Video conference calls have been a part of running a small business for a long time, but their popularity soared during the Covid pandemic.
Since then, remote and hybrid work has become more commonplace, so video conferencing continues to be popular.
After all, video calling is time efficient, cost efficient, and enables entrepreneurs to be in two places at once. Not to mention, it eliminates the need to be stuck in traffic!
While convenient, the quality of a video call can sometimes feel lacklustre.
Have no fear, though! In many cases, you can improve your video call experience by making just a few minor adjustments.
Here are 6 tips for better video conference calls…
1. Good Lighting
If your picture quality seems too dark or grainy, the first thing you should adjust is your lighting.
Make sure you are not backlit when you are facing the camera. Backlighting occurs when there is a light source behind you as you face the camera. The source of backlight is most commonly an uncovered window. If this is the case, close the blinds and you may be surprised at how much better the picture quality becomes on-camera with less light flooding into the room.
You want to make sure that your light source is behind the camera and facing you head-on. That said, you don’t want the light to be so strong that you appear washed out, or squinting and blinking excessively.
Many times, a well-positioned window is all the light you need for a well-lit video conference call. We tend to look best in natural light.
If you’d like to purchase additional camera lights, you don’t need to break the bank. An inexpensive ring light or phone light is usually all you need.
2. Stable Internet
A stable Internet connection is crucial for seamless communication. Consider using a wired connection for important calls, as opposed to relying on wi-fi, which can be less reliable.
You should also know that wi-fi tends to be weaker in kitchens or wherever there are big appliances.
If you are working from home, it is best practice to keep your router away from your kitchen, especially the microwave oven, or any machinery that emits a lot of electromagnetic waves.
3. Eye-to-Eye Camera Angle
Want to instantly look better on camera? Adjust your camera angle!
If your camera angle is too high, so that you are looking up into the camera while you’re on your video call, you will look smaller and your head-to-body ratio might seem distorted, giving you a “bobble-headed” appearance. Psychologically, this can make you seem weaker or less competent.
On the contrary, if your camera is positioned too low and it is angled upwards towards you, your image might look heavy and overbearing — this is rarely a good look for anyone.
Always make sure your camera is at eye-level to maintain eye contact with the other video call participants. This not only makes you look more appealing, but it makes your interaction more engaging as well.
4. Mute When Not Speaking
Keep your mic muted when you’re not speaking to minimize background noise.
This is particularly important if you are working from home and there are lots of distracting sounds.
Even a slight rustle of papers or a brief reactive laugh could cause the video call platform to switch speaker screens, causing a less focused, and somewhat chaotic call.
If someone is presenting, it is best to stay on mute.
5. Use Headphones
If audio feedback is disrupting your video calls, use headphones. This improves the sound quality for everyone.
6. Professional Background
In an ideal world, you would have a dedicated studio space set up for video calls, complete with a plain neutral wall, curtain, or backdrop for a background. While nice to have, this option isn’t always practical or doable.
While it’s not always possible to set up a mini studio in your home or office, you should at least make sure that your background is neat, professional, and not distracting.
Holding a business call in a bedroom or someplace too familiar may unnerve some of the participants on your video call. If you are holding a video call from your home, be mindful that you are inviting people into your personal space, and if you wouldn’t have them in a certain room in real life, they shouldn’t be there virtually either.
Many video conference platforms will allow you to opt for a virtual background or blur out your existing background. This feature helps maintain the focus on you.
Video conferencing isn’t disappearing any time soon, so the better you get at it, the further ahead you can move your business.
