Unfortunately, video is unavoidable if you want to promote your business and your expertise effectively. But talking to camera? I can do it, but I’ll always find something ‘easier’.
I’m not a video camera afficionado – so any video I take is likely to be a bit wobbly, scans too fast and makes the viewer dizzy. And I see plenty of people with similar camera ‘skills’ online on Instagram, LinkedIn and, of course, on YouTube. However, fewer make it to YouTube – maybe because, like me, they don’t think they’re good enough to be a YouTuber.
Yes, I have a couple of channels on YouTube – but after the initial push to get them started, I don’t post much. All my original videos used a slide presentation with my voice narrating.
What are the road blocks?
Am I shy? No, I’ve spoken on platforms in front of hundreds of people and run dozens of webinars.
Am I vain? Not more than the average person. I look OK on camera, but I still don’t like it.
Am I nervous? Not really.
So what’s holding me back?
My acronym is R.A.V.E., which stands for Reputation, Authority, Visibility, Expertise. As a business owner these are all critical to me.
- I don’t want to dull or damage my Reputation.
- I want to be an Authority, not an amateur.
- If I’m going to be Visible, I want to be 100% professional.
- When I’m showing off my Expertise, I don’t want the subheading to be ‘but doesn’t make good videos’.
So, I don’t make ANY videos.
Well, hardly any – and most of them don’t feature me, just my knowledge.
This is all very negative!
And I’m not a negative person. So, where do we go from here?
I know some of you are thinking ‘get over yourself and just get on with it’, but I’m sure that a few of my readers are also feeling the same reluctance to get with the video.
So, I got some training and this is what I learned:
- Batch produce – it makes it easier (but put a different top/shirt on for each one).
- Book time into your diary every month/week to create video.
- Plan what each video will cover, but don’t read a script or you’ll send people to sleep! Bullet points are good to keep you from losing track.
- Pay attention to your background (we’ve all seen the ones that got it wrong and seriously embarrassed themselves).
- Make sure your face is well-lit either with natural light or a well-placed lamp (I use a ring light above my computer screen that’s high enough so it doesn’t reflect in my specs).
- Ensure you’ve locked the door or everyone is out, so you don’t get unexpected disturbances and have to start over.
If you still feel uncomfortable talking to camera, get a colleague or friend to interview you either face-to-face or online. If you choose face-to-face, you’ll need lights, cameras and mics, but a virtual interview will work just as well.
I think it’s a case of ‘fake it until you make it’, and the more you do it, the more comfortable it will become.
And don’t forget that a video editing service with tons of YouTube experience will make your videos shine out and transform ordinary into extraordinary!
