68. Self-Consciousness on Social Media: How to Tackle Shyness Surrounding Video Content
Listen + Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Self-Consciousness on Social Media: How to Tackle Shyness Surrounding Video Content
Today, I’m covering a bit of a sensitive topic. When it comes to video content, it can be a struggle for people for many reasons, but one of the most difficult to tackle is a fear of actually appearing on camera.
Stage fright is real; even stage fright on social media. While there’s no physical stage or bright lights making you sweat, the virtual “stage” is no less intimidating!
Overcoming stage fright is a struggle that isn’t exclusive to the theater. Overcoming stage fright for social media content is just as difficult. So today, I’m going to be talking about how to actually show up in your video content without giving in to this fear.
You’re Not Alone
So first things first: if you're reading this, I want to affirm that however you feel about getting on video is absolutely okay. It's normal. You are not alone. This is a safe space to really help you feel supported with your journey through showing up more on video.
It’s totally normal to be camera-shy. Overcoming stage fright is something a lot of creators have to go through, and it isn’t easy. But I’m here today to help you figure it out!
Do You Need to Be in Your Videos?
Let’s tackle this question first: do you even need to be in your videos?
I’ve seen so many hacks floating around on Instagram sharing a certain amount of ways to create video content without ever having to show your face. And while this is doable, it’s not recommended. It’s just a Band-aid slapped over the problem versus actually tackling the root of what’s keeping us off our video content.
Now, do you always need to be in every single video? No, not all of the time, but the more that you are in your video content, the more it will help your strategy. And if we’re being honest, it acts as exposure therapy, in a way. Overcoming stage fright gets easier and easier the more you make yourself do the thing.
I’m saying this as someone that not only has seen the benefits of video in how I've been able to grow my own brand, but also as a former social media manager.
I’ve managed content for product business owners, service providers, coaches, and educators, and the common thread I found overall is when I was able to take over their content and encourage them to incorporate some more video, those always were the top performing pieces of content.
The reason for this is that we want to build a community that feels connected to you, not just a following. You can grow a following many ways, but if it's not a true community, they're just followers. And along with that, you actually showing up in your content builds deeper trust between you and your community so they know exactly who they're learning from, who they're buying from, who they're investing in, and what they're essentially getting by not only being a part of your community on social media, but also being a client or customer of yours.
If we put that all together, the biggest reason why you need to be on video physically and start overcoming stage fright is that it will lead to higher conversions from your content. Why? Because we're not posting just to post anymore. We have goals for how to we hope to move our businesses forward, and that is really what video does in a way that other pieces of content only scratch the surface of.
Why Overcoming Stage Fright is a Struggle
There are many reasons creators might not feel so comfortable appearing in their social media content. Overcoming stage fright comes in all different forms. Some of the ones I’ve heard from within my group coaching program are as follows:
Physical Appearance
The first category we need to tackle when overcoming stage fright is insecurity around physical appearance.
They need to have a bra. Their makeup isn't done. Their edges aren't laid. They’re having a bad hair day. Maybe they literally feel like they can't post the story or the reel or whatever it is without having a filter. Or even worse, having a filter with the eyelashes and the nose and the lips and the skin smoothing, a filter that has to alter how you physically look in that moment. This is leaning into this concept that you have to look “presentable” to even be in your videos.
This is where a lot of our insecurity feeds into our stage fright. There are things that we just don't love about ourselves. Maybe you're heavier than you used to be, or maybe you're older or younger than you think you should be to be in this online space.
We all have those insecurities, and it's really easy to see how us having to literally look at ourselves in this video we're posting for our brand puts that spotlight on us. This is where overcoming stage fright comes into play, because it really is a functional “spotlight.”
Confidence
The second area we might have to tackle to start overcoming stage fright is our confidence level. There are a lot of different bubbles that go into this confidence conversation when it comes to overcoming stage fright. Some people think they’re terrible at video. Some people are scared of what people are going to think of them. Some people are plain old camera-shy. It doesn't feel natural, and they don't want to feel like they’re forcing themselves to perform.
Confidence is a really big reason why it’s so much harder to start overcoming stage fright, to pull out that phone, to post the reel, to do the story, to go live, because you just don't even feel like you. Because you don't even feel like you have something to offer, and that's really where imposter syndrome is doing the absolute most. Those things are not true. There's a place for you in your videos.
Logistics
The last obstacle to overcoming stage fright is when it comes to the logistical elements of filming your content. It’s easy to film your coffee, your computer, all these other things, but filming yourself? That's where it gets a little iffy.
