Set Yourself Up for Success When Speaking on Zoom (…or any digital platform)
You’ve been invited to participate as a speaker for a digital or “virtual” event. Here are some simple steps you can take to make sure you look good! This is not about superficial appearances—rather, it’s about removing distractions for the viewer so they can focus on the wisdom you have to share.
Step 1: You
If you wear makeup, it’s a good idea to put some on for your digital presentation, and if you wear lipstick, ask the producer (meeting organizer) to check and make sure you don’t have any on your teeth!
If you wear glasses, clean the lenses.
When choosing your outfit, it’s a good idea to shy away from a solid white top. While often a great fashion choice, it confuses the camera and basically becomes similar to pointing a flashlight right at the camera.
Step 2: Your Space
Set yourself up in front of something with visual interest. Just like white shirts are not awesome, white walls are, well, boring. A colored wall, a bookshelf, a white wall with artwork or plants are all good options.
Choose a chair/seat you can sit in comfortably. If you tend to move a lot when you talk, consider setting yourself up so that you can stand for your presentation. Swiveling in a chair is incredibly distracting to the viewers.
Lighting. Your best friend for lighting is a window with natural light that also has adjustable shades. You want light coming from behind your camera, pointing towards your face.
Try to set yourself up in a space where you will not be interrupted, or make yourself a sign to communicate to others in your space that you are “ON AIR.”
If you use WiFi, it helps to setup close to the router where the Internet enters your space.
Step 3: Your Tech
Most digital platforms perform best on laptops or desktops, rather than mobile devices.
PLUG IN. This applies to both your power and the internet too if you can.
Test out the position of your camera—you want it so that you can look directly into it. Grab some books to raise the height of your device if needed. You want your entire head and the tops of your shoulders centered in the picture.
When you find a position that works, use some tape or sticky notes to mark on your desk where that position is so you can return to it. And/or take a photo of the setup.
Close everything on your device that’s not absolutely necessary.
Silence all notifications on your device.
Extra credit: host a meeting with a friend or family member just to get their feedback on how you look and sound. If you’re using in-ear headphones like AirPods, make sure they are fully charged.