Photo by Rido on Adobe Stock.
We saw a massive surge in video conferencing during and after the Covid pandemic. We had no choice but to find a new way to communicate, and we did so by jumping on our computers. It wasn’t only personal relationships that adopted this new method of communication, but schools and businesses leaned into the trend. And due to the convenience of these video conferencing platforms, it’s looking like it’s here to stay.
Specifically, this technique has become a go-to method for client meetings in the insurance industry. And with the growing popularity, it’s incumbent for professionals in the insurance industry to get in the know of video calls.
Continue reading to get a few simple tips and tricks to tackle video calls like a pro.
Troubleshooting
There’s nothing worse than when you are ready to jump on an important video call and realize that your internet isn’t working or your mic isn’t connecting. Usually, the five minutes you give yourself as wiggle room isn’t enough when you have these critical technical issues. Instead, you want to ensure you troubleshoot long before the call to make it a more seamless experience.
Part of this testing has a lot to do with understanding more about the software you are using. There are so many different systems, and each function in various ways. If you are using a conferencing application you aren’t familiar with, spend the time to log in, start a call, understand how to mute and unmute yourself, share your screen, etc.
Similarly, for your computer or the device you are using to take these calls, you want to be sure it is connected to your internet source and the sound displays properly. Experts recommend that you use a headset or headphones to communicate. While most devices have speakers that will pick up your voice, it isn’t usually the best sound quality, so using a headset with a mic will provide more clarity.
Get the Angles
When taking selfies and pictures with friends, we always try to find the most flattering angles to present ourselves. You can apply this same strategy to these video calls. You want to ensure that your entire face is in the frame but not too close or too zoomed out to show too much of your background.
Take the time before the call to perfect the angle of your camera. A good rule of thumb is to position your camera at eye level. That way, you can look directly into the camera like you are having a face-to-face conversation instead of looking up or down at your screen.
Find the Good Lighting
There is no point in finding the perfect angle and background for your video call if you end up sitting in the dark. Good lighting is crucial to the quality of your conference call, and you can utilize both natural and artificial light to your benefit.
Remember this important tip: avoid sitting with a strong light source right behind you. This method will cause you to look like a silhouette of yourself. Instead, you want the light source illuminating behind the camera and facing toward you. Keep this light source at eye level to avoid any large shadows.
Once again, you want to ensure you take the time before the call to mess with the lighting and find what works best.
Keep It Professional
If you’re taking these video calls at home, it can become easy to fall into the habit of not dressing up. However, you must treat these conference calls with the same respect and professionalism you conduct in-person meetings, starting with your attire. To keep it simple, you would want to wear solid color tops instead of any bright colors and complex patterns since they can distract from the actual message of the meeting.
As mentioned earlier, you will have some of your background in the frame. With that being the case, you want to guarantee your background does look professional. Ensure that your surroundings are clean. A great tip would be to place yourself in an office environment or just in front of a plain blank wall to avoid the risk of unprofessionalism.
It’s important to stay with the times, and the times are moving toward more video conferencing. When you utilize these tips effectively, you can navigate this new landscape with ease and professionalism.
Agents
We hope that this information on video conferencing best practices is useful to you.
Empower Brokerage is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions about your health and finances. Whether it’s through webinar training, one-on-one calls, seminars, or marketing plans, we want you to be successful!
Give us a call at 888-539-1633 or leave a comment below if you have any questions.
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Kayla is a graduate of Texas A&M University and joined the marketing team at Empower Brokerage in early 2021. She creates content for the company websites and assists with various marketing campaigns. LinkedIn Profile
