[VIDEO] How to look (and sound!) Good on Zoom (Or Any Virtual Meeting) - Part 3
In Part 3 of our series, we tell you what to do to get the best sound on your virtual meetings.
This one’s a bit of a bonus. We called this series “Look Good on Zoom.” This article, however, is about the one virtual-meeting factor everyone overlooks: sound.
How you sound on virtual meetings (or interviews!) is important, too. Clear sounds equals a clear message. But clunky, distracting, or noisy sound can kill a good impression and muddle your message. If you’re having a meeting on Zoom, or a job interview over Zoom, what do you want the other party to remember - how awesome you are, or how noisy your room was?
Take 7 minutes to listen to our Best Practices to Sound good in virtual meetings.
View the final piece in our 3-Part Series, “Look Good on Zoom Part 3,” above, or see my 3 favorite takeaways from our conversation below.
(ps - in case you’ve been watching and reading all these blog posts, I promise I do have other outfits. Really.)
3 Ways to Sound Better on Zoom or in Virtual Meetings (and Interviews!)
Choose the mic that SOUNDS best.
It may not be anything fancy - nor does it have to be. Online calls are an everyday occurance, and all that matters is that you sound good and clear. UPDATE, FALL 2023: I’ve gone from using the dangling earbuds you see above to using my AT 2020 (red circle in photo) for podcast interviews, and my Saramonic lavalier mic (picture below) for everyday Zoom calls or Teams calls. My blue earbuds work fine, but the quality from my AT2020 and my Saramonic are better.
I also recommend a simple riser (purple circle, above) so you look good on video calls, and so your laptop isn’t picking up any dings or vibrations from your desk. This is the one I use.
And if you’re wondering about that yellow circle + scrawl in the pic - it’s a ring light that is no longer available. I’ll update info about my new ring light in this sister post.Leave the chunky jewelry in the box. Your mic will pick it up.
You might not think your mic is knocking into that fun, chunky necklace you’re wearing, but it is. Ask me how I know. Look at what you have on, and record yourself speaking on Zoom or Teams (or whatever platform you prefer) for a few minutes. Microphones of all styles can bang into your shirt buttons, jewelry, or even your table.
If you’re using a dangling mic, keep it in check, and avoid wearing anything that could cause noise.Be mindful of your environmental noise
”When a microphone is involved, it’s louder than you think,” says Melissa. She warns us to pay attention to environmental noise. Those everyday things we aren’t aware of, such as raising a standing desk, don’t sound like anything to the user, but a nearby microphone will pick it up.
Also: be mindful of your ever-present notifications, like the pings of your text messages arriving, or the bloopy noise that tells you have a new email. Disable or silence these notifications before a Zoom or Teams call - and definitely silence them before a virtual job interview! No one wants to attempt a conversation while pings go off every few seconds.
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See Parts 1 + 2 of our look-good-on-camera series:
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About The Authors
Hi! I’m Marianna. I make public speaking and presentation skills easier for my clients. I help with everything from preparation to managing stage fright to speaking with confidence. In addition to Presentation Skills workshops, I offer executive coaching and Keynote speeches. To learn more, Get in touch.
Melissa Hollingsworth is the owner and creative director behind Worthwhile Media. After receiving her Bachelor’s in Film Production from Biola University, she went on to work as a camera operator and set-lighting technician on various Hollywood and Atlanta-based productions for film and television. With its ability to reach into the hearts of minds of an audience, she has always believed storytelling to be one of the most effective means of communication we have.