Unleashing Your On-Camera Confidence: Mastering Video Presence on Social Media
In our exciting digital age, social media has become a vital tool for personal branding, networking, and promoting your business online. With the clear rise of video content on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, it has become more important than ever to show up confidently on camera. However, for many people, the thought of appearing on camera can be daunting and intimidating.
In this post, we will share tips and strategies to help you overcome your fears and show up confidently on video, so you can make the most of the opportunities that social media offers. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, content creator, or looking to build your personal brand, these tips from ‘Build You Digital Community’ Episode 28 with Dana Bowling, a brand strategist and video coach, will help you shine on camera and connect with your audience on a deeper level!
Why Video Is Your Most Powerful Tool
Video is the most effective way to connect with your audience in the fastest way possible. Although it is possible to grow a business online without video, it will ultimately take far longer in today’s social media landscape.
Video is an incredible way to build trust, establishing valuable business leads and opportunities for collaboration. We often forget that on social media we're trying to see how alike we are, how connected we can be, and how much value we can provide. We want to feel related to each other. Many business owners fail to see the connection between this and sales. Your story is where the sales are made.
You Don’t Need All The Bells and Whistles
Many business owners fall into the trap of believing they need the perfect set-up to start. Maybe you’re waiting for a ring light? Perhaps you think you need a budget for a video editor or a fancy camera? But here’s the secret… To grow your business online, all you need is your phone, some natural light, and a message. With a bit of practice (and maybe some YouTube tutorials) you can totally record, edit, and publish your own video content.
But what if you can’t? Here are a few instances where delegating and passing things out could be to your benefit:
You simply don't have the time and it’s holding you back from other things that need your attention.
You don't possess the knowledge and you would rather spend money than sit and learn the skills.
Finally, maybe you're just awful at it and it's not something you enjoy. We can’t be good at everything!
Ultimately, the best tool you have is your opinion, your thoughts, and your ability to explain and share them. All people want is to be entertained, inspired, educated, and related to. Sometimes, scrappier content vs highly-produced content has a higher chance of virality because it comes across as authentic and honest. Just remember, done is so much better than perfect.
Become the Star of Your Brand
We are often told that to make an impact online, we must create value-based or educational content. There is truth in this, but value can come in all shapes and sizes. Value can be your authenticity. It can be your relatability. It can be your vulnerability. Where business owners can go wrong is that they do not see the connection between this and sales.
Video shrinks the distance between you and your viewers. For example, if you watch someone you resonate with on Instagram reels or TikTok for a week, it can sometimes feel as if you know them. You suddenly want to be connected, you want to be in their universe, and sometimes you even want to make investments based on these people. This is powerful stuff!
But, if you're out there doing what you think you have to do, following the trends or script that you know other people in your industry abide by, it's never gonna feel like you've brought it to life. You want someone to land on your page and immediately know that you are exactly who they're looking for - or not (and that’s totally okay)! But, if you can't clearly state what you do and how you help people, no one will be able to know that you're for them.
Never forget that you are unique. There is something about you that no one else can bring to the table. Take your personality, your opinions, your past, your credentials, your skills, and your quirks and recognize that you shine and stand out exactly as you are. There is something about you that will inspire someone.
So, You’re Finally Feeling Ready! Here Are Some Final Steps To Take
To become comfortable, we’ve got to do the thing that, at first, feels uncomfortable. For some people, that may be turning on video to create a 15 second story. Others might be comfortable on stories, but they’re hesitant to go live. Maybe you feel cringey doing reels or TikToks. But, there's no way around it. The only way to really gain confidence on camera is by doing the scary thing and showing up. Here are a few of Dana’s pro tips:
Know what you're going to talk about. Do you feel like your subject is a little out of your realm of knowledge? Are you constantly needing to refer to notes? Then that's not the thing you should start talking about.
Instead of talking about twenty things, keep it simple and talk about one thing. We tend to overcomplicate our content. Break it down and be concise.
Start where you are most comfortable. Instagram stories is a great place to start because the vast percent of people that watch your stories are people who already follow you. It’s low stakes because they've already opted in to your content. But what if performing in front of your family, friends, and colleagues is scary? If this is the case, try TikTok. TikTok is almost never showing you to your people. It's showing you to strangers, which can be almost liberating.
Many of us really struggle seeing ourselves on camera. The best thing to do is take a Post-It note and cover up your face on your phone while filming. Fun Tip: Write high-level bullet points on the Post-It note about the content of the video to reference!
Finally, share the video anyway! It's likely not as bad as you think. You will get that one person who appreciates it and that feedback will build your confidence each time.
Showing up confidently on video can be a game-changer for your personal brand or business on social media. With the right mindset, preparation, and practice, anyone can become a confident and engaging on-camera personality. Remember, the more you show up on video, the easier it becomes. So, start small, be consistent, and keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. D