Is this you when you try to talk to the camera?

Well this was me…… many years ago and it wasn’t fun, delivering in person presentations or having to talk to camera made me run for the hills!

I wanted to do better and get better, so I tried, and over time I got better.

Here are 5 tips that helped me and I thought I’d share in the hope that they will help you too :-)

Tip 1: Know Your Material - Being calm and knowledgable about your topic boosts self-confidence. Try out your message several times to make sure you understand it. Because of this, you can relax before recording. Technical subjects with data and statistics to quote benefit from a teleprompter or other aid.

Tip 2: Be Authentic - People can sense when someone is being fake, and it's important to be yourself when recording videos. Don't try to be someone you're not, and don't try to put on an act. Speak from the heart and let your personality shine through.

Tip 3: Use Body Language When making a video - It is equally crucial to express your message through nonverbal indicators as it is through words. Maintain a confident attitude, use appropriate hand motions, and gaze squarely into the camera's lens. Consider how you communicate with others in person, your body language, and how it affects them.

Tip 4: You’re Talking to a Friend - One thing that’s helped me a lot, is image you’re talking to a friend on camera. The idea behind this technique is to imagine that you are speaking to someone you know well, such as a close friend or family member, instead of speaking to an unknown audience behind that camera. By imagining that you are speaking to a friend, you can relax and be yourself. You can use a more conversational tone, and it can help to bring out your natural personality. This can make you more engaging and relatable to your audience, as they will feel like they are having a conversation with you rather than being lectured to or talked at.

Bonus Tip!

This is something I consciously do whenever I am on camera: slow down and inhale. Slowing down your speech allows you to ponder, reflect, and communicate more clearly. Slowing down and taking pauses is one of the most helpful things I have learned when speaking on camera, delivering a presentation, or simply talking. The pauses prevent you from using those tiresome "filler words" such as "uh," "you know," "right," "so," and so on. Also, inhaling and controlling your breathing will assist you avoid using filler words.

Let me know if these helped you and until next time.

If you want to book a free call to talk about your video needs then you can book here.

Take care,

Neil.