The fear of being on camera often stems from self-consciousness. Sending short, personal "video voicemails" to one person at a time shifts your focus. The act of creating a video for a specific individual forces you to visualize them, humanizing the interaction and replacing fear with a focus on connection.
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The term 'self-promotion' feels self-absorbed and can create anxiety. Instead, view content creation as a selfless act of providing value—either through entertainment or information. This shifts the focus from yourself to the audience, making it easier to share your expertise and stories authentically.
Remote work eliminates spontaneous "water cooler" moments crucial for building trust through non-verbal cues. To compensate, leaders should intentionally dedicate the first five minutes of virtual meetings to casual, personal conversation. This establishes a human connection before discussing work, rebuilding lost rapport.
An intro video works 24/7 to position you as an expert prospects want to meet. It answers "who you are, what you do, and why they should care" before you ever speak, differentiating you from competitors and warming up leads.
To prove a prospecting video is truly personalized, screen-record yourself on the prospect's LinkedIn profile. As you talk, use an annotation tool to circle their accomplishments or specific job description keywords. This visual cue immediately proves the video was made just for them.
Using tools that require recording yourself provides a consistent opportunity for self-review. Loom's CEO notes that users improve their communication simply by playing back their own recordings, treating async video as a skill to be developed, not just a tool to be used, because 'pain is gain.'
For professionals who find phone calls demanding and texting too superficial for relationship building, voice memos offer an effective middle ground. This asynchronous communication method allows for the nuance and personality of voice, fostering a deeper connection without the pressure of a real-time conversation.
Genuine rapport isn't built on small talk; it's built by recognizing and addressing the other person's immediate emotional state. To connect, you must first help them with what's on their mind before introducing your own agenda.
Building deep connections isn't just about asking probing questions; it's about reciprocal vulnerability. Super-communicators often volunteer personal information about themselves first. This signals safety and gives the other person implicit permission to share something equally intimate, creating a powerful bond.
Instead of trying to find the perfect words, preface difficult feedback by stating your own nervousness. Saying, "I'm nervous to share this because I value our relationship," humanizes the interaction, disarms defensiveness, and makes the other person more receptive to the message.
When a prospect goes silent, Vidyard's #1 AE sends creative, low-production videos, like spinning in a chair or using a fake elevator background. This human, pattern-interrupting approach helps restart the conversation where a standard follow-up would fail.