Commonly Made Mistakes When Speaking on Camera

Content is the foundation to your brand, so don’t make these mistakes when speaking to camera!

Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. Did you know that having a fear of public speaking is more common than you think? Up to 75% of the population suffers from it, and the phobia can sometimes translate into how you present yourself when speaking to camera!

The world has began to shift towards a “video-only future” with major Social Media Networks like Instagram and Tik Tok promoting video content over static photos. At one point or another, we can even argue that being able to competently speak on camera will become a sought after skill set by up and coming companies.

What do you do if you’re not comfortable speaking on camera though? Are you making too many mistakes during your takes and not conveying your true message? Over our years of videography and directing, we’ve noticed 2 very common (and important!) mistakes that occur when you are required to speak on camera. Not only have we been able to identify the mistakes, but we’ve also helped our customers break through and become comfortable when speaking on camera! 

1. Speaking in a monotone voice

This screams BORING. You don’t want to remind someone of their teacher from high school that just read from a textbook, word for word.

Bring energy, passion and inflection to your voice. Make what you are talking about fun and engaging! It may not be something you are able to do right away, but with practice you can perfect your sound.

2. Overcomplicating your subject

Try to avoid using big words to sound intelligent.

KISS – Keep it super simple.

Explain things as though you’re speaking to a 5 year old. If you use words that require a dictionary, you will be losing viewers…quickly. Remember, keep it simple. If you need some examples of how to explain something to a 5 year old, look no further than the subreddit r/ExplainLikeIm5

Refrain from making these 2 mistakes and you will begin to see a difference in how people view you and your brand.