Jane Deuber and I recently had a conversation about video. Jane is a best-selling author and business consultant. Jane suggests that branding is much more personal today because of video and it’s very important to make sure her video posts properly reflect her brand. I agreed. Having a good video on your home page to say hello can make a great first impression (it also helps your Google ranking).
If you’re like me, you might be cringing right now at the thought of being on camera. I have a whole new appreciation for actors since I’ve seen them on video multiple times. It’s something I really need to understand because it’s a great way to communicate. With “Flip Video Cameras” we can now do everything at home and easily publish them on YouTube.
Voice Coach/Announcer Cathy Sobocan advises being yourself in the video: Many of us (myself included) try too hard, thinking we need to speak differently or with more enthusiasm. Cathy emphasizes the idea of being relaxed, breathing, and letting your voice come out of your belly. When I took your Voice 101 course, we spent half of the course doing yoga poses and rolling on the floor to relax and start breathing. I recently watched the movie “The King’s Speech” (excellent). When it came to Geoffrey Rush training Colin Firth to help him deal with his stutter, he made him roll on the floor and do exactly what Cathy had done to us. I was laughing, these are very old techniques and they work. I just need to practice.
Today a client sent me a video of herself to get my opinion. My first thought was “this is not in line with her brand”. The colors were off and the general feeling I got from watching it was not giving me the message that I know my client is trying to communicate. Remember EVERYTHING YOU DO CREATES AN EXPERIENCE OF YOUR BRAND. The clothes she wears, the way she talks, and the way she answers the phone are all touch points that provide clues to potential prospects about how she operates and the type of work she does.
In terms of what to wear on camera; some colors work well and some don’t. Some sets work well and some don’t. VideoBio ( http://www.videobio.com ) does a good job of streamlining your video production. They go over your script and wardrobe with you in advance and you show up at their studio for a 30 minute session which they then edit and send you links and code.
Summary of tips for video:
Align it with your brand by creating an experience for your prospect.
Use the right colors (they look good on camera but also match your business colors).
Speak in an informal, relaxed tone (do some voice training if you feel you need it).
Be clear with your message, be real, be authentic. The more you do this in all aspects of your business, the more you will be a natural winner.
