When working on web development projects, it’s a common frustration to spend hours going back and forth with developers trying to hash out all the details of a particular task.
Not only is that frustrating, but it can waste so much time that the project is delayed (and your margins start being eroded).
To deal with this problem, we started using a simple strategy at Blackbelt Commerce some time ago: creating quick screencast videos that can be created and shared in just a few minutes.
Using video screencasts makes web development projects easier and more efficient. In our work with our Shopify Development Team, with Shopify clients and even during Shopify product development, a video has become a key tool in our project management system.
By recording a screencast video, you can easily show your team what you want to happen on the page. Narrating at the same time allows you to clearly explain the details required so that phone calls or emails back and forth are unnecessary.
In fact, using video as a communication tool on all sorts of projects is a huge advantage, and here’s why: a Written word is limited and prone to creating misunderstandings, screenshots only go so far, and who has time to coordinate screen -shares or phone calls several times a day?
You can make a video in 2 minutes or less, upload it to Dropbox in under a minute, and send it directly to your developer from Dropbox. Your developer will watch the video and take action in their own time (rather than waiting till you’re both available for a live chat).
Using video to work with developers could easily become one of your most efficient and valuable communication tools.
Our Top 3 Video Programs for Web Development Projects:
1. Quicktime
If you’re running a Mac, Quicktime is already in your applications folder. Open it up, select File > New Screen Recording, and when you’re done it exports as a .mov video. It’s very quick and easy, and the files come out small and easy to upload. You can either record your entire screen or choose an open window or segment of your screen to record. Quicktime is ideal if you don’t need to make any edits, and don’t particularly want to purchase any more programs.
2. Jing
Jing is a free download by Techsmith and is a super efficient app. It captures videos along with your narration for up to 5 minutes and instantly uploads your video to the place of your choice.
https://www.techsmith.com/jing.html
3. Camtasia
Camtasia is also made by Techsmith, with a one-time cost of $199USD. Think of it as Jing’s big brother. With Camtasia, you can record your screen or import other footage. While making easy drag-and-drop edits (including titles, animations, annotations), you can add ‘quizzes’ at the end to make sure your dev team has watched all the way through.
You can try Camtasia for free here.
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We’re not affiliated in any way with any of these tools. They’re just our favorites for smoothing out the communication kinks that can hold up our web development projects. Give them a go and let us know what you think! If you have other tools, let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear what you’re up to!
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