This is a guest post by my rock-star video teacher Share Ross (she really is a real rock star;) I’ve taken Share’s class twice and I’ve come so far.  I’m no longer afraid to be myself on video.  In fact I love it.  If you are ready to rock your business and learn how to become a video rock star, rock on below! Share’s next Video Rock Star University is opening soon.

Everyone’s buzzing about online videos these days and it’s no wonder. According to Comscore, people who view a web video are 64% more likely to purchase than other site visitors.

So let’s go over the basic ways to maximize your video power and let your rockstar shine on camera!

WHERE’S THE CAMERA?

1. First off is where you position your camera. Imagine you’re talking to your friend. You feel the most connected when she’s talkin’ to you eye level and not sitting below you or above you. The same holds true of your camera (who has just become your new best friend by the way.)

Do what you gotta do. Put books under your laptop. Raise or lower your chair.

But make sure your camera lens and your eyes are meeting evenly.

This sets the tone for you to connect with your viewers properly!

WHERE ARE YOU?

2. If we can’t see you very well, it makes it hard to pay attention to your message. There’s a few fast and furious tips to help you light yourself without mortgaging the house on a lighting rig.

The secret to lighting yourself is to use soft, white diffused lighting that’s in front of you. This means no overhead lights, no glaring bulbs that cast shadows everywhere, and no bright, shiny sunlight blasting into your eyes making you squint!

You want to soften the lighting as much as possible. This means you wanna diffuse it.

Here are some choices:

– A fluorescent tube from Home Depot with a diffusion panel on it. (about $35)

– Get some 16″ big globe paper lanterns. (About $10 for a pair at Ikea or Target). And position them on both sides of your camera at eye level.

– Use table lamps and again, position them on both sides of the camera at eye level.

– You can use natural daylight but try hanging a sheer white curtain to soften it.

WHAT’S BEHIND YOU?

3. Your background can be a major distraction. Do a quick test shoot and look at what’s behind you.

For me? I have a set of patio doors with hurricane shutters on them. So what that means is not only do they look awful on camera but they also reflect the light like crazy!

So I hang a giant soft white muslin backdrop on them (with clamps!) and shoot my videos.

Things to avoid:

– plants growing out of your head.

– reflective surfaces.

– messy clutter everywhere behind you. (can be acceptable if it’s a bookcase.)

– bright lights or bright daylight behind you.

If possible, you can play around with branding in your background! Either through a piece of art or a color scheme or a prop that shows up in your background.

The important thing is to simply make sure that your background is not a distraction from your message!

WHAT ARE YOU PROJECTING?

4. Smile, smile, smile.

When I was in high school, I struggled with all of those typical teenage issues of thinking that nobody liked me. My mom took me to task and said, “Share, if you walk down those halls with a serious look on your face, you might scare people away. Try wearing a smile and watch what happens.”

She was right.

When you learn to smile authentically on camera, it opens up your viewers to actually sit up and listen to what you have to say.

So how do you smile authentically?

Easy.

For 5 minutes before you film:

– Think of someone you love.

– Think of something funny.

– Start to laugh.

– Play. Whatever that means to you? Play. (For me it’s playing with my dog or jumping on my mini-rebounder.)

When you press record, FEEL your smile. BE your smile. OWN your smile. And go from there!

OHHH… NICE EYES!

5. Eyes are the windows to the world.

When you connect with your camera we, your loyal viewers feel like you’re looking at us. The tricky part is for you to make that connection feel good.

Imagine you’re out to lunch with your best friend who you haven’t seen in a year. You gaze across the table with love, with joy, with compassion and a soft heart.

That is exactly how you need to be gazing at your camera lens!!! (I wasn’t kidding when I said your lens was going to be your new best friend!)

– Tape photos of people you love unconditionally next to your camera.

– Get comfortable gazing at the lens. Remember, there’s a human on the other side.

– Smile with your eyes. Just like you would with your best friend at lunch!

HOW LONG?

6. When it comes to online video, nowadays you’re in competition with your viewers emails, their Facebook page and a load of other tasks on their to-do list.

One of the most common mistakes newbies make in online videos is making them too long. Keep your videos to around 2 minutes or so. Know what you want to say, and get to the point. This is the era of speed.

If you have a lot of information to deliver, consider breaking it up into a video series to keep the videos on the shorter side.

GRAB US

7. The first 7 -10 seconds are when your viewers decide if they’re going to watch your videos. You need to grab us in and keep us engaged.

Rather than starting with your name and saying thank you, postpone that and instead lead with a question.

Ask us about a pain point that you’re going to solve in the video.

EX: “Do you ever wake up at night and worry about your finances?” Then you would 1 to 3 tips on coping with financial anxiety.

EX: “Do you wish that shopping would make you lose weight?” Then you’d explain how living a fuller life with more joy will lead to losing weight. Shopping included.

Ultimately, your videos are all about your energy. Find ways to film yourself that make you feel joyous and we’ll share your emotion.

The world needs to hear your message.  Please, press record today.

Share Ross is the founder of Video Rock Star University.  To find out more about Share’s Video Rock Star University, click here.

 

 

 

 

Note: I am an affiliate of Share’s and proudly share the teachers who have helped me get where I am today.  Sherold