The Visual Lounge lets you find out about TechSmith behind-the-scenes. Watch screencasts and videos from other customers, meet up with your fellow TechSmith users and staff, and get more tips and tricks!

I bugged the Camtasia Studio Product manger, Troy Stein, to make a screencast about making screencasts. Say that several times in a row.

In this video, Troy gives us his tips for creating a screencast that will play inside of your blog or Web site page. Click the screenshot to view the screencast:

Why screencast? Several reasons really.

1. Show AND tell! It's more interesting for your blog readers, and sometimes … words just aren’t enough.
2. It saves you time - how long would it have taken me to type out instructions on how to screencast? Much longer than it takes to make a narrated screencast. And with zero typos.
3. Show your personality.
4. It's a great way to promote yourself and your expertise.
5. Be different - need a way to stand out in the blogosphere? Start making screencasts!

Here are some great resources to get you started:

Jon Udell, lead analyst for the InfoWorld Test Center, is the father of screencasting as far as I'm concerned. He even coined the term 'screencast'. He has many great screencasts on his blog as well as some great advice.

Bill Myers has a great article on screencasting

And some of my favorite screencasts include:

Cliff Atkinson made an impressive screencast with Camtasia Studio and PowerPoint.

Alex Barnett has a great screencast about RSS 101.

As I mentioned earlier, David Pogue has some of the most entertaining ones I know. I'm starting a David Pogue Fan Club. Who wants to join?

Are you screencasting? If so, let me know. I'd love to see your masterpieces and what you're screencasting about!