Video calls allow us to maintain much closer contact with our friends and loved ones, combining image and sound. However, their popularity is recent and some beginner mistakes are still made when trying to establish communications. It’s not enough to use the best apps for video calls; you also need to know how to avoid the most common mistakes and some ideas to solve them.
Take advantage of video calls for work meetings or remote gatherings with friends and family.
While mistakes are usually unintentional, sometimes it’s possible to prevent them by taking certain precautions and doing some checks beforehand. Take note of these recommendations and you’ll achieve greater stability and quality in your video calls, saving yourself from disconnections, annoying noises, and bad camera angles with just a little attention.
-Pay attention to the effects of each platform. When you make a video call on a platform you don’t know, you might end up as a potato or accidentally set a beach background. That’s why, before making a video call, make sure you know how to turn certain special effects on and off. You’ll save yourself a headache or an embarrassing situation.
-Check your Internet connection. The data and connectivity usage of a video call is high compared to a traditional call. That’s why it’s always recommended to test your connection before making the call. If you make the call and your connection is low quality, the image may not load well, the sound may not work, or you may see your contacts with a delay. Here you can check the quality of your Internet connection.
-Don’t point the camera at your chin. It’s essential, to avoid showing your lack of tech knowledge, that you don’t point the camera at your chin during video calls. The best way to make video calls and avoid mistakes is to aim the camera straight at your face and show a bit of your torso.
-Don’t show up in pajamas. Another common mistake is neglecting your overall appearance, from unexpected interruptions by children or family members passing behind you, to joining a video call in pajamas. Try to avoid this, especially for work calls, because it looks very unprofessional.
-Don’t make video calls in the kitchen or living room. Related to the previous point and to professional presentation, it’s not recommended to make video calls in high-traffic areas.
While working from home is comfortable, one of the most repeated mistakes is interruptions from making video calls in the kitchen or living room. Look for a secluded room or, if you have your own office, even better.
