Doc's Marketing Mojo

6 Tips For Looking Like A Pro On Camera.

It used to be that only broadcasters, journalists, actresses and actors appeared in front of a camera. Nowadays, if you’re in business or want to share your interests with others -you’re going to find yourself on camera, sooner or later. Whether it’s a business presentation, a commercial for cable TV, a little video for your website or for YouTube…odds are good that you’ll have the star spotlight fall on you.

In all these activities, the content of your presentation is not the only criteria contributing to your success; you need to look and sound professional, too. We want your Mojo shining through, particularly when you’re being recorded for presentation at a later time.

Here are a few tips to making your on-camera appearances more professional:

1. Rehearse. Your speech or message shouldn’t seem as if you’re reading a textbook. It should have the emphasis at the right places, properly elocuted, and delivered in a manner which hold the attention of your viewers or your audience. You need to practice your presentation over and over again until you’ve got it down cold.

2. Smile when you say that! A smile on your face keeps the audience on your side. Your facial expression plays an important part in your overall performance, with expressions changing when you are trying to make a point. Simply put -pump up the excitement.

3. Dress for success. You should look your best in front of the camera. Wear the clothes that suit the environment. Solid colors are preferred over pinstripes, because narrow strips can make distracting “signal noise” on a TV screen. Avoid wearing long earrings, and wear studs instead. Long earrings may interfere with microphones clipped to your shirt, blouse or coat lapel.

4. Stand up straight! Get your posture right. Avoid stooping your shoulders. Balance yourself on both your feet, and keep your knees slightly flexed. If you’re a bit on the paunchy side, wear a belt and hold your stomach in. But don’t take it too far. You don’t want to look like Doc Yankee walkin’ down the beach.

5. Sit down properly. If you’re sitting in a chair, sit straight, and if you’re wearing a sport or suit coat, sit on the tails; it’ll keep the coat from bunching up around your shoulders. If the chair has a cushion, you might find that it’s difficult to remain seated properly. In that case, ditch the cushion or put a board under it. Bad posture sends the wrong message to your viewers; it can make you look weak or nervous.

6. Relax, but keep moving! When you are appearing on camera, you need to look relaxed. As you deliver your talk, use hand gestures to make a point of view, or to emphasize relevant material. Don’t just stand there read from your teleprompter screen –act your speech out! Of course, you have to maintain your eye contact with the audience as well. If you’re being taped or appearing live on TV, remember to look straight into the camera lens to maintain viewer eye contact.

The best way to practice your speech or performance to perfection is with the help of a teleprompter. You don’t need to spend huge bucks to access this speaker-friendly tool; if you have a computer -particularly the notebook variety -all you need is some inexpensive teleprompter software. Then, just add in a camcorder to the mix, and you can tape your presentation while you practice it, then watch the ‘takes’ to fine-tune your presentation as you desire. In this fashion, you’ll find your practice sessions lead quickly to a smooth, highly-polished, professional appearance on camera every time.

If you’re interested in working with a teleprompter, here’s what I use and recommend.

Related posts:

1. Insider Tricks For Creating Great Online Video Content.
2. 6 Ways To Get The Eyeballs On YouTube
3. Turn Your iPhone Into A Teleprompter.

Filed Under: Appearances, Get Your Mojo Workin', Good Business Mojo, Tutorials on