One of the most daunting prospects for creators is learning how to speak on camera, which leads to many quitting before things get good.
While speaking on camera is initially daunting, you can take a couple of measures to ensure that things get easier over time. This article will give you helpful tips for overcoming your fear of talking after hitting the record button, allowing you to have fun creating online video content.
1. Pretend That You’re Talking to a Friend
If you talk to people that have started YouTube channels, you’ll often hear that they don’t treat the camera as an inanimate object. Instead, they pretend they’re talking to another person; they’re theoretically not wrong, as their audience is on the other side of the camera.
When speaking on camera, you can mitigate the fear you feel by pretending that you’re talking to a friend. If you find it easier to do so, you can have a warm drink with you and act like you’re on a coffee date.
2. Don’t Stick to a Rigid Script
Beginner YouTubers make several mistakes. Writing a full script and sticking to it word-for-word is one of the most common errors—and it often causes more harm than good. When talking, you’re probably not going to remember everything—which can lead to frustration and add unnecessary pressure.
Sticking to a rigid script can also result in feeling like you need to delete the clip and start from scratch, adding significant time to the recording process. Instead of writing a complete script, write some bullet points and sentences for everything you’d like to discuss. Remember, you can cut out anything you don’t like later!
If you plan on keeping notes on your iPad, there are plenty of note-taking apps that will come in handy.
3. Hide Your First Few Videos From Public View
When starting a YouTube channel, many users feel like they have to keep every video they upload in the public spotlight. However, that is far from the case; many of your favorite YouTubers later hide their old content once they get better at filmmaking.
One of the biggest fears you might have is other people in your life finding your content. It’s important to remember that they probably won’t say anything negative, but if you’re worried that someone will, you can always make your content private.
If you want to make your YouTube videos private, you’ll find an option to do so when uploading your content to the platform. Alternatively, you can simply choose not to upload it.
4. Reframe Your Mindset Around Speaking on Camera
Sticking to YouTube consistently becomes much easier if you reframe your mindset. Often, people get nervous when talking to their camera because they tell themselves that they’re nervous. However, you might not actually feel like that—and many creators tell themselves this.
Instead of saying you’re nervous, tell yourself you’re excited. You’re excited to connect with your audience, share valuable content, and do something that interests you.
If you think it’ll help, consider making a pre-video routine. Listen to music that gets you pumped up, go to the gym and have a challenging workout, or meditate; the choice is yours.
5. Keep Your First Few Videos Short
Many online videos you see today have moved in the direction of short and snappy content that’s easy to record and share. You can still find immense value in longer videos, but making these takes time. If you’re still nervous about speaking on camera, you’ll want to start slowly and build up.
Before you even start on YouTube, you might want to choose an alternative platform to build up your confidence. You can use several methods to stand out on Instagram using Reels, and TikTok is also popular for short video content.
If you choose to go with YouTube first, try making videos that aren’t longer than five minutes, to begin with. You can also use the YouTube Shorts feature, allowing you to get your point across without spending too much time on the background story.
6. Take Courses or Utilize Tools to Help You Speak Better
While you aren’t technically speaking in public when talking on camera, it can often feel like it. After all, you will—eventually—have plenty of eyes on you once your channel grows. You should consider adopting some of the same strategies as public speakers.
One of the best ways to improve your speaking skills is to analyze what you did right and wrong each time you record a video. You can look through your videos to determine if you feel like you’re talking too quickly, acting too stiff, or not sounding confident when you talk.
There are plenty of online courses as well as several tools and apps that help with public speaking. These will help you improve your voice’s tonality, body language, and more.
7. Record Your Videos Away From Other People
If you’re nervous about recording YouTube videos when people are around you, you might want to consider waiting until you’ve got some time on your own. You can record videos in your room once everyone has gone outside, for example—and plan your weekly sessions to fit in with other people’s schedules.
In other instances, you might find more luck recording in a soundproof room. You can ask your university or school if you’re allowed to do so in a meeting room, and—if you’ve got a larger budget—you could potentially rent a studio for a couple of hours.
8. Keep Practicing and Refining
Even if you implement the suggestions that work for you here, practicing is the only way to become more comfortable talking on your camera. While your first couple of videos might not be great, you’ll slowly improve as you spend more time producing content.
Each time you record a video, think about what went well—and where you’ve got room for improvement. Over time, you’ll find that your voice and body language becomes more natural.
Speaking on Camera Gets Easier With Time
Regardless of whether you’re starting a YouTube channel or focusing on more short-form content, speaking on camera will feel a little nerve-wracking the first time around. But as you gain more confidence, everything will become simpler—even if those initial feelings never truly go away.
You’ll tackle your fear of speaking on camera by taking things a little easier and not worrying too much about being perfect.
