You only get one chance to make a great first impression. These days, with social distancing that means looking good on Zoom. It’s not hard, but there are a few simple steps to take to ensure your success.
Looking Good On Zoom
Working from home has ushered in a new more relaxed feeling for many of us. That can both free us from wasting time and effort commuting and in-office politics, and lose much of the professional feel (and attitude) from simply working with other professionals.
Tips you can use
Chances are you’ll be spending more time online than you ever have, and this trend might be one of the real lasting changes in our work lives. So it’s probably worth taking a few simple steps so you look good on your next Zoom meeting. Here are 10 tips for your next Zoom call.
- Dress for success: just because you’re home doesn’t mean you’re not “at work.” Wear the same clothes that you’d wear for a meeting in the office. What you wear depends on your profession. Bankers dress differently than builders, but both have a professional image to maintain. This is one of the easiest ways to make a great first impression. Looking for ideas? Wear something bright and solid. They look more professional.
Bottom line: don’t dress like you’re cleaning out the basement: dress like you’re meeting a potential client…you just might be. - Lighting is one of the most important parts of looking good. Just like in a photograph, you want to light up your face with even lighting that comes from in front of you. Test the effect using your computer camera to see how you look. Avoid sitting in front of a window: back lighting will cause your camera to underexpose your face, causing a dark silhouette.
- Background: consider different locations for your Zoom meeting. A simple background will be less distracting. But you can reinforce your “image” with a tasteful background that projects the image of your profession (consider book shelves, projects in process, or a home office that’s not too messy). This is also a look into your real life, so consider the impression you’re making.
If all else fails, Zoom and others do offer custom virtual backgrounds. - Where’s your camera? Most laptops have a built-in camera and microphone. That makes filming easy. But the camera’s positioning is important: some are at the top of your screen, others at the bottom. If you sit too close to the screen it can look like you’re looking over the top of your viewers’ heads (if the camera is at the bottom of the screen) or like you’re looking down at the desk (if the camera is higher). Best bet: back up so that the angle between the camera and the image of your audience is minimized and you seem to make eye contact.
- Where’s your computer? Your computer is usually on a desk or table, lower than your eye level. That makes it look like you’re looking down on your viewer. Raise the level of the computer to bring it up to eye level. A stack of books works just fine.
- Camera: if your laptop is old (like mine) the camera isn’t HD quality. You’ll look better with an inexpensive upgrade that plugs right into your USB port.
- Headphones: you look more natural if you can avoid wearing headphones and work from your computer’s speakers. Earbuds are a workable second choice.
- Test everything first: you look more professional if you’re not experimenting in front of an important audience.
- Background noise: while it’s not exactly “looking” great, you do seem more professional if there aren’t barking dogs or noise from the television in the background.
- Touch up your appearance: Zoom offers a “Touch up my appearance” filter that will smooth out your skin tones. Click “settings” and “video” to try it.
Does Looking Good On Zoom really matter?
Right now, Zoom seems to be the best way that we can “get together.” Professionals use it for 1:1 meetings, Sales Presentations, and Group Events. We’ve all seen how easy it is to use, and it makes comunting a lot easier. Even it “social distancing” ends tomorrow, Zoom has changed the way we do business for the better.
Is it worth paying attention to your appearance on Zoom? Remember: it’s a new way to make a great first impression…and that’s important: you only get one chance.
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