Did you know that 93% of internet users watch video content every week? While TikTok has evolved into so much more than dancing, other platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and even LinkedIn have been busy pushing short-form content.
I’m not going to lie to you, although I love editing and creating Reels, actually filming the content is always one of those daunting tasks I avoid. So I’ve had a chat with Nicola Mansfield, of Film Your Face, to discuss what holds us back and how to start filming today!
“Videos on social media are the quickest way to build trust. People buy from people. Whilst photos are great and still images or text can relay information, our eyes are attracted to movement. Video shows your face, your voice, your energy AND the way you talk about what you do. A photo can be styled, a graphic can be polished, but a video tells the truth and feels real and authentic.
For small businesses, that matters. Most of us aren’t competing on price; we’re competing on connection. When someone sees you show up consistently on camera, they feel like they already know you. That familiarity shortens the buying decision and massively boosts confidence in choosing you over a faceless competitor.” – Nicola
Do you really lack confidence?
“Most people think they have a confidence problem, but what they really have is a technical problem. The wrong angle, harsh lighting, or echoey sound will make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they don’t look or sound their best. Fix your tech, and people feel instantly more at ease because they like what they see and hear.
Confidence comes from repetition, not the other way round. I often say “Fake it until you make it,” but what I really mean is that when you get the tech and the setup right, your videos will start to look more professional, which will in turn make you feel more confident. The more you do it, the easier it will be.
You don’t need to be loud, extroverted, or overly animated. Quiet confidence is just as powerful on camera. Like attracts like.” -Nicola
As a quiet person myself, I love to hear this! I noticed a big shift in my confidence when I moved my desk around. That sounds ridiculous, I know. My desk used to be up against the wall, which meant that the background of my videos was full of clutter – clutter that kept distracting me from what I was saying and that kept making me feel unprofessional. Now, the background of my videos is a white wall – not very exciting and far less distracting!
What do you need to add to your shopping list?
” I’ve spent the last twenty years being asked the question – what’s the best kit? What camera should I get? But, honestly, technology changes so quickly. The best camera? It’s the one in your hand!
But using our phone cameras correctly helps them to perform at their best – just like you won’t get much sense out of me until my second cup of coffee! How and when you use your phone camera can have a dramatic effect on what you capture.
You don’t need to start spending money to make good videos. Most people already have what they need; they just aren’t using it intentionally. Knowing how to use what you already own will get you far better results than buying a £90 ring light that sits in a cupboard.” – Nicola
I’m a big believer in making a start with the equipment you have before making any investments. Even as a social media marketer, I still don’t have any ring lights or even professional editing software. There’s so much out there that you can use for free!
Fun Fact: Did you know that if you record directly in the TikTok or Instagram apps, you can turn ‘flash’ on, which essentially turns your phone screen into a ring light?
How should you show up?
“Video isn’t about performance, it’s about presence. You don’t need to ‘be someone’. You just need to show up as the version of you that your clients already experience.
I’m a teacher and a mum and incredibly gentle – many people tell me that’s exactly what they need.
By showing up on video, unapologetically myself, I’ve had so many clients come to me and tell me they feel like they already know me or that we’re already friends from having seen me online. I might have said “Fake it until you make it” above, BUT you can never, and should never, fake who you are – show up as yourself, and the people who gravitate to you are the right people to buy from you.” -Nicola
I think it’s important to remember that you are in control of what you share with your audience. If it’s important to you, it’s important! But equally, if you don’t feel comfortable sharing it, you don’t have to.
Important note: if you don’t know what makes you YOU – I highly recommend a chat with Sarah White!
What if it’s not a polished finish?
“Audiences have shifted. People aren’t expecting a ‘studio’ finish from small businesses. They want clarity, warmth and a sense of who you are. Imperfect and clear is far better than polished and stiff.
That being said, simple things like getting yourself lit well and being audible will help your audience to stay with you rather than scrolling on. You could be the best speaker in the world, but on video – if your audience can’t see or hear you, they won’t stay.
If you’re nervous, aim for progress, not perfection. One 10-second clip a week is better than disappearing for months because the idea of a scripted reel feels overwhelming. Stories are a great place to practice because they are pushed to your followers first and are gone in 24 hours, which takes some of the pressure off.” -Nicola
As Nicola said, Stories are a great space to practice, but more than that, they’re a great tool to distance yourself from your content. What do I mean by that?
Your Stories can be saved to Archives. That means that although they disappear after 24 hours, they aren’t entirely gone, and you can find them again. Your audience can’t, but you can.
So post that video you’re nervous to share to your Stories today, and go and find it again in a month or two. By then, you’ll have forgotten what you didn’t like about it and will be watching it with fresh eyes – you might be surprised how much better it looks now!
5 tips to get started today!
“1. Face a window. During the daytime, natural light is the quickest fix for looking instantly more polished.
2. Use a lamp at eye level rather than overhead lighting.
3. Put your camera at eye level. No double-chin angles, no towering down on people. Eye level builds trust.
4. Look directly at the lens, not the screen. That tiny shift transforms the connection you make with your viewers.
5. Trim the ends. Cut off the awkward start and finish of your clip. Even a 10-second video feels more professional with clean edges.”
-Nicola
Being on camera is a skill that you can learn and practice. I recently downloaded Nicola’s Free FRAME Checklist, which offers some great tips to get you started. Check it out here.
My featured Guest
Nicola Mansfield is a Filmmaker, former College and Uni Media Teacher and the founder of Film Your, a growing family of brands that help parents and small-business owners create meaningful videos with confidence.
Through Film Your Family, her first business baby (born out of a gap in the market after having her first human baby), she teaches parents how to capture everyday moments on their phones with intention and storytelling at the heart.
Through the latest offshoot Film Your Face, she helps business owners show up on camera with ease, clarity and simple techniques that make a big impact without fancy equipment.
PS. Nicola was recently a guest speaker in a free pop-up group I’m running in the lead-up to Christmas. The group is all about supporting you to create, execute and enjoy your Christmas campaign, and in her session, Nicola shares a few simple, high-impact tweaks you can use right away to make your festive Stories, Reels and Lives look more polished and feel easier to create.
Join us now and catch her session on replay!
I help passionate small business owners with their social media so that they can create a powerful and supportive space to promote their business.
Share this blog