Are you Camera Confident? Interview with Camera and Visibility Coach

TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE

• Biggest roadblocks in front of a camera?
• How to boost our business results via video - 4 tips

HELPFUL  LINKS

• About the Host  - Ela Senghera 
• Start Your Transformation - Book Here
• Audiobook   Finding Love
• Get Free Brochure  -Be True You in Your Relationship
• About the Guest  -  Mi Elfverson

Transcript

Ela:  Hi Mi, welcome to the show!  Can you tell me a little bit more about you? 

Mi Thank you so much for having me. My name is Mi. I am Swedish by birth. That's why I have a bit of a strange name. It's not actually my rename from the start but that's what I go by. And I've lived almost half of my life away from Sweden. I've been in England for 23 years and I now live in Brighton and I am the founder of the Vlog Academy. I'm the creator of the EyeStorm Community. I'm also the UK country chair of the G100-Media Arts & Communication which is the global organisation. And I'm generally passionate about online marketing, video and visibility for small businesses and large organisations.

Ela: Excellent. Today we talk about getting in front of camera and what stops us from getting in front of the camera and what huge benefits there are to explore once we are in front of the camera. Where did the idea for your business come from? Have you always been passionate about video work and video production?

Mi: I've always been passionate about moving image and storytelling. I started with photography already as a 12 year old. My father was, well, he's still around, but he used to take a lot of photos. So he taught me the foundations. And from there, I guess it was a combination of theatre, really photography.  I realised that, that can be combined and we can make movies. So I went into TV production and then commercial production, very high end commercial production and documentaries. And then I went back to still photography actually for a while when I had my baby. And once he was a little bit more when he went to start school, I started getting back into video production and the whole scene had changed. So that's when I realised that Vlogging was a thing and that it could be done with very small means compared to what I was used to working with with massive, huge teams. 

Ela: Exactly. which is a valid point, I suppose, because now, there's even less excuses to do it. And I understand you're working with, like you mentioned before with smaller businesses. So, you work with both men and women but my understanding is that lots of your work is with women and you have a number of products and services that are designed for women to help them become more camera confident and so on.Where did the idea for that come from, is it when you became a mom, you noticed women are less visible?

Mi: No, that's not quite where it started. I did notice that and I noticed there's a certain insecurity in starting up your own business. But the real shift came from, I do work with very large international organisations and companies as well. I do corporate workshops.  My training and my online training. Mostly, for small businesses. But it was when I started doing the corporate workshops that I realised with a mixed group of both men and women with the same experience, same education, hopefully the same salary, uh, and, uh, and the same title. If you like, they were all managers, they were all experts in what they were doing, but as soon as I brought out the camera and said, Right, let's have a play. Let's grab a microphone and get you in front of the camera. All the men stepped forward, grabbed a microphone and a light and went for it. And all the women literally took a step back and they didn't want to be seen. 

Ela: It was actually really upsetting to see being a woman. So what do you think stops us women from getting in front of the camera?

Mi: You know, Ela, I think it goes back a long time. Through the history of time, we have always been on the support side rather than the delivery side. So we've had, uh, male tribal leaders. All religious leaders have been men. Teachers were only men for a long time. We have had to look up at the, uh, the father in the house, the husband, even our brothers have been making sure that women remained in a position of serving and just looking after everyone else, which, uh, which of course was a, a big part of what we were doing. We haven't been entitled to an education. We haven't been. Invited to take part in decision making. Um, so women haven't had a voice for many, many, many years, and it's only just now starting here in the Western world. And we are very fortunate to live in this part of the world where we are allowed to have a voice and equal education and all of that. So I, I think that we are breaking free from all of that, but there it comes with a lot of insecurities and we've always had to play the part of. Trying to be the winning woman, you know, to get the man, um, because it was a means of survival. So we had to look pretty, we had to be sexy. We had to be flirtatious to keep working. Husbands are  really engaged, but we don't need to do that anymore, but it's still so ingrained in us that to be successful in business we have to be all of that. And of course, social media isn't helping because we see all these, you know, very glossy, uh, influencers who all are focused on the looks and the surrounding.

Whereas what I try and teach with what I do the most important part is your message. Of course, your knowledge to share that, uh, to people who, who really need you, they need your expertise. It doesn't matter what you look like and where you live. Exactly what car you drive.


Ela: Exactly. So I think you are making it very valid point there is one that most of us don't realise when we consider, um, creating videos. There are so many things we have to offer in, um, all of us individually, um, in our businesses and the years of experience, expertise and our niche area. There is an audience for all of that, it's just all about starting to become confident,  in front of camera and starting to spread the world and share your knowledge. That is so important, making that first step. Right? Understand. And then everything, what follows doesn't feel I know from my experience, it doesn't feel that bad. It actually feels quite good. And the more you do that, the more confident you become.

