5 Video Assembly Hacks Each Freelancer Ought to Know
Video conferences are the norm in enterprise as of late. The truth is, they’re a vital device, particularly for these of us who freelance and make money working from home. Whether or not I’m pitching a brand new consumer, collaborating on a venture, or checking on progress, video calls assist me keep related {and professional}.
However let’s be sincere.
Digital conferences can be awkward, irritating, and downright exhausting if you happen to’re unprepared.
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Through the years, I’ve realized a couple of game-changing methods that make my video calls smoother, extra environment friendly, and extra participating. These are my high 5 video assembly hacks each freelancer ought to know.
1. Optimize Your Setup for a Skilled Look
First impressions set the tone for enterprise conferences, and your video setup speaks volumes in a digital surroundings. As an entrepreneur solely chargeable for attracting and retaining my shoppers, I do know that every thing I do, together with my video conferences, should be as shut as potential to perfection to realize this aim.
Prioritize Good Lighting
Good lighting is a should for knowledgeable video name. Pure gentle is first prize, and if it’s accessible, set your self up dealing with a window squarely for even lighting.
Nonetheless, pure gentle isn’t all the time accessible or dependable, so I take advantage of a easy ring gentle for efficient digital assembly lighting. Ring lights are inexpensive and create a flat gentle with none shadows.
A 3-point lighting setup, usually utilized in skilled video manufacturing, can even enhance readability by eliminating harsh shadows and making facial expressions extra seen.
After I simply began out, I used clip-on LED lights as a result of they had been a really inexpensive choice. They connect simply to a laptop computer or monitor, offering even lighting with out glare.
Clear Up Your Background
A messy background is unprofessional, distracting, and typically off-putting sufficient to discourage potential shoppers from doing enterprise with you. I preserve mine minimal and clutter-free or use a digital background that appears skilled (not these tacky seashore scenes).
I discover it useful to make use of a video platform with a built-in background blur that helps preserve the deal with me, not my laundry pile!
Put money into a Good Microphone
I began with my laptop computer’s built-in mic, however upgrading to a USB microphone made an enormous distinction. Purchasers can hear me clearly with out echoes or background noise. If a mic isn’t in your price range but, use headphones with a built-in mic for higher sound high quality.
One other tip is to make use of noise-canceling software program like Krisp or Zoom’s built-in noise suppression to get rid of background distractions like keyboard typing or exterior site visitors.
A current examine by EPOS discovered that our brains endure pressure after we battle to course of digital sounds, forcing us to work 35% more durable to grasp the auditory enter. This may trigger mind fatigue and cognitive overload. In different phrases, your viewers will battle to concentrate, productiveness may tank, or you could lose shoppers, relying on the rationale in your assembly.
Display Sharing
As a freelancer, you could not have a boardroom and all of the bodily presentation instruments, however most video platforms have screen-sharing options. This enables us to current vital data professionally. I typically put it into full-screen mode so the knowledge is clearer. Simply watch out to indicate the suitable screens!
2. All the time Have a Backup Plan
Expertise is nice – when it really works. I’ve had Wi-Fi drop throughout a name, my laptop computer freeze, and software program glitches that left me scrambling. Now, I all the time have a backup plan.
Hold a Cellular Hotspot Useful
When my web connection fails, I rapidly change to my telephone’s hotspot. As freelancers, we are able to work in every kind of locations, so it’s worthwhile investing in a devoted transportable Wi-Fi hotspot for uninterrupted connectivity.
When I’ve vital video conferences scheduled, I take a look at my web velocity earlier than the decision begins to keep away from getting a nasty connectivity shock midway via the assembly.
Have a Second System Prepared
I preserve my telephone or pill close by with the assembly hyperlink open. If my laptop computer crashes, I can rejoin inside seconds.
One other useful trick is utilizing cloud-based note-taking apps like Google Hold or Evernote to retailer vital assembly particulars so you may simply entry them from any machine.
3. Use Agendas and Notes to Keep on Monitor
Freelance conferences can simply drift off-topic, particularly if a number of individuals are concerned. To keep away from time-wasting, I all the time put together an agenda forward of the assembly and take notes.
Create a Easy Assembly Agenda
If I’m internet hosting the video assembly, I brainstorm every thing I need to cowl through the name. I ship a fast agenda to all concerned, even when it’s a couple of bullet factors. It retains everybody centered and ensures we cowl all the mandatory subjects.
When creating an agenda, I think about the next:
- The aim of the video assembly
- What do we have to obtain?
