought and a good amount of prep.

Prepare Yourself

Think about what you are going to showcase before you record, and even outline the order of the points you plan to make.

Be Concise

Try to make a recording that is less than ten minutes.

Be Yourself

Don’t try to put on a front. You don’t have to sound perfect and incorporate some inflections like you would in a natural conversation.

Be Mindful of the Audience

Move your cursor slowly, and make sure the recording is clear so that the audience can keep up.

Be Polite

Try to record in quiet locations to avoid background noise.

What Not to Do

What are some common errors to be on the lookout for?

• Forgetting to check mic levels
• Show your other recordings and tabs.
• Rushing your speech
• Leaving in a mistake
• Not taking time to protect your privacy.

When Loom Recordings Are Ideal

There are several situations in which Loom really shines.

Product Recording

There are so many great features that come with a product. Loom is one of the best ways to explain a product and record a walkthrough.

Bugs

Having to explain bugs can be a real pain without visual aids. Being able to record a demo of the bug in Loom is one of the best ways to capture an explanation of the bug.

Client Interactions

Using Loom can be a real improvement in communication with your clients. The recordings can replace long email threads that are clunky and take up time.

Onboarding

One of the best ways to prep for a new hire is to create some quick Loom recordings for the team to showcase the tools you use.

How to Create Clear and Engaging Screen Tutorials

Your focus shouldn’t be just recording your screen. The goal is to make viewer retention as high as possible. Useful content can be overshadowed if a video is slow or confusing.

Be sure to clarify in detail from the very beginning. The first 10 to 15 seconds should be used to tell not just what you make the video about, but what the viewer will learn. Setting the right expectations will help keep viewers engaged. Instead of rushing to make the tutorial, say, “In this video, I’ll show you how to record and share a screen tutorial using Loom.”

Don’t assume they understand what you’re doing. You should explain actions you will or just performed. Say things as simply and as directly as possible.

Cursor movement should be slow and mindful. Use Loom’s drawing theme to direct focus to relevant areas. This will help reduce confusion more so for beginners than other demographics.

Logical breaks should be made. Sections, and even subsections, should be noted even if the video is short. Phrases like “up next, let’s share it” and “now we’re recording the screen” help show what the viewers can expect.

Be sure to avoid long pauses. Keeping the video focused and clean helps viewer retention, even if this means making a mistake while recording. Getting to the end should be the number one goal, even if this means trimming parts of the video later and recording a second time.

Adding a recap offers viewers a final chance to review their learnings and summarize the video content in a more legible way for their reference and your satisfaction.

Adding effects or animations does not guarantee engagement. It’s about transparency, logical sequence, and how fluidly you lead the audience through the steps.

Practical Ways to Use Loom in Everyday Work

The next logical step after learning how to record videos with Loom is determining how to best utilize this application. Loom fundamentally alters the way you communicate rather than offering a simple recording tool.

One of the best use cases is superseding lengthy emails. Instead of detailing your written messages, you can record a video to demonstrate your thoughts. This saves time by eliminating unnecessary emails and clarifying misunderstandings.

For instance, if you want to highlight a particular feature, it is easier to demonstrate it than to explain it with text. The recipient can follow along more easily and understand the concept quickly.

Feedback is another area that Loom can be used. Whether you are commenting on a document, design, or application, you can record your screen and speak your thoughts. This provides a level of context that is lost with written commentary.

Training is another area Loom excels at. Creating simple video tutorials for new team members is a highly efficient use of Loom. Eventually, reusing these videos multiple times saves a lot of time.

Reporting issues also benefits significantly from Loom. Instead of explaining a bug, you can record the problem as it happens. This is extremely valuable for developers since it helps them quickly understand the concern.

Loom also helps client interactions by adding a personal touch. Communicating via video is more efficient than sending multiple messages.

The bottom line is that Loom should be used where showing is more important than explaining. It takes the guesswork and time out of the equation.

Final Thoughts

Recording a screen tutorial is a great way to capture concise info. When using Loom, the real use is to avoid long, lengthy responses to communication and instead record a walkthrough of what you’re discussing.

This article should help you:

1. Set up Loom
2. Select recording mode
3. Speak clearly as you record
4. Do quick edits
5. Share your recording

Then you can make tutorials that look truly professional without experience.

Just take Loom out for a spin. Record your first video actually to get it out there. Don’t hold up your progress until you’ve perfected it.

This is truly the quickest way to learn.

About the Author

Anna Malik – digital nomad, enthusiast of everything online and in the cloud, productivity maniac. She travels around the world reviewing web applications and other resources for Web People for our blog.