A few issues that I heard from my group coaching clients: their lighting isn’t great. They don't have a lot of privacy, so they don’t have the space to actually create content. And these things make sense, but luckily, I have solutions for them!
If any of those three things have resonated with you, you are in the right place. I'm going to give you some quick tips on how you can start overcoming stage fright to feel a little bit better appearing in your video content.
Tips for Overcoming Stage Fright on Social Media
The first tip, especially when it comes to the concerns over appearance or lack of confidence, is therapy. Yes, therapy. I am in therapy. I recommend therapy to literally everyone on this planet, because there's some things that a coach like me can help you with, and there are some things that you’ll need professionals to help you with. So if you really feel like there's a deeply rooted insecurity over your physical appearance or something that's just holding you back from growing your business, I cannot recommend therapy enough.
Comfy Couture
However, I know therapy isn’t available for everyone, so let me give some other more actionable tips that will hopefully be helpful with overcoming stage fright surrounding physical appearance.
Firstly, what can you control that will help you feel good? Do you have a content uniform that will help you feel more confident?
Personally, I like to be comfy when filming my content. I don't like to wear bras, I don't like to wear a lot of makeup, and sometimes my hair is looking like a floofball, so I have figured out things in my getting-ready routine, things in my wardrobe (such as comfy bra tops or pants that look nice) that I feel comfortable in, and different things like that that I can lean on if I want to actually be in my video content. This way, my physical appearance isn’t in the way of it.
I think this also comes down to embracing your imperfections, right? You don't need to show up on video with a full face of makeup. You don't need any of those things that you think you need to have to make you look more professional. It's all about how you feel the most like you.
Having the conversation surrounding rewriting what professional means to you versus what being authentically you and how you want to connect with your people really looks, especially as women, can get really deep. Even as women of color, there are a lot of ways that corporate culture has told us that we need to look, sound, and act to even be taken seriously in a room.
So I think it's really important to understand that you don't need anything. You don't need to alter yourself to be confident in your content or to be taken seriously in your content.
Start Small
Now let’s talk about overcoming stage fright through increasing your confidence level. First of all, start small.
Whenever you're doing something new in your business, when it comes to video, you want to make sure that you're not trying to do the absolute most.
Start with the basics. Start by posting one or two things on stories every day. Do small things like quote videos. Another thing you could try is filming video clips of you just doing your daily routine: pouring coffee, walking into your office, things like that.
Whatever feels like the lowest lift for you, focus on that, master that, and then go from there. Do not add in the fancy things you think you need that you see someone else doing. Stay in your lane and master that first, and that's where the most annoying tip of all comes in: practice. You need to practice to become more confident at anything. And that means it might look a little messy at first. It might be imperfect. But practice really does make perfect.
Equipment
The last tip that I want to share in order to start overcoming stage fright actually has less to do with stage fright and more to do with the logistical side of filming. The first thing that's really important is to get your toolbox down so you absolutely do not need to spend a dime to start with content.
When I first started creating videos, I literally would prop my phone up on my laptop or my water bottle or wherever worked. If you need to create content, all you truly need is your phone.
However, I do think that investing in affordable tools will give you a little buy-in. I’ll leave a few links for video tools that I really enjoy at the end of this post.
There are a few different options for you. A tripod could be great. Another option is using something like a Flipstik, which is something you simply put on the back of your phone. It'll allow your phone to stick to any flat surface, so that makes it more flexible and portable. It’s already on your phone, so you're more likely to stick it on a wall or wherever you're trying to create your content. One of my most used tools on my actual desk is a phone stand, which is great for lives and stories. Your equipment doesn’t have to be expensive or intense; it just has to function!
The second thing is figuring out your location for actually creating your content. I am really grateful that I have an amazing yellow cutie-pie office now, but I have not had offices in the past. I have been in co-working spaces, coffee shops, or literally in my childhood bedroom. You don’t need a picture-perfect space; all you really need is a clear corner!
The Best Method for Overcoming Stage Fright? Be Yourself!
In the end, the most important way to up your confidence in showing up on social media and overcoming stage fright is to find what makes you feel the most like you. When you’re comfortable, you’re already set to be far more confident!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Flipstik link (use this link for 20% off!): http://www.getflipstik.com/shineRESOURCES MENTIONED:
Participate in the FREE video challenge: http://videoconfidencechallenge.com/
CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: https://shinewithnatasha.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinewithnatasha/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL2BMkT_7jIu5NeV_yAXScw
Share the love
Screenshot and share your favorite episodes on Instagram with tag @shinewithnatasha & #TheShineOnlinePodcast to show us how you’re enjoying the podcast!
