The New Reality for Professional Speakers
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Many industries are being transformed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Professional speaking is one of those industries. Individuals who earned a living as professional speakers are having to adjust to the new reality. This means they will have fewer opportunities – or indeed, none – to speak in front of large groups. While having to adjust to a new way of doing a job you love can be challenging and even a little scary, it can also be exciting.
If you have lost some of your speaking engagements because of new social distancing regulations, it may be time to take your message online. Videos are one of the best ways to continue promoting your message and your brand.
However, there are a few things you need to know about converting your presentations to video.
Adjusting your speaking presentation for video
It may seem the easiest way to convert your professional speaking opportunities into videos is to simply set up the camera and hit record. But this is not the most effective way to communicate your message when it comes to video. Here are some things you should consider before you turn your presentation into video format.
- Type of video – There are different styles of video that you can choose from when doing a presentation. This can include a live recording of your speaking engagement, webinar style, or interactive video. The first decision you’ll need to make is what type of video you want to create. Unless you already have footage of a previous speaking presentation it is unlikely you will be able to record a live video right now. So, you will need to decide if you want to present an informative, webinar style presentation or if your content fits better into an interactive video style.
- Visual extras – To keep your audience engaged, you should add extra visual content such as graphs, memes or images. Just like you use some of these tools during your live speaking engagements to keep the attention of your audience, it is even more important to keep your video interesting to watch.
- Short and sweet – A good way to create video content that gets shared is to keep it short. This may mean you need to break up your presentation into several smaller videos, which you can share with your audience over time.
- Hire help – To get it right and help your content stand out, you should consider hiring a professional video company. With a professional company, you will have access to high-quality equipment such as microphones and cameras. Moreover, the expert advice they can offer will be invaluable to create a quality video of your presentation.
- Environment – Give some thought to where you are going to record your video. Shoot it against a background that is interesting and attractive. For example, if it is an educational video, consider having a bookshelf behind you. If you are taping something more personal, perhaps add some plants to your background for a gentler look. Don’t forget to do a test video before you record the real thing. This can help you identify any problems you might have such as additional noise.
- Presence – In videos, your facial expressions are much easier for your audience to see. While you don’t need to go overboard with your video presence, being too subtle can backfire too. Be animated, smile as much as you can, talk slowly and take pauses.
For more tips on creating a captivating video, check out our blog posts at Virtuous Circle Media.