If you’re tired of writing long, boring SOP docs that no one reads—or if you keep getting the same basic questions from your team—this guide’s for you. We’ll walk through using Loom to create simple, watchable videos that actually help people learn how things work. No fluff, no hype, just practical tips to get your standard operating procedures (SOPs) out of your head and into a format your team will actually use.
Why bother with Loom for SOPs?
Let’s be real: Most SOPs are ignored because they’re hard to follow or buried in some forgotten folder. Video, especially quick screen recordings, is often much easier to understand. Loom makes it dead simple to record, share, and update these walkthroughs—no editing degree required.
But Loom isn’t magic. It won’t fix a broken process or replace good documentation habits. Use it as a tool to make things clearer, not a crutch for disorganized thinking.
Step 1: Decide if Loom is the right fit
Before you start recording, ask yourself a couple of questions:
- Is this process visual? If you’re showing how to use software, navigate a workflow, or set something up on a screen, Loom’s great. If it’s mostly policy or decisions, text is usually better.
- Does it change often? Videos are great for stable processes. If your SOP is changing weekly, updating videos gets old fast.
- Will people actually watch it? Be honest. If your team hates video, don’t force it.
Pro tip: Don’t replace every SOP with video. Sometimes a checklist or step-by-step doc still works best.
Step 2: Plan your SOP video (without overthinking it)
You don’t need a script worthy of an Oscar, but a little structure helps:
- Outline the key steps. Jot down what you’ll cover—just bullet points.
- Decide what to show. Will you record your screen, your webcam, or both? For most SOPs, screen-only or screen-plus-voice is enough.
- Keep it short. Aim for 2–5 minutes per video. If it’s longer, break it up.
Don’t: Try to be perfect. People want clarity, not a polished production.
Step 3: Record your SOP in Loom
Here’s how to get started:
- Install Loom. Use the browser extension or desktop app—both work fine.
- Set up your recording.
- Choose whether to show your screen, webcam, or both.
- Pick the right screen or window.
- Check your mic (and lighting, if using webcam).
- Do a quick test. Record a 10-second clip to make sure your audio’s clear and nothing weird is visible on your screen.
- Record your walkthrough.
- Speak clearly, but don’t read a script word-for-word.
- Use your mouse pointer to highlight what you’re clicking.
- Narrate your thinking: “First, I go here because…”
- If you mess up, pause, then keep going. You can trim mistakes at the end.
Pro tip: Turn off notifications and close anything private before recording. No one needs to see your Slack DMs or messy desktop.
Step 4: Clean up and title your video
Loom’s editing is basic, but good enough for SOPs:
- Trim the start and end. Cut out any awkward silences or mistakes.
- Add a clear title. “How to Run Payroll (Quick Guide)” beats “Untitled Recording.”
- Add a short description. Summarize what the video covers in a sentence or two.
Don’t waste time on heavy editing. The goal is clarity, not perfection.
Step 5: Organize your SOP videos (don’t let them vanish)
If you just share a link and move on, your Looms will get lost. Here’s how to keep things findable:
- Create a Loom folder for SOPs. Group by topic or department.
- Standardize naming. Start every video with the process name, e.g., “Onboarding – Add New User.”
- Link from your main docs. If you use Notion, Confluence, Google Docs, etc., embed or link your Looms right in the SOP checklist.
- Add a table of contents. If you’ve got lots of videos, a simple index doc helps people find what they need.
What not to do: Don’t just dump Loom links into a Slack channel and hope for the best. Organize once, save headaches later.
Step 6: Share your SOP videos (and actually get people to use them)
- Set permissions. Make sure the right people can view (and not just you).
- Send a short message. Explain what the video is, who it’s for, and when to use it. Don’t just blast out links with no context.
- Encourage questions. Ask for feedback—if something’s unclear, it’s better to know now.
Pro tip: Follow up after sharing. “Did this help? Anything missing?” is more useful than radio silence.
Step 7: Keep SOP videos up to date
Old, inaccurate SOPs are worse than none at all. With Loom, updating is easier than re-writing a doc, but only if you remember to do it.
- Set a review schedule. Even 1–2 times a year is better than nothing.
- Delete outdated videos. Don’t clutter things up.
- Replace with new recordings if the process changes. You don’t have to reshoot the whole thing—just update the changed step and relabel.
What Loom is great for (and where it falls short)
Works well for: - Step-by-step software walkthroughs - Quick “show and tell” for new tools - Visual explanations where text gets confusing
Not great for: - Super detailed, legal, or policy-heavy SOPs (stick to text for these) - Processes that change weekly (too much re-recording) - Teams with slow internet or who hate watching video
Ignore: The urge to record everything. Use video where it clarifies, not where it adds busywork.
A few extras (if you want to go further)
- Transcripts and captions: Loom auto-generates these. Good for accessibility and for folks who’d rather skim than watch.
- Call to action: Add a checklist or summary in the doc next to your video. “Next steps” help people take action.
- Analytics: Loom will show you who’s watched—useful if you’re training a team, but don’t micromanage it.
Keep it simple. Iterate as you go.
Don’t treat SOP videos like they’re carved in stone. Start small, record what matters most, and see how your team responds. You can always re-record, reorganize, or switch back to text if something isn’t working. The point isn’t to make perfect videos—the point is to make life easier, for you and everyone else.
And if you’re ever in doubt? Keep it short, keep it clear, and hit “record.”