Getting comfortable going live on social media or showing your face can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not used to being in the spotlight. However, it’s a valuable skill for personal branding, marketing, and connecting with your audience. Here are some steps to help you overcome any discomfort and gain confidence in going live or showing your face on social media:

Start Small and Practice:

Begin by practicing in a private or limited audience setting. Use the privacy settings on platforms like Facebook or Instagram to share your live videos with only a select group of friends or followers. This way, you can ease into it without the pressure of a large audience. Practice your live sessions, or on-camera appearances, multiple times before going live. Record yourself and review the footage to identify areas for improvement. Gradually, you’ll become more comfortable with the process. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel. Outline your talking points, create a script if necessary, and have any props or visuals ready. Knowing your content inside and out will boost your confidence. However, I don’t actually think that you need to practice on social media. A lot of people relate to being completely authentic – mistakes and all. But if you’re someone who feels super nervous before going live, these steps can help. 

Focus on the Message, Not Yourself:

Shift your focus away from your appearance or nerves and concentrate on delivering value to your audience. Think about how your content can help or entertain your viewers. When your message is your primary concern, you’ll naturally become less self-conscious. Set realistic expectations! Understand that nobody is perfect on camera, especially when starting. It’s normal to make mistakes or stumble over words. Your audience is often forgiving and understanding. Embrace imperfections as part of your authentic charm. Once you can get over this hurdle, you’ll find it will be easier and easier to show up on Instagram stories. Just start!

Have Fun and Engage with Your Audience:

Encourage interaction and engagement with your viewers. Ask questions, respond to comments, and make it a two-way conversation. Engaging with your audience can make you feel more connected and less isolated. Not to mention it is a great way to build authentic friendships that can even translate to outside of the online space. Remember, people are buying from YOU. They want to know YOU and feel a connection to YOU. Once you’re able to make this small shift, you’ll have an easier time going live, promise!

Celebrate Your Wins:

After each successful live session or on-camera appearance, take a moment to celebrate your achievement. Recognize your progress, no matter how small, and use it as motivation to continue improving. Use positive self-talk. Challenge any negative self-talk and replace it with positive affirmations about your progress with showing up on social media in the first place. Remind yourself of your expertise and the value you bring to your audience. Self-confidence is a mindset that can be cultivated. For more help reading about mindset while launching check out this blog. (link to mindset blog).

Remember that getting comfortable on camera or going live is a gradual process. It’s okay to feel nervous initially; that’s a sign that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. Over time, with practice and perseverance, your confidence will grow. You’ll become more at ease with showing your face and connecting with your audience on social media.

Are you launching and just not sure what to say on social media? My launch library comes with a complete social media plan and prompts for 6 weeks! Designed to give you all the ideas about what to chat about!