“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” ~ Will Rogers
We all know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover…but if that were really true then fashion wouldn’t be a 3 trillion dollar a year industry and we wouldn’t put so much thought into dressing up for a quick Zoom call.
That reality is that it’s important to “show up on brand” because how you show up is a reflection of your brand.
Take Jennifer Wheeler, for example. Jennifer is a functional medicine nurse practitioner and the owner of MNDSHFT Health. We recently helped her upgrade her at-home office and she noticed an immediate difference in how she showed up in her client meetings:
“You could just see how my energy was different,” Jennifer remarked. “It helped me to reach a new level of confidence because of how professional the video looks.”
Jennifer found that this upgrade allowed her to show up as the owner of her company in a more authentic way. She said it’s made a huge difference in how she differentiates herself from her competitors because she knows it’s adding to the high quality experience she offers her clients.
She is also able to easily repurpose clips from the videos she takes. “We were able to take a lot of the clips from these videos that we saved and then we used them on our social media. And that’s where we started getting a lot of feedback from our clients about how professional we look.”
Jennifer uses her setup to make content for a variety of channels:
- Facebook live videos for her clients
- Snippets of video for Instagram reels
- Short modules for her master class course
Jennifer says that although she can’t put a monetary value on what this new setup has offered her, she knows it reflects her professionalism, her dedication to her clients, and her effort to use the best technology to form connections with them.
So, what kind of equipment should I invest in?
An upgrade like this may sound like a lot, but it’s easy to obtain the equipment she’s using.
Jennifer’s new at-home office setup includes:
- Sony Alpha a6100 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Lens
- GVM Bi-Color LED Ring Light (18″)
- Shure MV7 Podcast Microphone
First, a high quality camera or webcam is a must. This will ensure that your image is clear and sharp and that you look your best on screen.
Second, consider investing in a ring light. This will help to eliminate any shadows or dark areas on your face, making you look even more professional.
Finally, take a look at your background. Is it cluttered or messy? Is it distracting to your audience? If so, consider redecorating it to something more sleek and professional. A good rule of thumb is that less is typically more.
In our interview with Jennifer, Jon Sherman, President of VC Productions, summed up the importance of having an at-home office setup like this:
“It’s not just about putting a camera and a ring light in front of you. It’s about set design, it’s about thinking about your brand, and it’s about that entire ecosystem of thinking about what’s going to be on screen.”
Key Takeaways
Virtual meetings are one of the most common ways to connect right now, but people still struggle to present their best selves on camera. Making a few small investments in your at-home office setup can go a long way in how you show up and represent your brand.
Determining how to get a full return on investment through this upgrade can feel daunting but there are plenty of resources available to help you get the most out of your virtual meetings. If you need assistance with this process, our team is available to help. Contact VC Productions today to get started.
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