I teach people how to produce amazing videos using simple devices like their iPhone or iPad. That front-facing camera is awesome – but it’s also distracting for you when you’re filming yourself. Why? Because you just want to look at yourself, but that’s the wrong placement for your gaze!

If you want your viewer to feel connected to you, like you’re talking to them and sitting right there WITH THEM, you have to stare at the tiny lens. You should almost pretend you’re having your picture taken – and that moment where the person with the camera says “look over here!” or “smile!” – you don’t look at the other parts of the device or their foot, do you?

No, you look at the tiny circle at the top. But how do you remember to look there and, beyond connecting to the lens, also really speak to that one person you want to hear you, who you want to be impacted by your message on the other side of the camera?

Here’s what you do: make a little post-it note and put a smiley face on it! 🙂 Stick it right under or right around the lens (cut a small circle if you need to). it will be your reminder to smile – and to look right into the camera, at your viewers.

I want you to stop looking at yourself, judging your hair, performing and adjusting moment to moment based on how you think you look – and look at your viewer.

This little trick may seem like nothing – but watch and see the difference in your video content. You’ll be more authentically connected to the viewer and more impactful on camera. You’ll be so engaging, they’ll have to click through to find more of your content – so you better get practicing and keep it up, because there are people who need to hear what you have to say. Try it! And let me know how it works for you.