How to Record Your First Video EVER with Confidence

August 4, 2020

Videos are one of the best ways to connect with your audience.

They’re eye-catching, personal, and above all, easy to consume – because hey, who doesn’t play something while cooking or driving?

However, making videos can be a bit intimidating, especially if you’re just starting out.

But videos have the potential to help you move faster from a novice entrepreneur to a savvy businesswoman, so it’s worth giving it a try.

To help you bridge the gap between performance anxiety and engaging video content, here’s my best advice on how to record your first video ever!

Get the right equipment.

Don’t get me wrong: you don’t need an expensive in-house studio to produce great video content.

However, recording yourself while holding your phone may become uncomfortable after a while. And you’ll be so busy checking yourself up in the camera (hello, double chin!) that you won’t be able to focus on what you’re saying.

Invest in a simple phone stand, a good mic, and a basic ring light.

That’s it – and all that equipment shouldn’t cost you more than a couple of hundred dollars. Once you have the right setup, making videos becomes so much easier!

Pro tip: You don’t need a special room – your living room works just fine.

Know what you want to say.

Don’t be fooled by the idea that you’ll magically know what you’re going to say once you start recording. Stage fright may still be there!

That’s why you need to prepare beforehand. Yes, even if you’re really passionate about the thing you want to talk about! (sometimes, you may forget a thing or two out of sheer excitement)

Some people like to have the whole script ready before recording, and then they practice a few times before hitting the record button.

I prefer making a few bullet points on what I’m going to say but then I just go with the flow. However, I have been recording videos for a while so… you do whatever helps you feel more ready.

Perfection is NOT your friend!

No matter how much you try in the beginning, chances are, your videos might not turn out the way you’d hoped for.

But that’s completely okay!

When you’re just starting out with something new, perfection is not your friend.

Instead of obsessing about making it perfect, make it good enough, hit the publish button, and move on. Trust me, the only way your videos are going to get better is if you consistently create more of them!

Still not ready to show your face?

That doesn’t mean video content isn’t for you. Practice by recording podcast-like videos and then publish a thumbnail with the audio file only.

Test the waters by doing a live stream.

Live streams may feel more panic-inducing, come to think of it. Going live on a camera in front of hundreds, if not thousands of people?

HOWEVER, there’s room for a lot more spontaneity there… and no one, literally no one’s going to expect you to have a whole presentation going. Save that for webinars! 😉

Another added bonus of the live streams is that you’re going to have the support of your community. You can always ask them for feedback or in case you forget what you wanted to say, answer some of the questions they may have for you!

Pro tip: Start by recording more videos on your stories to warm yourself up before moving onto live streams.