So much of your professional life probably happens virtually. You’ll have remote job interviews to land new employment and then, whether you’re working 100% remotely or not, a lot of meetings will also happen via video calls. It’s just a fact of the modern workplace.
If you want to succeed professionally you should know how to look good on a webcam. This can help you to express your ideas clearly during meetings, impress your boss during appraisals, land new clients, and sell your services to customers. To become a more effective remote worker, implement these five tips for looking good during virtual meetings.
Nail the Lighting
This is the main area where many people fail. The lighting in your home simply may not be good enough, leaving your face looking dark. When you’re trying to make an impression, this isn’t good. Everyone has a natural fear of dark shadowy figures. Fear is certainly not the emotion you want your clients and colleagues to feel when they’re talking to you.
Invest in a high-quality key light that can attach to your laptop. This will help to fully light your face so that your expressions can easily be seen. Not only does this give off a friendlier, more welcoming vibe but it also helps you to communicate your ideas more effectively.
In our home office tech list, we suggest that you use the YunDZ Bi-Color Video Light. This is specifically designed for virtual conference calls and is rated highly for its effectiveness and durability. However, there are many options out there so choose the right one for your budget.
Consider Your Background
Your face isn’t the only thing that people look at during meetings. They’ll also be eyeballing your background and judging you based on what they see. If it’s a mess, with dirty clothes and empty beer cans lying around, you’ll lose all credibility. You’ll want a background that is clean and professional.
If you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated home office, then creating a clean background should be easy. Your space should already look professional and presentable. However, not everyone has this privilege. In this case, you need to place your desk in the right location. You should aim to have a plain-colored wall behind you, perhaps with some interesting but not distracting features, such as books or plants.
Also, be wary of doors behind you. You don’t want to risk someone walking in and causing a distraction. For the ultimate background, consider using a green screen. We recommend a collapsible wrinkle-resistant green screen from Elgato. This allows you to put a barrier between yourself and anything behind you, replacing your real background with something more professional.
Upgrade Your Audiovisual Equipment
The two most important aspects of a virtual meeting are how you look and how you sound. This is summed up in the simple term ‘audiovisual equipment’. Essentially, this refers to your camera and your microphone. All laptops these days come with a built-in microphone and webcam. However, these might not be up to standard.
By buying an external microphone and camera, you can vastly improve the quality of your image and voice. This makes the meeting experience much more pleasant for other attendees. It helps to break down the feeling of distance, bringing you closer to the feeling of being physically in the same location. That instantly creates a stronger bond.
Again, there are many options on the market, falling into different budgets. When searching for a camera, make sure it is HD. We recommend the Logitech C920x but there are many similar devices. In terms of a microphone, it’s best to test it to check that your voice sounds crisp and clear. We like the HyperX QuadCast and the Blue Yeti best. Just be prepared to invest upwards of $100 in your microphone alone.
Perform a Pre-Meeting Test
The equipment isn’t the only way to improve the quality of your meetings. You should also find the time to test it out and make sure you’re familiar with it. There’s nothing worse than having technical difficulties that waste time and require more attention than the meeting itself. Make sure you know exactly what you’re doing before the meeting starts.
You should record your test and listen back. This doesn’t only let you know that your audiovisual equipment is high quality but also helps you check your own behavior. Are you speaking slowly and clearly? Are you using open and friendly gestures? These are presentations skills you can practice and improve to become better at networking.
Upgrade Your Office Space
Finally, the best thing you can do to improve how you look in virtual meetings is to invest in a better office space. Having a dedicated place to work can vastly improve your productivity while also giving you a more professional appearance. If you look and feel successful, then you’re more likely to actually become successful.
Cafés and coworking spaces can make good office spaces but what if you want to continue working from home? For that, we recommend using Anyplace Select. With an Anyplace Select apartment, you’ll have a whole home office set up straight away with all the goods listed above. You’ll have the light, the green screen, the HD camera, the top-of-the-range mic, and everything else you need to look amazing during video calls. This is the simplest way to ensure you always impress during business meetings.
By implementing the five tips listed above, you’re bound to vastly improve your appearance on video calls. This isn’t about being shallow but it will give you the confidence to communicate more effectively. It will also leave a lasting impression on the other attendees of the meeting and help your career and business to progress. Consider using a service like Anyplace Select for a simple solution to looking amazing during virtual conferences.
Where to next? Find flexible month-to-month rentals across the globe on Anyplace.
