How to Look Better Than Scarlett Johansson in Your Online Videos AND Protect Your Brand
That’s a big promise, I know, AND I wanted to get your attention!
I wrote that headline because it makes me so mad to see people work so hard to create a great brand and then fail protect it when they post videos on Facebook and other social media storytelling platforms.
Whether you are recording a video or going live, taking a few minutes to think it through ahead of time will ensure a more consistent brand look for your videos.
Live Video? Connect in a Different Light…
Your brand has a feel, a style - it’s an experience that people expect when they see your name.
And, going “live” gives your viewers a chance to see you in a different light than producing a highly scripted polished production.
Amy Porterfield said on a recent Donald Miller podcast that one of her first Facebook Live videos of her and her hubby on date night got an even better response than some of her scripted ones! While she wasn’t on set, she still was Amy and people loved seeing her in a different light.
If your brand is open and accessible, think about how your location and wardrobe support that. Likewise if you are more corporate - how you show up has a subconscious affect on your viewer’s perception of your brand.
Here are some easy to remember tips on how you can look great and keep your brand in tact when using Facebook Live and other social media platforms.
What do You Want To Say and Why Do You Want to Say it?
People love live social media because it’s authentic, and they get to see another side of you. Our brains love stories and we are always looking to find ourselves in other people’s stories.
So the first thing you’ll want to do is determine your purpose - ask yourself why am I doing this? What do I want to accomplish? Share? Educate? Entertain? Persuade?
What key points do I want to make? (and how does that line up with all of your other communication). You don’t have to script this, just be clear about what you intend to cover and let your audience know and then do it!
Don’t over think it, just keep in touch with the brand experience people have come to expect from you.
Location, Location, Location
Now that you know what your purpose is and what you want to say, where will you say it? I’ve seen some pretty boring Facebook Live videos with a flat white wall as a background and poor lighting. It doesn’t have to be that way.
If you have to use a white wall, consider what you are wearing so that you don’t blend in - I’m a big fan of wearing solid colors on camera because they are slimming and less distracting.
I avoid red, black and white when possible - they’re not the best on camera colors. Stand far enough away from the wall to create some depth and interest.
When choosing your outfit do this quick test: If you were watching you on TV would you be looking at you or what you are wearing. If the answer is the latter, you may want to re-think your outfit.
A little while back I caught Jasmine Star’s (photographer) first Facebook Live and she was so easy to watch. I asked myself what about it made it that way.
First was that her location was perfectly in keeping with her brand. Second, she was totally authentic, (she shared how nervous she was and how much she had prepared), which made her very relatable. And lastly, the lighting and sound was great - I wasn’t distracted by loud street noise or poor lighting.
Can You Hear Me?
There are going to be plenty of times you’ll want to go live at an outdoor or public setting. Here’s a couple of things to keep in mind to ensure your viewers can hear your message.
Use a microphone - Rode makes a great lapel microphone you can use indoors or out. You can also buy the extension if you want to be further away from the camera.
If you’re in a loud location it’s going to be hard to hear you with just the microphone on your phone. I’m still researching an on camera microphone, and will let you know when I find one I like that’s reliable and affordable.
Can You See Me?
Good lighting is essential - light sources from directly above can make you look pretty scary, (think dark shadows under your eyes).
Look for a window or other light source that will fill in the shadows on your face. Make sure you are facing the light source or you will be in silhouette. I'll talk about on camera lights in another blog.
Take a quick look behind you for distractions (construction, etc.) and adjust accordingly - you want the focus to be on you!
Use a hand held tripod or selfie stick to ensure your shot is steady and people can focus on you and not your background.
There’s plenty to choose from - here’s one I like from Fugetek with bluetooth so you can start and stop your videos and take pictures - awesome! (Just so you know, I am an affiliate, so if you do buy any of these products I do make a bit of change).
Show up at Same Time, Every Time So People Can Find You
Once you get over the jitters of doing your first "live" video it's important that you are consistent when you show up so people get used to seeing you at a certain time.
Consider when your target audience is likely to be available to watch and be available then!
Be sure to provide enough notice so they can plan to tune in and list your upcoming guests on your social media channels.
Summing It Up
So while you may not want to look like Scarlett Johansson, you can protect your brand (like she does) and look great on Facebook Live and your other social media videos. Just remember a few easy tips:
Purpose - what do you want to say and why?
Location, location, location - where will you say it, watch for lighting and sound
Consistency - when will you say it, consistently
And most importantly have fun!
Here’s a link to my free guide on “How to Prepare for Your Photo or Video Shoot” where you’ll find even more tips about what to wear and what to consider about your location.
Feel free to give me shout and let me know if any of these tips were helpful to you. I read and answer all emails personally. I would love to hear from you about your biggest on camera challenges!
Val Brown is an Emmy award winning television producer and personal brand and strategy coach with more than 30 years experience. She loves to work with business professionals and entrepreneurs to help them find their story to support their brand and prepare to look and feel their best on camera. Schedule your 1:1 Get Camera Ready Coaching Session here. Helping you to discover your unique value, distill your core message and present it with brilliance!