- Who must be current to realize the specified end result?
- What do others within the assembly want from me?
- What do I want from the members?
As soon as I’ve answered these questions, it’s simple to place collectively a fundamental agenda for all members to comply with. A typical agenda would possibly appear like this:
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- Challenge updates – talk about new subjects from the consumer with extra necessities
- Suggestions on current work – share articles the consumer discovered spectacular with different writers.
- Subsequent steps and deadlines – present order deadlines prolonged. Writers to view the brand new order sheet for upcoming subjects.
Take Notes or Use AI Transcription
I used to scribble notes frantically, however there are a number of AI transcription instruments accessible that may seize key factors routinely, so that is not an issue. It saves time and helps me keep engaged within the dialog. AI-powered instruments can enhance assembly effectivity by offering time-stamped data of conversations.
4. Grasp Your Video Presence
Wanting assured and engaged on video calls is a talent that’s vital if you wish to create knowledgeable picture. Listed below are some suggestions I’ve picked up in my years of freelancing:
Make Eye Contact
A current examine on psychophysiological responses to eye contact discovered that digital eye contact had the identical impact as in-person eye contact. It helps individuals really feel related and builds belief, one thing that’s crucial in a digital enterprise assembly.
That stated, it takes some focus to keep up eye contact if you’re in a video assembly. It’s tempting to take a look at the display screen, nevertheless it creates an impression of distraction and tedium, so I attempt to deal with the digicam.
A great way to do that is to make sure your digicam is at eye stage. In case your laptop computer digicam is simply too low, a simple repair is to stack a pile of books beneath it to create a pure face-to-face picture. Alternatively, an auto-framing webcam ensures you keep in good view for conversations that mimic in-person interactions.
Use Hand Gestures and Constructive Physique Language
Just a little motion retains the dialog full of life, and constructive physique language will preserve your viewers engaged. I take advantage of refined hand gestures and nod alongside to indicate I’m actively listening.
Keep in mind to maintain hand gestures throughout the body and sit upright with an open posture. Strive to not frown; smile and use applicable facial expressions.
Converse Clearly and Tempo Your self
It’s simple to talk too quick on video calls as a consequence of nerves. Nonetheless, I’ve realized to decelerate and enunciate my phrases correctly so my message comes throughout clearly. A really helpful speech price for digital communication is round 140 – 160 phrases per minute to keep up readability and engagement.
One other trick I’ve found is to make use of pauses strategically to emphasise key factors, permitting the listener to soak up what I’m speaking about with out experiencing data overload.
Look Your Greatest
Some freelancers embrace the informal life-style a bit of an excessive amount of. If you wish to be taken critically, model your self professionally. Don’t host video conferences in a scruffy hoodie together with your hair nonetheless unbrushed. Gown appropriately and look skilled. Some platforms even have magnificence filters, like Zoom’s Contact Up My Look characteristic, for many who want a bit of additional assist!
5. Document and Repurpose Your Conferences
Recording vital conferences has a number of advantages.
Reduces Miscommunication
If a consumer requests one thing particular, I can return and hear as a substitute of counting on reminiscence. A lot of what we hear is forgotten inside minutes, so a recorded assembly makes an important reference device.
Creates Content material for Your Enterprise
Some conferences include invaluable insights that I can repurpose by turning them into weblog posts, FAQs, or social media posts (with permission, if vital, after all). A recorded Q&A session with a consumer might be repurposed into an informative case examine or a tutorial video.
Evaluation and Enhance
Watching previous calls helps me refine my communication abilities. I discover issues like filler phrases I overuse or areas the place I may very well be extra to the purpose. Skilled audio system and enterprise leaders typically evaluation recorded conferences to spice up their presentation abilities.
Watching recorded calls additionally helps to establish patterns in consumer expectations so I can tailor future pitches or proposals extra successfully.
Let’s Wrap it Up
Video conferences are right here to remain, and as freelancers, we have to hone our laborious and smooth abilities to make sure they work for us, not towards us. The first “hacks” for all freelancer video conferences are preparation and follow. We should be sure our know-how is working and that we now have a backup plan for when issues go flawed – and they’re going to.
Apart from the tech facet of digital conferences, the celebs of the present are human beings who have to really feel related and on board together with your pitch, venture, or agenda. That is the place smooth abilities are available. The power to speak nicely and construct belief with shoppers or an viewers straight impacts the end result of your assembly, so work in your individuals abilities!
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