The little things will make you look so much more professional on your next video call. Here are our top tips to look great on video calls, whether a virtual meeting with a prospect, a team meeting, delivering virtual training, or doing a video interview.
Good Sound
Often bad video can be excused, but if the person on the other end of the camera can’t hear or understand you, you’re in trouble. And you don’t need an expensive microphone to sound much better on your next video call.
Use the mic on your headphones, or Airbuds work great.
Adequate Lighting
Your video quality will drastically improve with good lighting, especially when using webcams that get pixelated in low lighting. Place a table lamp on your desk to light your face, or use an LED video light. We use 2 lights on the sides of the face to avoid glare in glasses, but many people like ring lights if you want to get fancy.
Hardwire When Possible
The worst thing that can happen on a video call is buffering and freezing video. To avoid connectivity issues, hardwire your computer to your router whenever possible.
Also, do a speed test to check if you’re hitting your maximum internet speed. Often, old cables and routers will slow down your internet without you knowing it, and a simple upgrade of cables or routers could drastically increase your internet speed.
Place Your Camera At Eye Level
The positioning of your camera will make a big difference to how professional your video looks. Nothing screams amateur more than someone looking down at the camera on their laptop.
Raise your laptop on books if needed so you aren’t looking down at your laptop camera.
Clean Backdrop
Skip the cheesy green screen backdrops and choose a clean background instead. Many people can achieve clean and professional-looking backdrops simply by placing their desks behind a wall instead of a messy room.
Start the call early
We recommend you begin the call early and turn on your video before other people arrive. That way, you can see exactly what you and your background look like.
Set expectations
An easy way to ensure your customer is ready for your video meeting is to clarify that it will be video-based in your calendar invite. That way, you increase the chances of them turning their camera on, too – it’s hard to connect when you have your video on – while theirs is off.
Smile
Customers naturally look for reassurance in your expressions and reactions, mainly when they’re opening up to you about their needs and challenges. So ensure your expression is relaxed, friendly, and open, and you have a calm smile.
Mirror body language
By mirroring your customer’s body language, you create an unconscious bond leading to stronger relationships. However, act naturally. Otherwise, you’ll appear weird at best and disingenuous at worst.
Bonus video conferencing tip: turn off all other programs
Nothing is more distracting during a call than the ping of a new email or text message. Turning off all other programs besides the video platform you’re using also ensures your computer isn’t slowed down by them. Often, you can have fast internet access, but your computer still freezes because it can’t handle the demands of video conferencing software.
Master the art of remote selling
Selling virtually is not a matter of just doing the same old sales pitch but online. You have to be highly organized and have tightly planned presentations to avoid leaving your prospect bored and disconnected.
Gain the skills to master moving from in-person to virtual selling by enrolling in SOCO’s Virtual Selling online course. Once registered, you will get immediate access through our e-learning portal, SOCO Academy.
Do you prefer live or in-person training for your whole team? Our virtual selling program equips sales professionals with virtual selling skills and techniques through live training to help them build rapport virtually, effectively present their solutions online and win deals remotely.