Mi:  Which is an incredibly uplifting and rewarding and, and it's quite a powerful journey as well because you learn a lot about yourself on the way.

Ela: Exactly, it's very interesting to hear, what stops us, to get in front of the camera. I also think from a psychology point of view, I think there is a lot about. There was, of course the societal pressure to always be in the background and in a supportive role, but there is also the concept of self-worth and self-esteem, that plays a huge role.  I talk about this in some of my other videos and podcast interviews, where it actually takes women on average two to two and a half. To have the confidence she had before having kids and, and that is huge and that is based on international research. So I think we change our identity so much when we become mothers and wives that, uh, we forget about who we truly are and what we truly desire. And we kind of subconsciously, but also consciously put yourself second. And that is not the best place to start from when you are considering doing video work. Would you agree with that?

Mi : I completely agree. It's very true. And I've been there myself. I completely lost my confidence after having a child and I've been outta work, uh, environment for many years and it was very, very hard to get back into it.

Ela: Another question I have for you here. What are the based on your experience, what are the most common issues we face in our businesses that video, um, and social media vlogging can fix. How can videos help us promote ourselves and our businesses?

Mi : So video is considered the most powerful online marketing tool you can have at the moment.It's because of two main things. one is that,  people love video  we actually really love watching video. Many people would prefer to watch a video than to read a document. So,  we gain more information in a quicker way, and we also retain more information when we watch a video. And that's why eLearning is so big now, because we can learn in our own time and in our own space. Um, and, and video is also multilayered. So you get sound, you have audio, you have the image, you can have graphic design, you can have music, you have a person that you connect with. Um, you have a voice that you might resonate with, and a lot of things going on in that. So it has a lot of depth, but also the other thing is that the social media algorithms,  love a video. And those are the little courses that work underneath all of these social media places, including Google as well. So they select what posts what content should be pushed forward and what is held back   so I call them the promoters and the bounces, because sometimes they don't let people's post through.  So when you do a video, it has a much higher potential to get seen by your audience. Mm-hmm . So even if it is worth doing video, uh, rather than just writing a text, then even a text with an image doesn't go as far. No. So yeah, if you want to grow your audience, if you want to be seen,  then that is the way to go forward. You would waste your time if you didn't do videos, to be honest. So it's a no brainer. And also not only for social media, but people are more likely to click through on an email. If you have a video attached, if you have a video on your landing page, on your website, people are much more likely to stay longer on your website and have a look around.

Um, so it's, it's a very powerful tool to lead people into the next step. And, and also a much wider spread if you do. Yeah. Um, start to create regular VI videos. People are also going to get, um, gain. You've gotta gain trust and credibility. When you start sharing your expertise again and again, and people see you show up as an expert, they're gonna regard you as an expert.

So next time they need something, um, what you offer, they're gonna come to you because they have seen you and you have established that trust and connection. Yeah. So that, sorry. Yeah, a lot of positive things with video. Those are just a few of them. Um, and I, I think that also when you grow an audience, when you do start working with video in the right way on social media, um, you get a returning audience.

And if you're in business, you know that it's always a returning audience that is more likely to buy into more products and more expensive products as well. Yeah. Because you have gained their trust already.  right. Exactly. So I, I love what you said there, it's all very valid. Um, and I think one thing that, um, uh, to me personally, was very, standing out is the credibility and being perceived as an expert.

And I, I think what's worth adding here is that, um, many of us feel like we are experts, we are starting a business. We. Feel like an expert in our own head. Right. Um, and we think, well, I'm doing this because I know about this, but the thing you're forgetting about is that. The whole world doesn't know that. And, if you start creating videos about what you know, and about what your business does and about how your products and services can help, but not just from a marketing point of view, but discussing the larger problem that your business focuses on fixing, perhaps mental health in families or discussing.

Women, equality, inequality at work or work life balance for, for working parents. If you share your knowledge and, and discuss those topics openly as a free content, you really do gain that credibility over time. And, and you are getting a returning audience who subscribe to your, to your, products and services in your channel.

And I'm more likely to buy from you. But I think specifically that bit, that we know we are an expert. But we are something stopping us from just, you know, unleashing that energy from us and, and giving it to the world because we, I think we are afraid that we are going to be judged. I think that's part of it.

Like there is a fear of judgement. There is a fear of, uh, being perceived, not being good enough. Um, and, and many other subconscious beliefs that are kicking in here that are all coming back to our childhood, which we need addressing. but yeah, very interesting topic and very interesting conversation indeed.

And I'm not sure to be honest, that everyone knows they are an expert and expert is actually a very big word, you know? Yeah. You, it takes a lot to become an expert. so I think it's a bit of a trend word as well, but we suddenly know our staff, but what allows us to believe in that. As women is the return we get from our clients and our audience, more than anything else.

