You are not alone! Lots of people who start creating video content struggle with how they appear on screen and want to improve their body language on video. The most important point to remember is that we are our own worst critic, so it may be that you are reading more in to this than your viewers will.
However if you are keen to improve, then there are a few things that you can do to improve your body language on videos. The main focus of all of these tips is to build that personal connection with your viewer. The exact way you do this will depend on your personality, your content topic and your audience
1. Feel the Emotion
If you are talking about a happy or upbeat topic then try to feel happy or upbeat. This may involve having to think about a time when you experienced that emotion. For me, if I am trying to come across as happy and upbeat, I will think about a funny joke I have heard and let myself relax in to that feeling before I hit record.
2. Add Energy and Passion
Your viewers want to be engaged in your video. How many times have you walked away from a presentation thinking the topic should be so interesting, but the person just wasn’t engaging. Often this is due to the presenter seeming as they they aren’t really interested in the topic themselves. Let your passion shine through and this will add energy.
3. Overemphasise
While making sure the facial expressions and body language match with your topic, you also need to over-emphasise your actions. Some of the detail will be lost in the recording, but also remember people may be watching it on smart phones or other small screens.
4. Don’t watch
If you are recording with your smart phone, then cover the screen (a sticky note is great for this). If you can’t see yourself while recording, you are more likely to focus on what you are saying and how you are saying it. You are also more likely to look at the lens, giving the feeling of eye contact.
5. Practice
Every time you hit record you will improve. Practice as often as you can.
6. Get Feedback
Show your videos to those you feel comfortable with and ask them for genuine feedback. If you don’t get actionable responses then ask them direct questions, like “If you could change one thing about how I present, what would it be?“, “What do you find distracting about how I present?“.
7. Practice Again
Practice using the feedback you receive to see which tips help you improve your body language on your videos.
Relax and have fun with it!
To learn more body language tips you can use on video, head to our courses page here.
Check out these two great TED Talks for more great tips on public speaking: