What if I make a mistake and embarrass myself?
What if people don’t like what I say?
What if I don’t have the right lighting or sound equipment?
It’s no secret – going Live on social media can be downright petrifying. As a healthcare practitioner, you’re comfortable being the go-to specialist for your patients. But just because you’re the expert doesn’t mean you’re always feeling confident, especially when it comes to feeling confident on camera.
If even the thought of hitting that “Go Live” button makes you want to run far, far away, you aren’t alone. Keep on reading to learn our favorite ways to finally get over your fear of going Live.
It’s Time to Ditch the Nerves & Boost Your
On-Camera Confidence
Think of on-camera confidence as a muscle – the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. Here are three tips to kick your video fears to the curb and start flexing that confidence muscle:
- Set reasonable goals. Before you ever go Live, determine why you want to show up for your audience. Then, choose a day and time, and stick with it. Once you hit that Live button, roll with the punches. Even if your hair isn’t perfect or you make a mistake – just keep going. This makes it real and relatable.
- Make it about them. Instead of wondering how you look or if you should have worn a blue top versus a white top, shift your attention to your audience and how you can best serve them. Think about how you show up when meeting a new patient for the first time. You’re totally focused on them and how to help them. Do the exact same thing when you go Live.
- Be yourself. Lives are just a conversation with your ideal patient. So, keep it conversational. It helps to imagine you’re talking to just one person. Consider printing out a picture of what your ideal patient looks like, and tape it to the side of your camera. Then, talk straight to that photo as if they were standing right in front of you.
It’ll take some practice, but the more you go Live, the more natural it will feel. Expect the first few times to seem clunky and maybe even a bit awkward. That’s perfectly normal. So, make sure to cut yourself some extra slack.
But What About…?
Now, you may have some very specific questions about going Live, especially when it comes to representing your practice. To help you out, we’ve pulled together some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear from clinicians.
What Do I Wear?
Imagine wearing cut-off shorts to your prom or showing up to a summer grill-out in a tux. How embarrassing!! There’s nothing worse than rolling up to an event waaaay underdressed or overdressed.
Fortunately, when it comes to going Live, those types of pressures don’t really exist. The key is to feel comfortable while also being professional. As a clinician, don’t feel like you need to wear a stethoscope around your neck or a white medical coat (unless you sport that look every day). Make sure your clothes are clean, free of wrinkles, and fit you well. The last thing you want is to be tugging at your sleeves or putzing with your collar.
What Should My Background Be?
When it comes to choosing a location for your Live, there are a couple important factors to take into account:
Choose a background that won’t be distracting. For example, be sure you’re not sitting by a window with cars zooming by. Also, consider the tone you want to set. If you’re speaking on something more serious, don’t film at a park with people laughing and chatting in the background. Remove anything that could distract your audience.
If you’re filming in your office or at your clinic, make sure to tidy up. That leaning tower of paperwork behind you is soooo distracting. Also, check your lighting so that your face is as bright as your shining personality. 😊
How Long Should the Live Be?
So, this depends. Some will tell you to keep your Live short and sweet. Others will encourage you to go longer. Do what feels right to you and serves your audience the best. We typically recommend changing it up and playing around until you find what resonates most with your audience.
But, if you’re new to going Live, then we suggest taking that pressure off yourself by keeping it short – under 5 minutes.
What in the World Do I Talk About?
We guarantee you have way more to share than you realize. We hear this all the time from practitioners – they have no idea what to talk about, but when we get on the phone with them and start poking and prodding a bit, their passion betrays them. Soon, they’re gushing about the latest research they saw on menopause, the best way to reduce bloating, or a new protocol they’re super excited about.
So, give yourself some credit! Here are some easy ways you can start brainstorming topics to address when you go Live:
- What are the most common questions your patients ask you?
- What’s something fun you recently learned that ties into what you do?
- What have you noticed when you’re out and about that’s worth sharing? (Like that fitness magazine headline you glimpsed at the store or that new desk yoga pose to stretch out your lumbar.)
Set a timer on your phone for five minutes, and write down as many ideas as you can. Then, see which of those ideas can be broken down into smaller topics. Those mini-topics are the fuel that will fan your Lives for a long time.
Practice Facing Your Fears of Going Live This Week
Going Live may feel scary at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. Who knows, you may even start to enjoy doing them and connecting in a more meaningful way with your ideal patient!
So, in the next couple of days, plan to go Live at least once. Start with the very last question a patient asked you. Jot down a few talking points, grab your iPhone or Android, and then just do it!
Your future patients are waiting for you on the other side of your camera. And we promise that once you start getting positive feedback from your followers, then you’ll be so happy you faced your fears of going Live. It’’ll be worth it!
