Visual Walkthroughs for Visual Tools
Trent Thompson uses TechSmith tools to create simple, visual walkthroughs for Mindjet products, helping customers around the globe visualize their thoughts every day.
Mindjet shares the importance of video through their library of tutorials for customers
Mind mapping is a process by which visual thinkers and communicators lay out their thoughts and draw connections between ideas. Many people use it to plan to-do lists, projects, or exploration of topics. With Mindjet, those lists, projects, and brainstorming sessions can be quickly created, organized and shared across multiple platforms individually or between team members.
But how do people learn all of the tips, tricks and features of a powerful tool like Mindjet? Video Production Specialist Trenton Thompson turned to TechSmith’s Camtasia and Snagit to share the capabilities and possibilities of Mindjet with customers and colleagues alike.
Visual communication for a visual tool
Like many tech companies, Trenton and the Mindjet team work out of an office in San Francisco, California. Given the number of tech companies in the area and competitors in the mind mapping arena, Trenton needed to make Mindjet stand out from the crowd.
“It’s important for us to show current and potential customers what Mindjet can offer,” said Trenton. “Mindjet is a very visual product, so Camtasia and Snagit go hand-in-hand with walking people through our product in a visual way.”
Whether recording the desktop, web or iOS® apps (via Apple® AirPlay®), Trenton is able to clearly show customers how to use Mindjet products to their fullest potential.
"It would take more steps to show someone 10 screenshots instead of a video,” said Trenton. “It's easier to show someone how to do something in a video, as if you were guiding their screen, than it is to show them a picture of the screen they would hopefully get if they clicked in the right spot."
Outside of the U.S.
Using Camtasia, Trenton and his colleagues are able to localize videos for French and German Mindjet customers. With French and German virtual machines on their computers, Trenton and the team can run the applicable version of Mindjet software. After a video has been recorded in English, the script is sent to a third-party vendor to be translated, read and recorded.
"It’s easier to show someone how to do something in a video, as if you were guiding their screen, than it is to show them a picture of the screen they would hopefully see if they clicked in the right spot."
“We have the translated script read by native speakers to make sure the narration is clear,” said Trenton. “But we’re the ones who put the videos together. In Camtasia, it’s extremely easy to import the translated audio files and line them up with the recordings before publishing.”
The video production process is only extended by the time it takes for the script to be recorded in a different language. Trenton and his colleagues are able to do the rest in-house, saving time and money for the company.
The results
Trenton has been able to create a library of videos explaining virtually everything a customer or colleague would want to know about Mindjet. When a new feature is added, they are able to quickly make a video and share with customers.
In addition to giving the company an edge, Trenton has used TechSmith’s Camtasia and Snagit to give himself an edge professionally. On top of his experience with video editing software, Trenton has experience explaining Mindjet’s powerful software in a clear and concise way.
Whether addressing existing customers or new, Trenton has helped Mindjet stand out among a crowd of technology companies. By creating videos to show customers exactly what to expect when using Mindjet software, Trenton lends a helpful, reassuring voice to Mindjet customers around the world when they need it most.
Mindjet is a registered trademark in the US and other countries. TechSmith, Camtasia and SNAGIT are registered trademarks of TechSmith Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Apple and AirPlay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.