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Embracing the world of Instagram as a marketing powerhouse paves the way for endless opportunities. Did you know that 85% of the top-performing posts on Instagram are video content? Although the potential for video to supercharge your Instagram growth and marketing game is undeniable, it's also clear that many people grapple with the uncomfortable fear of being on camera.
This fear often becomes an obstacle that blocks the path to building a thriving community on Instagram. But don't worry - in every challenge lies an opportunity for growth. Let's dive into some empowering tips that will enable you to face those fears head-on and genuinely connect with your audience:
1. Embrace Practice as a Journey of Self-Discovery Regularly recording videos just for you to view helps you gain valuable insight into your on-screen persona. This exercise builds your confidence and helps transform your Instagram marketing efforts into an authentic reflection of who you truly are.
Put this into practice: Set up your phone while you are doing something around the house (cleaning, cooking, skincare, working at your desk, etc.). Get comfortable with your camera placement and having the camera there.
Pro tip: Use these videos as b-roll for messages in short-form videos or interjections of videos for longer-form videos.
2. Foster Strong Connections Off-Camera Community building on Instagram goes beyond video content. Engage with your audience through comments, DMs, or Instagram Lives without the camera on yourself. Establishing rapport off-camera creates a supportive circle that will cheer you on your video journey.
Put this into practice:
Create strong and supportive connections with people. Do not think of followers or subscribers as numbers; they are real people, and you can create real relationships with them. Reply quickly, speak to people humanely and compassionately, and ALWAYS give more than you expect.
3. Find Clarity in Your Purpose and Plan Knowing what your video is about and preparing a roadmap of what you want to say can suppress any lingering fear. Are you aiming to ignite a conversation for Instagram engagement, entice new followers for Instagram growth, or promote an offer? Identify your video's intention and let it guide you through your content.
Put this into practice:
From your hook to how you speak about your topic and your call to action, post with purpose! This means knowing your desired outcome before you start writing about your topic. What do you want people to do with the information you provide?
4. Boldly Explore Instagram's Diverse Video Features Start by venturing into Instagram's various video options catering to different camera comfort levels. Stories are casual, while Live requires no editing. Use these formats as stepping stones towards embracing video content with open arms.
Put this into practice:
What I dislike most about reels or YouTube videos is the editing. Looking and listening to myself is hard!! Don’t think you are alone with this; instead of diving head first into this type of video, start by showing up in stories, then move into a short Live.
Pro tip: The best part is, if you like how the video turned out, you can download it and turn it into a reel. If you hated the video, download it anyway and turn it into a b-roll video.
5. Envision a Heartfelt Conversation with Your Ideal Audience Picture yourself speaking to your audience, not the camera. By treating video creation as a two-way conversation, you make the process more approachable, fostering deeper connections with your Instagram community.
Put this into practice: Think of ONE person! I think of a recent conversation I had with a student. But if you do not have students or clients (yet), think of your best friend, a co-worker; make it someone you feel comfortable with.
6. Celebrate Authenticity Over Perfection in Editing Constructive editing enhances your Instagram growth marketing strategy. However, resist the pressure to be flawless. Your audience will appreciate your genuine self, which creates a more meaningful and authentic Instagram engagement.
Put this into practice:
Progress over perfection! Do not overscript, over-edit, or overthink your videos! We LOVE reality TV for the imperfections. It is not that people want to see you mess up; it is that people want to see the real and raw you. This is who they can relate to.
7. Embrace Small Victories Begin with digestible video segments and progressively challenge yourself. Short clips of workouts, recipes, or tips offer valuable content and are a great way to boost confidence.
Put this into practice:
If you cannot think of anything to put on video, hold the camera in front of you, record while walking to your office or workspace in the morning, and post it in your stories. Give context to your story by showcasing what you’ll be working on that day.
8. Breathe Deeply and Slowly Calm your camera jitters by practicing steady and unrushed breathing before and during your video. This simple technique helps you maintain a poised and collected presence.
Put this into practice:
I tend to hold my breath when I am nervous, and in talking to others, they do it too. This makes our voice break and sound breathy when we speak. Practice breathing steady breaths!
9. Share Your Expertise with Pride When speaking about a subject you're passionate and knowledgeable about, your confidence will naturally shine through. Leverage your niche expertise to offer value to your Instagram community and effectively overcome camera shyness.
Put this into practice:
What is your favorite topic about your business? Talk about it! When you are passionate, you will focus on the topic, not how you look or sound.
The path to conquering camera fears is paved with authenticity, self-belief, and the courage to embrace vulnerability. Building your Instagram community with these empowering tips will inspire others to learn from your bravery and your valuable content. Combine this with wholehearted Instagram engagement, your marketing and growth strategy will flourish and thrive like never before.
Take one step at a time, grow with your video journey, and, most importantly, embrace your unique and powerful voice.
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