Video Marketing for Small Businesses 101: The Do’s & Don’ts of On-Camera Interviews

Ever seen a video of yourself and thought, “Oh, god… is that really me? Do I really sound like that? Why did I move my hands like that? Yikes.”

You’re not alone. Fear of being on camera is totally normal, and even the most skilled actors and actresses felt uncomfortable in front of the lens at some point.

But as a business owner, you need to face a cold, hard truth: Appearing on camera from time to time to convince others why they should choose to do business with you, educate your audience about your company and values, and provide more information about your products and services is absolutely essential if you want to continue to do business in a changing world.

Because one thing that’s for sure is that in 2021, video content reigns queen.

As such, you need to ensure that whatever video content you’re trying to share flows naturally and organically — and after you read this blog, you’ll be ready to give an on-camera interview that’s worthy of winning an Oscar.

DO: Focus on the Big Picture

Let’s be real: You’re going to stumble on your words a bit, ramble, and have to repeat yourself. And that’s okay! All those little “umms,” “uhhs,” and pauses only serve to put you one step closer to getting your point across.

An interview is really just a casual conversation between two parties, and any errors you make that might seem big to you are only natural — and to top it all off, they won’t make it into the final product.

At OpticTour, for example, our video editors take hours’ (and sometimes days’) worth of footage and cut it all down into a short 2 to 5 minute video of only the best content. You’ll have more than enough time and space to speak eloquently and naturally in front of the camera, and we’ll be by your side every step of the way to lend a hand if you get stuck.

Here’s a couple resources containing exercises you can do to warm up those vocal cords:

• Exercises to Warm Up Your Voice Before a Speech
• [VIDEO]: Vocal Cord Exercises
• Pump Up Your Speaking Voice with a Strength Training Workout

DON’T: Worry About the Little Things

While everybody makes mistakes, it’s important to remember that any mistakes you make won’t make it into the final product. 

Your videographer will shoot multiple takes, anyways, and your viewers won’t know it took you a few tries before you got your point across — they’ll only see the best parts of your interview, of which there will surely be many.

With that being said, you’ll want to minimize the potential for messing up a shot where your words flowed more naturally than a coursing river, so do your best not to fidget, move around in your chair, or touch your face or hair too much.

Now that you’re ready to let those mistakes roll right off your shoulders and focus on the big picture, let’s move onto what you should prepare to wear.

DO: Wear Something That Makes You Feel Comfortable and Confident

You don’t need to look red-carpet ready to give a noteworthy performance. You’re going to look great in whatever you wear, anyways — but if your clothes don’t fit or feel right, that’s going to show through in your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

By focusing on wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident, you’ll prime yourself for appearing, acting, and sounding that way in front of the camera.

Swap the stilettos for shoes with more support. If you want to say yes to the dress, wear one that’s loose and comfy instead of tight and restricting. Try wearing a solid-colored button down or a company T-shirt in place of a three-piece suit.

Remember: The focus should be on you, not on your outfit.

DON’T: Wear Something Uncomfortable or Busy

You’ll likely be on camera for a few hours, so you won’t want to wear anything that doesn’t fit or feel right because, frankly, it’ll show on your face.

Comfort is key! Wear clothes that make you feel like the real you, but just make sure that whatever you wear doesn’t have any busy patterns, slogans, or writing, as these can appear blurry on screen and distract your viewers.

Lastly, we’re going to focus on something that can’t be beat… the beauty of being yourself!

DO: Relax and Be Yourself

Your viewers are here to learn about you and your company. As such, being yourself is the best possible thing you can do to provide that for them.

Imagine you’re meeting an old friend for coffee. That’s exactly how you should sound in your interview — calm, casual, and conversational.

Think hard about what makes you most relaxed, and try to do a few of those things before your interview. Whether it’s sipping on a nice cup of tea or listening to your favorite album, putting yourself into a peaceful state of mind before you go on camera will set you up for success.

DON’T: Sound Too Robotic

If you’re feeling nervous, it’s more than okay to ask for any interview questions beforehand and rehearse your responses in front of the mirror or a friend. Practice makes perfect, but remember that since interviews are supposed to be conversational, you don’t want to come off as too perfect by sounding rehearsed. 

Preparation shouldn’t be about memorization; it should instead be about getting yourself comfortable speaking about yourself and your work.

So if you follow this advice, you’ll be more than ready to give an on-camera interview that’s authentic to you, your company, and your viewers.

Thanks for Reading!

Now that you’re de-stressed, dressed, and know how to sound the best, you’ll be more than ready to deliver an authentic on-camera interview that’s true to you, your company, and your viewers. 

If you still think you could use a little guidance in creating a video to offer the perfect overview of your company, values, and more, our eager team of skilled creatives would love to lend our hands! Or if you’re looking for the perfect space to showcase what you have to offer, check out OpticTour Studio!

Whenever you’re ready, you can schedule a time to talk to us by filling out this contact form.