How to Use Loom in Your Freelance Business

The other day I commented on a LinkedIn post about presenting copywriting work to a client. 

The person who posted is a copywriter I’ve followed for a while. He made the point that it’s important to present your copy and show a client why you’ve written it in such a way. 

He said it’s important to demonstrate intentions and thoughts behind the words you deliver. Then, you can build support for your work and ideas.

I see the value in presenting my work in some way or another on almost every project. And my favorite presentation method is recording a Loom video. So I commented on his post and shared how Loom allows me to explain my process and strategies and help build rapport with my customer. 

Plus, I like to talk, so it’s fun for me. 

I also posted on LinkedIn the same day, but my comment on the other writer's post got more likes than my original post, so I figured I’d ride the LinkedIn algorithm roller coaster and give the platform what it wants. 

Loom has been a powerful tool for my freelance business. 

I’ve been a paying customer (there is a free version as well) for over a year now. And I didn’t start using it because of some novel conclusion I reached. 

I learned about Loom from another LinkedIn user who shared how they used it. And I adopted a similar method.  

While I’m not the first freelance writer to utilize Loom, I wanted to write about how I implement it in my process, offer some tangible examples, and give tips on how to use it. 

Loom lets me talk about it 

I always have a lot to say after I’ve finished writing something. I want to tell the person who’s receiving a draft the thoughts that bounced around my head as I put everything together. And I just can’t seem to do that via email. 

Asynchronous video gives me a platform to talk about my work. I explain why I wrote the copy the way I did and discuss any nuances or things I couldn’t explain in an email. Sometimes I joke or laugh about tech issues that happen when a page won’t load or something odd I stumbled across while researching.  

And honestly, that’s really how I started using Loom. I was typing out my thoughts in an email and realized I didn’t want to write everything I had to say and the client probably doesn’t want to read it. 

Since then, I’ve used it on various projects and almost universally get positive feedback. The first client who received a recording said, “We really love those videos.” 

Now, here I am, cranking videos out for nearly every project.

Loom has (almost) eliminated the need for project meetings 

Hands down, the best part of Loom is that it eliminates the need to schedule calls to review work. 

I’ve written a sales page copy project with only one client meeting because of Loom. 

According to my Loom stats, I’ve saved a total of 51 meetings by using the platform. 

I’m not exactly sure how they define a “saved meeting” (most of my videos are less than 10 minutes), but that number is music to my ears. 

I’m still recovering from the days of back-to-back-to-back meetings in my former corporate life. So avoiding a discussion that didn’t need to happen is a sweet, sweet thing.  

Meetings serve a purpose but also get in the way of creative work. 

And they can be a massive time drain. That reality became crystal clear when I started freelancing full-time. So I schedule meetings strategically and then use Loom to communicate ideas, roadblocks, or other topics that warrant discussion. 

Asynchronous video saves everyone time. And it’s a perfect tool for handling an issue that is too much to type out in an email but not enough to warrant a call. It also gives everyone time to think about the issue without needing to respond in real time. 

Loom is a key part of my first writing process 

When I wrap up the first draft of work, I want the client to get in my head a bit. 

I want them to understand how and why I chose the words and structured the piece. And guiding them through it with a video is the best way to share my thoughts.  

I typically start by saying hello. Then, I restate the goal of what we’re working on. So, I say something like, “I really wanted to focus on how your service helps business owners cut down on inefficiencies,” (I’ve never said that, but you get the idea). 

Then, I review each section and call out sentences, paragraphs, or critical points I want the client to note. And I try to do this all in the frame of the intended audience we’re writing to. 

Blogs are pretty straightforward, but with web copy or emails, I also want to discuss design elements if necessary. It’s a great place to say, “I think a call to action button will work well here.” 

Those comments also help reinforce my expertise. 

I’m not just writing the copy. I’m playing a role in the content strategy and how to move customers through the sales process. 

I wrap up the videos by telling them to review what I’ve written, leave any comments in the document, and respond with their own video if they’d like. 

Sharing design and concept ideas with video 

I work on several projects that require me to put my drawing skills to use. 

And since I’ve only taken two art classes in my life, there’s not a lot of raw ability to work with. 

So, Loom has become my saving grace in explaining what’s in my head and what the client looks at on the screen. 

Here’s an example. 

I worked on an infographic project where the client asked me to develop an initial design to showcase how fiber internet can improve an entire community. Once I researched and knew what it should look like, I sketched it on Microsoft Whiteboard. 

And honestly, I was impressed with my trees. But everything else clearly demonstrated why I’m a writer, not a painter. 

So, I created a Loom video pitching the concept to the client and explaining that those circles on top of triangles were, in fact, people. 

It was also a tool for explaining to the illustrator how I wanted the design to look, where the copy would go, and things to emphasize. 

I’ve used Loom several more times to explain design ideas, rough concepts, and what I’m thinking about. And it’s worked so much better than trying to type these thoughts out. 

Provide more details (and a human touch) on quotes, pitches, and project scope

I’ve recently found that Loom’s usefulness extends to the administrative side of my work. 

I recently used it to walk through a PowerPoint deck on a proposed content strategy session. And when I’ve raised prices or created a new scope of work, a quick Loom video seems to help people grasp what they’re looking at a little better. 

And when it’s time to add new pieces to my portfolio, I send a video to my designer explaining how I’d like it to look on the website. 

Keep these things in mind when using Loom 

Loom’s not perfect. 

I’ve had a few issues with the Chrome extension, which is what I most often use. And the desktop version can be a little clunky and is missing some features, like a blurred background (maybe I just can’t find how to turn it on). 

On the whole, though, it’s become one of those things I can’t live without. 

So, if you’re looking to implement it into your work, here’s a little guidance to get you started. 

Set an expectation for the length of the video

I typically try to say, “It’s a short video,” or, “I promise this will only take 3 minutes of your time.” 

Many people don’t use asynchronous video in their daily work. Help them understand how much time they’ll be spending listening to you. 

When you send a video, give some context, especially if this is your first time using it with a client or someone you collaborate with. 

My go-to statement is various versions of this: “I wanted to use this video to explain some of my thoughts, so you can understand how I came up with these concepts.” 

Explain the utility of the tool

Loom can save you and your client a lot of time. And it’s important to explain to them the benefits of watching you talk. You may work with folks who still want to get on the phone or video call. 

Let them know that Loom can save them time and there’s a benefit to having a resource they can watch over again, if needed. 

And encourage clients and colleagues to interact with you via Loom (they don’t need an account to see your videos). One of the platform's best features is allowing users to comment at specific timestamps in the video. And they can record their response or leave their thoughts for you to review. 

Leverage video in your business 

Loom and other asynchronous videos won’t replace every meeting or change how you do business overnight. 

But when it’s deployed in a way that fits your business model, it can become a tool that saves you time and adds additional value to the services you provide.