Screen recorder best practices

The BombBomb screen recorder is one of the best tools you can use to show your on-screen activity to whoever it is you're communicating with. It's one of the best things to rely on when you're trying to provide instruction, explain complicated jargon, provide guidance on site navigation, and much, much more. There are so many different scenarios you can use for the screen recorder, but there are some things to keep in mind if you plan on using it heavily or if you work in an organization that deals with personal information. 

Check out these screen recorder best practices so you can ensure your screen recording is in top shape!

Test things out beforehand so there are no issues.

Before you start, make sure that you do a couple test videos prior to starting the real recording. There's nothing worse than recording a 10 minute video only to realize afterward that your camera or audio was messed up! When you take a few minutes to record a couple test videos, you can play them back and check for any strange activity that happened while you were filming. Additionally, this would be a good time to make sure your face is properly in the frame and your background is suitable for viewing. If you're seeing any errors in your BombBomb recorder, be sure to check out this article so you can do some troubleshooting and get all fixed up.

Know what you want to cover before you record.

Many videos are much longer than they need to be, and it's because the person filming doesn't know what to say before they start recording. To avoid being overly chatty, rambling, or talking about irrelevant topics, make sure you have an idea of what you want to cover before you start your screen recording. No need for a script - this is just to have a mental note of what topics you think are important to your viewer. It helps to run through the steps you're about to show to your recipient, as this will give you a mental outline of what to talk about and expose anything you may have missed in your mind.

Use a high-quality microphone/headset or find a quiet spot.

If you're using the screen recorder to film an instructional video, it's imperative that your viewer hears what you're saying throughout the recording for context. However, good audio can be compromised if you are in a noisy area or if your microphone or headset is bad quality. When you're filming a screen recording, make sure your audio is good to go and that your recipient will be able to hear what you're saying so they can catch important details you may cover. A little background noise is fine and many people may find it relatable, but if it drowns out your voice, then you should record somewhere else.

Be aware of what is displayed on your screen. 

Your organization may deal with customers who provide personal information to you, and this is something you need to consider before hitting the record button. Exposing PII (personally identifiable information) on your screen like names, phone numbers, credit card numbers, or any information that could make someone identifiable could get you or your organization in trouble. Be sure to close any windows or tabs that may contain PII, and you may want to expand your browser screen to cover up the clutter of your desktop icons for a better visual experience.

Try to disable any pop-ups to avoid recording disruptions.

Desktop notifications are useful for day-to-day work, but it can be a distraction when you're recording your screen. It can also show your viewer messages or notifications that may be personal, which is not ideal. To prevent distracting screen recordings, make sure to mute or snooze any desktop notifications, pop-ups, messages, etc. before you begin recording your screen. It will make for a less distracting video for your viewer, and you will have an easier time navigating your screen when you're not dealing with constant pop-ups to dismiss.