- March 10, 2015
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4 Ways Introverts Can Be More Comfortable On Camera
Lights! Camera! Gulp…?!
Despite having vision, imagination and other business-essential traits, not all integrated marketers or business owners are outgoing, life-of-the-party types. In fact, unless forced out of their shells in the line of duty, many (except maybe this guy) much prefer doing what they do, quietly behind the scenes.
One occasion in which a leader’s introversion may present a challenge is when your company is creating videos.
By now, most integrated marketers (especially our regular B2B readers) are aware of the power and potential of even simply done marketing videos. You know the importance of strategy and scripting, and perhaps have even saved time or money with our small business video production tips.
The Show Must Go On
But when dreams are big and the resource pool is small, everybody pitches in to help market the company–including the introverted owner, manager or subject matter expert.
If you find yourself in this situation, these tips, summarized from ReelSEO, can help prevent stress and lead to a more relaxed, engaging and informative experience–both for the knowledgeable but reserved presenter, and those who tune in to learn.
- Develop a System–introverts like the predictability of systems and structure, the article says, so it’s best to establish a comfortable, familiar rhythm by following the same format for each shoot. Make recording a part of your regular schedule by recording the same day and time each week. For an added measure of comfort, download one of the many available free software packages that turn your laptop into a teleprompter.
- Shoot When You’re at Your Best–pick the time of day when you feel most energized and focused. Maybe it’s in the morning, before the meetings, con-calls and chaos. Or, perhaps it’s later on, after the phone stops clattering and everybody’s gone.
- Push Through Perceived Limitations–introverts often dread being in the spotlight. But appearing on camera, is like anything else, says ReelSEO: the more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll become. Or, as author and mind-mapping pioneer, Tony Buzan puts it “by stretching yourself beyond your perceived level of confidence, you accelerate your development of competence.”
- Avoid Debilitating Self-Talk–if you haven’t appeared on camera much, of course showcasing yourself will feel awkward and unnatural. But guess what? Nobody knows your business like you do. If you can avoid being a perfectionist and keep your self-talk positive and encouraging, the end result will be just fine. Expertise combined with authenticity make for a powerful marketing punch that can enlighten and educate your audience–all at a very low cost.
As this infographic reveals, video is today’s must-have marketing tactic, with 52 percent of marketing professionals worldwide saying it’s their “highest-ROI content.” So the sooner your experts get comfortable on camera, the sooner your company can step into the spotlight.
