I hate video!

 

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!