How To Be Authentic, Yet Articulate On Camera
As you read the series of TB Media Group blogs this year about vlogging, you’ll see one very consistent tip I’ll be drilling into the heads of aspiring vloggers repeatedly. And, that is authenticity. Be you and let your personality shine through. Speak in a conversational and casual tone. This means you should not be perfect and polished.
Your vlog is not a serious news broadcast. Don’t attempt to emulate Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, or David Muir. You are not a professional news anchor and your audience doesn’t expect you to be. That’d come across as overly rehearsed. Online audiences want to see the real, raw version of you complete with flaws, blemishes, and hiccups. People relate to the imperfect.
To improve your articulation, re-record yourself presenting blogs you’ve already done or read an article from the newspaper or a magazine. See how you pronounce things and enunciate. Do you sound sing-songy or do your words mush together?
Do you sound like a Valley Girl by saying “like” a lot or do you say “um,” “yeah,” “so,” etc. too frequently? We’re all guilty of that! It’s good to become conscious of our bad habits, but I caution you not to become all too consumed with correcting this 100% for vlogging purposes. These verbal ticks add the essential sugar-coating of casual conversation and authenticity.
There are so many vloggers already pumping out content on every subject imaginable. If you are considering giving it a shot, you likely already watch vlogs. However, I do not suggest studying others. You could unintentionally begin to mimic, copy, or be influenced by someone you admire. You’ll hear me say it over and over. When it comes to vlogging, you need to develop your own style that it unique to you and only you. No two snowflakes are alike, no two fingerprints are alike, and no two vloggers are alike. Do not be the carbon copy of anyone else.
Overcoming Camera Shyness
Are you too intimidated to begin vlogging? Don’t be! Create a safe space for yourself to practice.
Prior to founding TB Media Group, I was a television news reporter. Even with my professional training, I sometimes froze and found myself like a deer caught in headlights during a live shot. So embarrassing! As much as I dread to watch those tapes, it serves me well to play them back from time to time to critique what I can improve on and to see how far I have come since my first on-air job in Montgomery, Alabama.
Just as I did, you’ll get better at appearing on-camera over time, I promise. It takes practice. Have patience with yourself. You are likely a harsher critic of yourself than any of your viewers.
Vlogging is very different from public speaking. You are not speaking to a crowd with a million eyes staring back at you. Yes, once posted, the masses may see your video, but when you are recording it, only the one lens is focused on you.
Some people loosen up a bit if they imagine they are speaking to a friend or family member. If you’d find it helpful, take it one step further and post a picture of them directly above the camera, so it really feels like you are talking directly to them.
