Elevate Your Virtual Presence: Look and Sound Your Best

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In today’s digital age, virtual meetings have become a staple of professional life. Whether you’re working remotely or connecting with colleagues across the globe, presenting yourself effectively online is important.

Most of us got a crash course in Zoom, Teams, and other virtual meeting platforms in 2020. So, I'm shocked to still see so many people showing up in unflattering, distracting virtual spaces; not just for meetings but also for news interviews.

Why It Matters

93% of the impression we make on others is based on how we look and sound. So, presenting yourself in a professional way online is crucial, even when you’re sitting in your home office, or bedroom!

Tips for Elevating Your Virtual Appearance

I want to share a few tips my clients have appreciated. These simple changes can make you look and sound more professional and even increase your perceived authority and credibility.

?? Put the Camera Lens at Eye Level

Your camera should be directly in front of your eyes, or even slightly higher. If you can see the ceiling your camera is too low. This is still the most common mistake I see people make. It's very unflattering and no one wants to look up your nose!

Also, to create the impression you're making eye contact with everyone in the meeting, look directly into the lens, instead of at your screen.

?? Ensure Your Body is Positioned Properly

Position yourself so you have space above your head, and you can see your chest. If you're doing an interview this will prevent your name and title covering your chin (see the don't example below). It also prevents you from looking small, which can impact your perceived authority.

Tip: To get the correct amount of headroom (that's what news photographers call the space above your head), put your fist vertically on top of your head. It should just reach the top of your shot.

?? Create Good Lighting

Having good lighting doesn't mean you have to run out and get expensive lights. Facing an open window can illuminate your face beautifully, as long as you're not in direct sun. Avoid a window on your side as it will light only half of your face (see don't example below).

I do not recommend using a desk lamp because lights are better above, not below your face. If you would like to elevate your virtual set with lighting, here are lights I use and recommend.

??Avoid Glare in Your Glasses

To communicate most effectively, people need to see your eyes.

Turn down your computer brightness and position any lights above your head to avoid seeing them in your lenses.

If you still see a glare, position your glasses so the arms are above, not resting on your ears. This may feel strange at first, but it will tilt the lens and remove the glare. This works very well for people with longer hair and trust me, no one will notice.

?? Use Cordless Headphones

If you need to wear headphones ditch the cords. And please, avoid large headphones unless you're a disc jockey!

?? Ensure Your Background is Not Distracting

The goal is for people to pay attention to what you're saying and not be distracted by your background.

Being tidy seems obvious but the example below is from a real news interview, so maybe not!

Avoid sitting in front of a blank wall. Add some interest with a lamp, plant or books behind you. But avoid too many personal items like photos and trinkets, as people may be more interested in looking at those than listening to what you have to say.

??? A Word About Audio

If you do virtual media interviews, podcasts, or presentations, I suggest you invest in a good microphone. Here are a couple of microphones I use and recommend.

I don't receive any compensation for these recommendations and there are many other products that will work just as well. I simply offer my recommendations to make improving your virtual set easier for you.

Bottom Line

Remember, the goal is to eliminate distractions, enhance communication and look and sound your best.

Implementing these tips will help you elevate your virtual presence and make a positive impression on your colleagues, clients and customers. Happy meeting!

Learn More

I work with companies and organizations committed to helping spokespeople excel at media interviews and public speaking.

Visit reelmediapr.com and book a meeting with me to find out if we’re a good fit.

Kerri Kazarba Schneider is the trusted media trainer and speaker coach for Fortune 100 executives, nonprofit leaders and other spokespeople who want to excel at media interviews and public speaking.

She’s the CEO and founder of reel media pr, a consulting firm in Seattle providing expert media and speaker training to clients worldwide, through corporate workshops, one-on-one coaching, and virtual training, so they can tell their stories on-air, online and in person.?

Kerri launched reel media pr in 2012, after a 20-year career as a broadcast journalist, interviewing more than 10,000 people. She’s passionate about coaching clients with proven strategies, so they can feel confident and excel at high-stakes, on-camera interviews and speaking engagements.