Upgrade Your Video Chat Skills

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Local

Hello Valley Village and surrounding neighbors! 

If you're anything like me, up until just over a month ago, you had never even heard of Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Some of us rush to new technology and others... well, we can describe them as "late adopters". No matter where you fall on that spectrum, like it or not, Zoom and other video meetings seem to be the way of the future.

Though many businesses may return to normal office hours, the requirement to work from home has showed us that there are some jobs that can be done from home with the use of certain technology.

So what does that mean for you? If anything, it should indicate that it is time to step up your video chat game if you haven’t yet! Even if you are working from home, putting off a professional aura will help you look better and feel better! Here are a few tips to put your best face forward, literally! 

Dress The Part

You may not be heading into the office but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress like you are. There is a reason for the phrase “look good, feel good” - and it can help you feel a little more normal during stay-home orders.

Check The Lighting

The main thing to focus on with lighting is avoiding unnecessary shadows on your face. Make sure that you have a steady light source that lights your face evenly, preferably in front of you rather than from the side or behind. If you don’t have a lamp, sit in front of a window with the light on your face.

Pick a Clean Background

Keep the clutter to a minimum.  Having an exciting background can take away from focus and that is not what you will want during a work meeting.

Back It Up

Sitting too close to your camera can distort your face and therefore, tends to be unflattering. Sit a little further back from your camera to avoid any wide-angle shots of your face.

Change Your Angles

Make sure your camera is sitting right at or right above eye level, that way you are not looking down on the camera but also not looking up. If your webcam is built in, you can place books under your screen to bring the camera up to eye-level.

Speak Loud and Clear

Always do a sound check before logging into a meeting. You want to make sure you are close enough that your words are heard but not so close that you are filling any silence with your breathing.

Mute that microphone

When you are NOT speaking or being collaborative with your coworkers & clients, hit the mute button on your mic. This helps everyone hear whoever is speaking more clearly.

Check your speaker volume

If you speaker volume is high, your mic will pick up the sound and create a feedback loop that blocks or distorts the sound for everyone on the call. 

 

LUKE ALLEN
Realtor® - ePRO® - PSA® - SFR®
Mobile: 310.497.7754
Email: luke.jonathan.allen@gmail.com
Website: LukeAllenRE.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LukeAllenRE/
Instagram: instagram.com/lukeallenre/
License#02059886 
Coldwell Banker
12930 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604

Luke Allen Realtor picture and logo with NAR designations