Today, video calls are becoming much more popular as people become more familiar with the technology.
Video calls are also particularly useful during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, you must adapt and become comfortable with video calls to keep connections with your clients and employees.
As you begin to video call more frequently, you may want to make the most of the opportunity. An effective video call clearly outlines your message and is easy to make.
Taking the time to improve your video calls will make your interactions more productive and enhance the experience of your clients. This is why you should consider a few factors affecting your video calls and see what could use a boost.
To get you started, we’ll point out four excellent tips for better video calls below.
Adjust Your Surroundings
A good starting point is to adjust your surroundings.
While it may not seem important, your environment makes a big difference in how well you can immerse yourself in the call and the ease at which your clients can follow along.
You want to make video calls only in a productive space. When you walk into the area, you’ll know that it’s time to crack down and work.
This area should be minimalistic, only including features that enhance productivity. You wouldn’t want excessively catchy artwork in your workspace because your clients might get sidetracked by it.
With this in mind, where you decide to take your video calls is crucial. Pick an area where you feel inspired to work and can fully focus on the conversation.
Configure Microphone Settings
You should also configure your microphone settings.
Video calls do feature a video feed, but your audio quality is just as significant. Just being able to see you is not enough to understand what you’re trying to say.
Often, being misunderstood or unheard is a result of the settings of your microphone. Most mics do not operate as simply as plugging them in and having them provide perfect audio quality straight away.
Depending on the quality of your mic, you’ll have more flexibility about what you can adjust here. Some mics allow for background noise elimination, speech detection, and sharper audio quality.
The best thing you can do here is to test your mic before getting in a call with a client. Take that time to make any necessary changes to avoid inconveniencing your clients.
Limit Distractions
While on a video call, you must make a point to limit any potential distractions.
Above, we touched on how flashy artwork can sidetrack your clients. This is an excellent example of having unnecessary distractions.
When it comes to staying focused, you need to limit distractions for both yourself and your clients. To do this, you’ll need to focus on your environment and behavior.
Ensure that nothing in view of the camera is distracting. Also, avoid having anything that will catch your eye in the room.
Taking things a step further, you should also refrain from having any browser tabs, messaging software, or other programs running on your computer. This eliminates any temptation to click away or think about something else.
The fewer distractions that are present during your video call, the more focused, productive, and efficient it will be.
Consider How You Appear
Finally, you may benefit from considering how you appear on camera.
This does not mean that you need to worry about your appearance. Instead, you should simply think about how you will feel based on the way you look.
Regardless of how you look, almost everyone feels better about themselves when they put effort into their appearance. You’ll feel more confident, energetic, positive, and capable.
When you feel good about how you look, you’ll perform much better during video calls. You won’t be anxious about your appearance or doubting yourself because you know that you look great.
Your confidence is often easy for your clients to see. Similarly, feeling unsure of yourself will also be noticed. Take this to heart and consider how much better you’ll feel by trying to look your best!
Closing Thoughts
As video calls become more prominent, you should understand how to make the most of them. Video calls are highly convenient and allow you to connect face-to-face with your clients, which fosters a deeper relationship.
If you want the greatest results from your video calls, you’ll need to follow some best practices. This includes adjusting your surroundings, configuring your microphone settings, limiting distractions, and considering how you appear.
The benefits of holding successful video calls are certainly worth mastering the skill. Remember that your client’s experience directly affects how they feel about you. Great video calls serve only to improve your relationship.