YouTube is a great resource for all kinds of content, like movie reviews, reaction videos, how-tos, and product demos, you name it! But were you aware that it’s also useful as a way to perfect your public speaking skills? Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been speaking in public for years, you can certainly use YouTube as another tool to improve your skills.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the different ways that you can use YouTube to hone and fine-tune your public speaking skills, as well as some tips and best practices for creating your own speaking videos that you can publish. So let’s get started!
A Vast Resource
As you may already expect, YouTube is an enormous resource for how-to and instructional videos, and there’s certainly no shortage of content related to public speaking. You can find videos on just about any topic you can think of, including videos on how to project your voice, how to help control nerves, and even how to make a great first impression.
No matter what aspect of public speaking you want to work on, chances are there’s a YouTube video out there that can help, so this is a great place to start. If you’re looking for some additional inspiration, why not check out some of the great public speaking channels on YouTube? There are myriad amazing speakers out there with valuable lessons to share.
Using YouTube as a Community
In addition to being a fantastic resource for instructional videos, YouTube can also be used as a meaningful community for like-minded individuals with similar interests. There are many channels and groups dedicated to public speaking where you can find like-minded individuals to chat with and learn from. This is a great and very useful way to get feedback and constructive criticism on your speeches, as well as motivation and inspiration from others in the community.
Creating Your Own Videos
Another great way to use YouTube to improve your public speaking skills is by creating your own videos. This doesn’t mean that you have to start your own channel (although you certainly could, and we’d recommend it), but simply recording yourself giving speeches or presentations can be extremely helpful.
This is a perfect way to get comfortable with the camera and to see how you come across on video. Additionally, it’s the best way to get feedback from others by sharing your videos with friends or family members. Creating and sharing your own videos is not only a useful and effective way to track your progress and growth, but it can also be a fun and creative outlet.
A Few Video Production Tips
If you’re going to be creating your own videos, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to produce the best quality content possible. We know that your primary goal is to craft and hone your public speaking skills, and that shouldn’t change. However, we believe that quality, interesting, and enthusiastic speech can go hand-in-hand with high-quality production values. With all other variables of your speech being the same, wouldn’t your viewers and listeners prefer the one that simply looks and sounds better? We certainly think so.
First and foremost, make sure that you have adequate lighting. This may seem like a real no-brainer, but you’d probably be surprised at how many people try to film in dark or dimly lit rooms. Not only does this make it difficult for your viewers to see you, but it also makes it more difficult for the camera to focus. This can result in a grainy and low-quality video. Start with investing in a good ring light.
Additionally, be sure to pay attention to your audio. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they don’t need to worry about audio because they’re just recording themselves speaking. However, we believe that clear and high-quality audio is just as important as high-quality visuals. After all, your viewers are ultimately there to listen to you speak. Be sure to use a good microphone and record in a quiet room with minimal background noise.
Lastly, invest in some good SFX (sound effects) and royalty-free music licensing that you can use to add a little production value to your videos. Using a good royalty-free song as background music or a well-placed sound effect can elevate your video and make it that much more engaging for your viewers. Try a reputable site like Soundstripe or Epidemic Sound. These sites offer all the music you need and offer ways to license music for a small monthly fee without having to worry about legal issues or copyright infringement. This is a useful way to gather stock music for any number of media projects.
Feedback
This is the most important aspect of using YouTube as a tool to help your public speaking skills. In order to get better, you need feedback, and YouTube is a great place to get it. Whether you’re watching videos or recording your own, be sure to ask for feedback from friends, family members, or even strangers. The more constructive feedback you can get, the better!
Be sure to include relevant keywords in your video descriptions, and include a CTA (call-to-action) in your videos as well. Directly tell your viewers to chime in with their comments and to offer advice when it’s warranted. This is your chance to get suggestions directly from the public about how you’re doing, what’s working, and where you have areas that can use some improvement.
Polls and Surveys
Along with videos of your speaking skills, make sure to also include polls and surveys in your YouTube content strategy. This is a great way to get even more feedback from your viewers about what they want to see more (or less) of. You can use this information to help shape and mold your future content, as well as give yourself an idea of what topics are resonating with your audience and which ones are falling flat.
The Bottom Line
YouTube is an incredibly powerful tool that can be used to improve just about any skill, and public speaking is no exception. By utilizing the vast amount of resources available on YouTube, as well as the platform’s ability to connect with like-minded individuals from all over the world, you can quickly hone your skills and become a better speaker. Take your feedback seriously, and use it to grow and learn. Soon, you’ll be giving talks like a pro!