Leeann Froese
If there is one thing that has really disrupted 2020 it’s the use of video conferencing and meeting tools. We work, catch up with family and friends, and even date online, and even after many months, there is an unevenness to how well people perform in this space.
Follow these 10 tips on how to give good Zoom … or Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.
Have a Good Connection
If you don’t have a strong internet or Wi-Fi signal, the rest of the tips won’t matter. Make sure that your connection is reliable, and strong enough to stream efficiently. An internet connection of 15- 25 megabits per second is considered a good internet speed for conferencing. Be 20-30 feet from your router for the best signal.
Choose your Background
You want people to focus on you, not what is behind you. You’ve seen the backgrounds; the bookshelf, the home office, the living room or dining room, and then there are virtual backgrounds you can upload and use that image to place you virtually anywhere in the world. Not every software allows a virtual background, and even though I love them, let’s acknowledge that uploaded backgrounds are kind of strange; you float over a background and sometimes the edges of the image cut out. Your background is a chance to incorporate your brand and signage /logos, but no matter what background you choose, make sure it is not too cluttered, so it does not compete with the main subject – you. Simple is best.
Light Up Your Day
You want to be clearly visible, not in shadows, and while for sure daylight is the nicest light, you can’t rely on daylight alone. Do not place the light behind you. Sitting with your back to a window, you will be backlit and look like a dark shadow. Do not place a light directly above your head, as this will cast shadows and make your face look droopy and like you have dark circles under your eyes. Also, do not place the light in front of you; this can shine glaringly, with the light directly coming right at you like a spotlight.
There are lots of fancy lights you can use, like a ring light, but a lamp will work fine if it has the right bulb and a shade. What you want to use is a bright, daylight bulb, LED preferred. You want direct but soft light. Place the light behind the camera so it casts the light at you from a proper distance. Make sure you have a shade, so the light is diffused and not shining harshly on you.
What’s Your Angle?
We have all seen the Instagrammers who hold the camera up above them and look up into it to show off their selfie and look slimmer, but that is not the right angle for Zoom.
You also don’t want your camera below you, so that everyone gets a view under your chin and up your nostrils.
Ideally you want your camera lens to be slightly above eye level, but not higher than your head. So place the lens about even with the hairline. With this you are looking slightly up, and this will force you to sit up straight and have good posture too. You might need to put your laptop on a stand or some books to get the right height.
Keep Your Distance
Who has not done a Facetime with their parents and seen them hold the camera right up to their face, so you get an excellent view of their nose? That’s too close! Many webcams use wide angle lenses, so the closer you get, the more distorted you look. You want to keep your distance, but don’t go too far. You want to sit back far enough that there is a little space above your head in the frame, and make sure your shoulders are in the frame; about chest height is the bottom of the frame.
What to wear?
Dress appropriate to your profession. Solids are a good plan. Stripes are not: they can sometimes rasterize on camera, which means for the people watching you it can look like the stripes are moving, and that can make people nauseous. No matter what you wear, make sure you are comfortable, because then you will be relaxed. (And as long and you follow the tip about distance, no one will know that you are wearing pyjama bottoms and slippers below your blouse).
Can you hear me now?
The people watching you speak will really appreciate good sound quality. Sometimes people cut out or sound like they are in an echo chamber or making the call from the ocean floor because they are sitting too far from their microphone. Soft furnishings in your room are preferred over hard surfaces that make the sound bounce around.
You can use an external desk microphone or a lapel (lavalier) microphone, and in Zoom, you can go into general settings and adjust the audio, to pick your accessory mic instead of the mic. from the webcam. However I think that wearing earbuds with a built-in microphone gives excellent sound quality overall, and works well to eliminate the sounds of your kids in the next room, or the garbage truck outside.
Make Eye Contact
Usually people look at themselves in their monitor when they talk. If you can, force yourself to look right into the camera lens when you talk, and smile; this will go a long way for your audience, who want to look at you and feel more connected to you.
Do a Practice Run
One thing that 2020 has done is make the world more forgiving. We all are starting to understand that the people we are communicating with are also at home with real lives and have real distractions... kids, pets, doorbells, etc.
Despite all of this, you want to look as polished as you can. if you do a practice video you will see how you look, and ensure that your audience is seeing what you want them to see.
Make the Most of It
It seems like this will be the way to communicate for the foreseeable future, and while we wait until we can gather and meet in person again, let’s make the most of these online connections.
Leeann Froese owns Town Hall Brands – a marketing and graphic design agency that specializes in branding and promoting in the areas of agriculture, beverage alcohol, food, and hospitality. See more at
townhallbrands.com or on social @townhallbrands