And the quickest way to believe that you are an expert to use that word is when you do a video and people come back to you, even if it's one person and they say, I loved your video. That was so helpful. I was really battling with something and, and you really helped me that can really give you a, a, a confidence.

Much bigger than you had before. so it's a route to feel like an expert. Yes, I, yeah, I, I think that's very fair. What would you say to me? If somebody considers becoming more visible and perhaps they want to, they do want to share their knowledge and, and expertise., what would you say, their first steps should be in that direction?

What would you advise them to do first? So, first of all, I think a lot of people are afraid of nicheing themselves. They want to talk to the whole world and that, in my opinion, there's varied opinions, but I don't believe that it's a good thing to be too broad because I think we all resonate with certain people and we choose those and we stick to them.

Mm-hmm  so the more you can niche yourself, you will be talking directly to the people who, who are attracted to what you can help them. With, so the clearer, an image you have of your audience, your targeted audience and your ideal customer, the better it is. and then when you know those, just talk to them and forget about the rest of the world.

And that's gonna make you feel more relaxed in front of the camera as well. And feel like you have more of a personal conversation. Like we are now, you and me, we are not talking to a massive audience out there. Yeah. we are just having a conversation and, and also remembering that people might be listening with their headphones.

On the beach or, you know, on the train. So it is a personal conversation. You're not shouting to the back of the room, to a larger audience. Yeah. So once you know who you are talking to, you need to start from their perspective really mm-hmm  and ask them, literally go and ask them, what do you need right now?

What, what are you struggling with? How can I help?and then focus on those things. And also focus on what you enjoy more than anything else. If there is an interest, fear of yours within what you do, that's where you're gonna be your best. That's where you thrive. That's where you're gonna blossom.

That's where you are gonna be shining more than in any other. If you start with something really complicated because you wanna show off, you're probably just gonna stumble and unfold. So start with the easy stuff and it doesn't have to be long. People go on forever saying that if you can save yourself time, And the viewer time by giving some short information, it's a win-win and they've learned something in a short time.

So it's really, it's a really great way to do shorter videos as well and mixed without things. so that is the start of it. And I guess you need to, uh, select some content categories to make sure that it works, that you don't also go off track. Yeah. That you are aligned with your own values, your core values and your brand values, and that the topic is, is correct for your brand and your business, because it's very easy to go off, uh, on unknown tracks and trails with social media, because you pick up on what you should be doing, and it's actually not really your topic, even.

So, just stick to your expertise. So that was gonna be my next question. What are the most common mistakes people make once they do get in front of the camera? And, and you already kind of touched on that, which is, one of them was to not staying, uh, within your niche area and specialising in what you know most of, or what you are most passionate about, but what would you say are other common mistakes people make when they get in front of camera?

I think it's very common on social media to oversell, to use it just as a promotional, you know, selling tool. So what we used to see on television were ads and the best ones were really fun stories. Right? And that's what social media is all about. It's called social for a reason. It is a social platform, you know, about connections.

And, and we know now at the moment, We are really discovering the power of storytelling. So it's a brilliant platform for that. so not holding up an item and say, this is 4 99 by it. Now here's the link. Uh, but telling the story that we were talking about before, about those transformational, you know, the stories of transformation and success that your clients, not that you've had, but your customers have experienced.

Thanks to your support, whether you are your product yourself, maybe your service is the product, or if you have a physical product that you are selling. So it's really important to use storytelling. And that's also why it's great for women because we've always been great storytellers. We've talked. Our children through storytelling. Even if we read them stories, bedtime stories, there's a, uh, you know, moral ending or there's something within it to learn from. So we are good at that. And we often, also, don't like selling. We don't like it, we hate cold selling. We want to know that there's value attached. And by going out regularly, Telling these stories as we call them, uh, building up credibility and trust, that for us feels better as well, because we know that people are buying into the whole concept.

Ela:  Mi, it was great speaking to you today.  Where can our listeners find you? 

Mi: The best way to start is really to do my crash course in video blogging in smartphone V blogging, really it's for business owners, and it will give you the whole foundation in a really swift, uh, online course. All my training is available on www.vlogacademy.com and I'm on social media under the vlog academy.

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Ela: So let's talk about video marketing. From your experience - what stops us women from getting in front of the camera? 

Mi

Ela:  Based on your experience, what are the most common issues we  face in our businesses that video and social media can fix? 

Mi

Ela: What are the biggest benefits of producing video content?

Mi

Ela:  What are the most common mistakes of video making for the purpose of business promotion? 

Mi

Ela:  What small steps can we take today to increase our visibility and become more effective with our marketing message? 

Mi

Ela:  Any final tips? What can women do better going forward? / What video content is popular at the moment? 

Mi