Embracing Online Video
Ugh! I can already hear the collective groans... "Do I really have to be on camera talking to people???" Well, if you are planning to promote your business online, the answer is Yes.
It is predicted that 74% of all internet traffic in 2017 will be video-based! 52% of marketing professionals worldwide name video as the type of content with the best ROI.
Does that mean it's not scary, especially for those of us online marketers that chose online marketing specifically so we would not have to talk to a bunch of people? :) No, but speaking as someone who felt really self-conscious about seeing myself on camera, you CAN get over it.
Baby Steps
I took baby steps and it made all the difference. I have been really enjoying both Snapchat and Instagram Stories because they only allow 10-second little blurbs. You can also practice over and over and just post the ones you like. Don't like those crow's feet? Use a Snapchat filter to get you more comfortable with seeing your image on camera (yes, they do have some that don't make you look like a pancake or a baby deer as shown in this pic).
Lighting
Good lighting is another key element. It is so much easier to use natural light vs. setting up lights indoors. If you want to film inside, sit in front of a window. Have the camera with its back to the window, and then in selfie mode, film yourself with your face to the window so you get the sunlight on your face. It provides a beautiful natural light - for free!
Have a Purpose
Don't just pop on the camera and blab on about nothing. Have a purpose to your video and sketch it out a bit in an outline. I would refrain from writing a script though, it will seem too stiff. It also helps to have a quick intro that asks a question, or tells the person what they can expect in the video. For example, "In this video, I am going to explain my top three tricks for quick and easy potty-training."
Those are just a few quick tips for you. I will share more soon! Do you have any video phobias? Let me know in the comments!
