Welcome to Sell to Camera, my blog for strategy consultancy ISV Focus to help business professionals with presentation experience make the move to web video, addressing the concerns many feel when first asked to speak directly into a video camera’s unblinking eye. I’ve now retired this blog, but if you’ve any questions then please add your comment to the relevant article, or get in touch with me direct.
Sell to Camera is a blog for people learning to speak to camera for web videos. Andrew Biss wrote Sell to Camera as he learned to record, edit and publish web videos. Learn more.
Hi, I’m Andrew Biss: Tech Presenting curator, founder of strategy consultancy ISV Focus and an experienced software industry executive.
I started my career working as a developer in the financial services sector, followed by a stint in consulting. I later held VP-level marketing, strategy and engineering positions at software companies in the UK, US, France and Germany.
Originally from London in the UK, I moved to Germany in 2000 and now live near Düsseldorf.
My personal blog is Andrew-Biss.com.
Success as a technical presenter depends on our ability to get audiences to take action. After all, without action it’s just entertainment!
I’ve given hundreds of technical presentations at all levels in the software industry and have learned that although creating action’s hard, it’s not impossible.
I share my experience by curating the best tips and tricks, examples and resources from the web at Tech Presenting.
ISV Focus is a strategy consultancy helping independent software vendors (ISVs) respond to new opportunities. I apply fresh thinking to conjure practical ideas and solutions.
If your audience can’t clearly hear what you have to say then your video is a waste of everyone’s time. Use a lapel microphone instead of your camera’s built-in microphone and get a massive boost in audio quality for a minimal investment.
Before you say a single word the background in your video is already speaking for you. A dark background that looked like a stage curtain didn’t set the business tone I wanted. Choosing a lighter, structured, background now sends the right message from the very first frame. It also turned out they are easier to work with.
You know to look around your audience when presenting; web video demands you do the exact opposite. Put a large monitor at eye-level right behind your camera to get accustomed to looking directly at your camera. You also get to speak to a real person (yourself!) and not just the camera’s unblinking eye.