There’s no doubt that videos are the most popular form of content today. From simple dance moves inspired by the latest catchy pop song, to doctors explaining quick steps on how to properly maintain good dental hygiene. Videos are everywhere and businesses have nowhere to hide! Your business has to be making videos if you want to stand out in whatever you’re doing. So don’t let your fear of having an on-camera presence hold you back!
Recording videos might seem easy at first, especially if you’re young and born in this time where screens are second nature. But actually, recording videos of yourself can be hard! Having an on-camera presence can be intimidating and it’ll likely take getting used to. With proper training and consistent practice though, anyone can rise to the challenge to take full advantage of everything that being on YouTube has to offer.
In this article we’ll share some tips that can help with this process. Don’t worry, we won’t get too technical.
How to talk to the camera
After years of directing clients, we can honestly say many feel like that small box of metal, plastic, and glass, can look like a monster from nightmares!
And there’s no way around it.
The camera is the portal between you and your audience. It's the eyes and ears of the people interested in whatever you have to say. Get comfortable with it! 📷
So our suggestion? Play around with the camera. Walk around the house recording something. Let the camera record while you’re warming up. Pretend the camera is a friend that you’re telling a story to. Put yourself into more situations that let you practice your on-camera presence.
Also remember that editing is not only a way to cut out your mistakes but is also a tool to convey your message. Be comfortable with the fact that your first videos won’t be great at first, and that’s ok! It’s the learnings that you get from doing it over and over again that is important in this stage. So rest assured that they will get better over time, as long as you keep making them.
Also, please, always look at the lens and not at yourself in the viewfinder while recording. It can be off-putting and very distracting.
Know your subject
Some might say that the key to making better videos and enjoying the process, is to be as comfortable as possible while you’re at it. For some people this comes naturally. If that’s not the case for you, you need to find your way to achieve that. One effective way we found to achieve this, is knowing what you’re talking about.
Remove some of the stress
Knowing your subject and how you’re going to discuss it can help reduce some of the stress that goes into video production. When you know by heart what you are talking about, you can direct the rest of your energy toward how you’re telling the story. At the end of the day, it’s all about that, don’t you think?
The most boring story can be made highly engaging when presented by a good storyteller. You are the storyteller of your videos! 📖
Personally, we tend to avoid using a word-by-word script. Unless you’re a trained actor, we encourage you to do the same. You might feel better prepared with a script like that, but trust us, it can do more harm than good. 80% of content creation it’s about connecting with your audience, and a word-by-word script can feel and sound very unnatural and rigid.
Instead, trying breaking your story down into three sections:
Beginning
This is where you introduce the video theme, topic and yourself. Set the tone and tell the audience what to expect to get from this video
Development
This is the main chunk of your video. You might divide it into however many subtopics you feel it's necessary to tell the story and get your point across. Point A, point B, point C… pros and cons… etc.
Ending
This is where you tell your final considerations and summarize key points to drive them home. You can add some extra info, some references, and invite your audience to participate in the conversation, etc.
When you’re just writing out the topics and key info in bullet points, you leave room to add all the stuff that makes your speech more natural and conversational.
Dress up and mind your surroundings
The evolution of technology (and the internet per se) allowed anyone to be able to create something. Whereas before you needed tons of equipment, many different professionals and thousands of dollars. Now, good content can be made in a bedroom with a phone.
We’ve never had this amount of content available to us as we do today. From creators recording themselves in a small office to a production company using a studio with cinema cameras. Wherever you fall on that spectrum though, it’s important to have and show care in your videos. Part of that is dressing up properly.
Not only will dressing up make your on-camera presence look more presentable and professional, but it can also set the right mood in your mind.
The same goes for the environment you’re recording in. Clean up the space, throw away any garbage and check if there is anything weird cluttering up your framing. By reducing the clutter, you’re also reducing some of the anxiety that being in front of the camera can bring.
Energize!
Ask any content creator what the hardest thing is about what they do. We bet you that getting people’s attention will be in the top three (if not number one). But we’d add that keeping people’s attention is even harder.
There are many factors that come into play when talking about engagement and watch time. However, it is your job as a video host to make sure your content is presented in an engaging and exciting way. Of course, these adjectives can mean different things for different people, but we’d say the key is to make something you would want to watch yourself.
Even though you may be recording in your office, you’re still performing and presenting a subject to someone. So some important things to keep in mind are:
Warm Up
Start talking to yourself while you're setting up everything. It doesn't matter the subject, as long as your vocal cords start to work.
Project Your Voice
Project, not scream. When recording, you must speak a bit louder than you normally would, like you're talking to someone across the room. Project your voice to the outside, not the inside.
Clarity
Mind the pronunciation and clarity of your words and sentences. For those that just listen and don't watch, this can be really helpful.
Avoid Being Monotone
No one wants to watch something boring. So try mixing and changing your speed pattern and volume of your voice to add some flavor.
Last but not least, bring some energy! A good trick we do ourselves is to do some jumping jacks or hop around a bit. Trust us, it can help a lot!
Remember, how you talk is more important than the way you and your video look. But also be careful to not overperform.
Be yourself
I know, this last point is almost a contradiction of the whole article, but please, don’t shoot the messenger.
Content creation is about connection, originality, and authenticity. Just look around at the successful people (big or small) and you’ll see that again and again. Of course, you can (and should) follow a trend or do something that someone is already doing, but you must add your own flavor and make it as “you” as possible.
Why would someone watch video A, B, or C if at first, they all look the same? Why would someone keep watching your videos after the first few seconds?
We’d love to give you a straight answer on that, but it’s something you will only find by going through the process yourself. Trial and error. From our experience, whenever we ourselves or our clients are relaxed and enjoying the process of creating, those are the videos that drive the best results!
