Looks can be deceiving – this saying may be true for long-term relationships, but in the world of online meetings – fine feathers really do make fine birds. To be straightforward – even if you’re a genius in your field, a poor appearance may ruin your online meeting. Today we’re giving ideas on how to master your looks and dress up for your online meeting’s success!
Everybody wants to look their best on video. In the end, we attend an online meeting to promote our business and boost sales. However, presenting yourself in a positive light can be challenging for professionals not used to cameras. Nevertheless, all mistakes can be avoided with some simple guidelines.
Each enterprise wants to enhance its brand, so looking isn't a vanity issue. A video chat is an essential part of branding and promotion.
What are some tips for looking good on video chat? There is no magic formula to look good instantly, but you can implement some strategies to improve video chat flow. With these tips, you will become more comfortable in front of the camera and engage your audience better.
#1 Upgrade your style
A presenter wearing a track suit and an old, stretched out t-shirt won’t gain respect or credibility among participants, no matter how great does he on stage. Dressing properly for your online event is a sign of respect for your audience and shows that you treat seriously your presentation. And by “dressing properly” we mean matching to your meeting’s occasion.
We have something fun you'll enjoy as a video marketer. You get a snap judgment about yourself immediately. It's not just what you say that matters; it's how you say it. They're judging your smile (or lack thereof), your posture, and other non-verbal cues. Finally, what you wear affects how viewers perceive you.
While you will never please everyone, you can wear something that fits your target audience. If you look good, you feel good. Dressing up doesn't have to take up your entire day. You can, however, take the time to wear a clean, ironed shirt. Avoid dressing too flashy unless it is appropriate for your audience. You should also take care of your hair. The last thing anyone needs is some makeup, such as concealer to hide blemishes or powder to darken their skin so they don't look like ghosts. This type of help is essential for women as well as men.
Choose the suit and tie style for more formal, business-like meetings, while a causal, sport look will do for less official events. In the quest for finding your perfect style, as in most cases, balance is the key – you don’t want to look under or overdressed and bring to much attention to your clothes. That’s way going for neutrals is always a good idea – avoid bright, neon colors and super dark or light tones which may interfere with your audio.
Although looks do matter, don’t work yourself into a frenzy of digging through your closet, because it’s much more than clothes that make a man!
#2 Shine a positive light on yourself
Bring your ideas to light by providing the right illumination for your online meeting. Benefit from opportunities offered by live streaming technologies and make your HD broadcast even more perfect with the right lighting.
Go for natural light if possible, but avoid placing yourself directly in the sunlight – you don’t want to present your audience a shady image. Moreover, avoid sitting behind the source of light to avoid harsh lighting that will underline every wrinkle or imperfection.
Following these basic rules – use multiple light sources and for a spotless image sit in front of a lamp or window to present yourself in the best possible light!
#3 Be naturally friendly
Remember that your online meeting is more than just words and ideas – it’s also about emotions and the presenter’s attitude. Imagine your features are like an open book for your audience so make sure to provide them with a positive message.
Maintain eye-contact with listeners – try looking straight into the camera to keep them interested in your presentation. Directly looking at the camera lens is the key. Although it may be tempting for you to watch yourself talking (depending on the camera and webcam used in the video) or focus on different spots throughout the video, your audience is always right in front of you.
Although speaking in front of the public may be stressful, try to keep your emotions under control – and by saying this we’re not encouraging you to hide your nerves under a fake smile. Also, a too serious expression won’t make you more reliable – just go with the flow and act as naturally as possible. The compromise between being stone-faced and silliness is… being yourself.
Of course, some of us are gifted with more malleable features, while others “wear” a more static expression – both options are fine, as long as they fit with our characters. Useful tip – a smile is always worth giving a try, as it’s a great courage booster and breaks most communication barriers.
#4 Do not forget to smile
Yes, yes, a fake smile is not a good solution. Instead, it is about your positive attitude towards video chat. Take this time as a new experience or another nice business meeting. You don't have to be nervous and stress about how you will look in front of the camera. Don't think too much as your appearance is not the main focus of the meeting - don't get it wrong. Your appearance is simply to portray you as the right person, in the right place.
Go with a smile through video chat (through life too!) And the audience will begin to perceive you as a laid-back person who was born to speak to others. So if others believed in you, believe in yourself too! Thanks to your smile, you will find that stress will decrease, and you may even forget about it.
So? What do you think about our tips? We hope you will use them all, or if you want to, start with the one or two tips you need to focus on to make your videos effective. As soon as you improve the weakest part of your videos, you can move on to other areas.
You may not realize that, but if you look good (and credible), you'll attract more viewers and clients to your business. We are crossing our fingers for that.