Since Covid-19, people have been working remotely. Although it seemed like such a wonderful thing at first, most have probably come to find that it really isn’t as simple as it sounded. A lot goes into setting up and attending video conference calls. With conference calls weekly, or even daily, it may be a good idea to be fully prepared each time. Here are 6 video tips to improve your conference calls.

1. Lighting- When present in a video conference call, it is important that the lighting where you are seated is good. You must take things like windows into account. For example, if you’ve got a window in your office space, it is important to face the window as opposed to having it behind you. If the window is behind you, it will make your camera look darker, causing you to be less visible. Facing your lighting source is very important for the best lighting. Another important lighting tip is to use natural light. This creates a pleasing, well- lit, and professional setting.
2. Choose a neutral background- When on a video conference call, it is important that you have a neutral background to create an uncluttered and therefore, professional background. During a video conference call, less is definitely more. For instance, it is not a good idea to sit in front of a wall with tons of frames or shelves. It can be distracting and make you look unprofessional. Before starting your conference call, test your video and make sure that there is nothing in the background that can be distracting and unprofessional.
3. Dress the part- During a video conference call, it is important that you dress professionally as you would a conference in person. It is important to avoid patterns like stripes and prints; you should wear bright, solid colors. It is totally up to in whether or not you want to wear dress pants or pants at all, however if you may need to get up for any reason, it may be a good idea to wear nice pants.
4. Position the camera at eye level- The position of your camera can have an impact on your video. Before the meeting begins, make sure to position your camera at eye level so that you are not looking up or down. When you are speaking on the call, make sure to look directly at the camera instead of yourself or others, because it can cause you to appear distracted. You should also position yourself so that you are in the middle of the frame. Make sure that there is not much empty space above your head.
5. Get a better mic/camera- If you have an older computer, getting a new mic and/or camera can really improve the quality of your call. When on a video conference call, it is important to you use a headset/headphones/earbuds. This gives you a mic closer to you meaning the quality of you audio will be clearer.
6. Log in early- Logging in early to a video conference call is important because it gives you the opportunity to test video and audio beforehand. If your mic isn’t working, this allows you a little bit of time to find a replacement as opposed to delaying the meeting once it’s started. This also allows you time to move around and figure out which spot may be the best visually.