10+ Tips to Feel Comfortable on Video

Introduction

Video is such a powerful medium, and it opens up opportunities for businesses to reach more people than ever before. But if you’re not comfortable on camera, it can be hard to get started and do well with video marketing. Here are some tips for feeling more confident on camera:

Practice makes perfect.

Practice makes perfect. You may feel awkward at first, but the more you practice, the easier it will be to be comfortable on video.

The following are some ways that you can practice in front of a mirror:

• Smile! Make sure your mouth is relaxed and happy-looking. If it’s not, try stretching out your lips with an “O” shape until they feel more natural (but don’t overdo it). Also, make sure that there are no gaps between your teeth when smiling–this can make people look older than they actually are.
• Make sure you’re looking into the camera lens–this will make people feel as though you are making eye contact with them.

Breathe.

When nervous, breathing naturally can become more difficult. When trying to communicate, especially on camera, this can pose an issue.

Take a few deep breaths before recording and try to relax. This can help return your breathing to normal, which will make you sound more natural during your recording.

Be aware of what you’re saying.

• Having notes or slides can be a helpful tool–but it’s important not to look like you’re reading them the whole time. 
• Practice what you’re going to say in advance in order to avoid stumbling on words or having your eyes away from the camera.
• Using Shuffll’s teleprompter can help you avoid these issues as it contains cues to allow your slides to seamlessly transition. You also won’t need to fumble with your notes or have your eyes move away from the camera.

Avoid verbal filler.

Verbal filler is a term that describes words that we use to fill in gaps of silence. These words can be anything from “um” and “uh” to “like” and even complete sentences. Verbal filler isn’t inherently bad, but it’s important to avoid if you want your video viewers (and potential employers) to take you seriously.

When we use these words or phrases in conversation with other people face-to-face, they’re usually not noticed because there are so many other things going on at once: facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice all give context for what we’re saying–but when someone hears us over headphones on their computer screen or phone without any visual cues available besides our face alone…it can sound like we’re unsure of ourselves or nervous about speaking up! And since those moments happen often when talking through video content–especially when first starting out–you’ll want them gone ASAP if possible!

Make eye contact with your audience.

Eye contact is important for establishing rapport with your audience. It’s also one of the most difficult things to do on camera, but there are a few techniques that can help you get comfortable with it:

• Look at the camera first and then look at your audience when you speak. This will help you focus on what you’re saying rather than being distracted by how they’re reacting or what they look like (or don’t look like).
• With Shuffll’s newest updates you can now enable a feature where it will seem like your are looking into the camera while your are actually looking at your script. Read more about it on this page.
• Avoid looking at a monitor–it makes people feel self-conscious about their appearance and can take focus away from what matters most: YOU! Don’t stare though; maintain eye contact but don’t lock eyes either; otherwise, viewers might get uncomfortable too!

Use body language to convey your message.

• Use confident body language when you are speaking on video. Stand up straight, with your shoulders back and chest out. Smile often and make eye contact with the camera as well as the person you are talking to off-camera (if there is one).
• Use interested body language when you are speaking on video by nodding along or making other gestures that show that what someone else has said has grabbed your attention. This helps build rapport between the viewer and yourself because it allows them to understand that you care about what they have to say just as much as they do!
• Use passionate body language when speaking on camera so others can see how much passion there really is behind everything being said–and who wouldn’t want more passion than less?! It shows how much energy goes into everything being talked about here today…and tomorrow too!

Connect with your audience with vocal delivery.

While on video, one of the most crucial tools in your arsenal is your voice. The way you talk has a significant influence on how comfortable and confident others feel around you.

• Use pauses: Pauses allow people to comprehend what they’ve heard while making it more straightforward to connect with what you’re saying. For example, if someone asks, “How was your weekend?” and then pauses before answering, “excellent,” it allows them time to think about their response without rushing through it or being irritated by being pushed (and therefore maybe saying something they don’t mean).
• Inflection: A slight increase after an otherwise neutral statement implies enthusiasm or surprise. A dropping intonation at the end of a question means perplexity or doubtfulness about whatever has been stated previously. It all comes down to how much significance we put into each word we speak!

 

Video is a fantastic medium, but it can be challenging to get started and succeed if you’re shy in front of the camera.

A video is a terrific tool for communication. It’s more personal than written meida and helps you connect with other people in ways that aren’t feasible through words alone. The video also allows you to reach an audience that would not have seen your content otherwise, such as if someone was looking for information on how to make homemade pasta sauce or how long it takes for strawberries from California (which are shipped all over the country) to travel versus locally grown strawberries from Florida (which don’t travel very far). In these circumstances, videos are more likely to rank higher than articles since they are more exciting and easier for search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! to index. Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) algorithms also know this fact!

Conclusion

We hope these pointers make you feel more at ease on camera. Don’t worry if your first try fails miserably! You may always try again and improve with time. The idea is to keep practicing until your audience sees you’re at ease on camera and having fun as they listen to what you have to say.