• About
  • Consulting
  • Coaching and Courses
  • Testimonials
  • Blog

Marketing Simplified

How to Build Video Confidence in Five Minutes

Uncategorized

11 Apr 2025

Let’s be honest: most people feel awkward speaking directly to a camera. But here’s the thing — face-to-camera videos are one of the most powerful forms of content you can create.

And yet, so many people shy away from them.

Why? The pressure to say the perfect thing, worry about how you look, or the simple weirdness of talking to a lens can be enough to stop anyone in their tracks. And that’s a shame, because those videos are a huge opportunity to build trust with your audience.

Why face-to-camera videos matter

This video style works so well because it’s the closest thing we have to a real-life interaction online. When people see your face, hear your voice, and watch your expressions, it creates connection. It helps them feel like they know you, and that’s where trust begins. A photo, a caption, or a B-roll montage just doesn’t have the same effect.

But let’s be real: even if you want to show up on camera, the fear can feel overwhelming.

Here’s what’s happening: Your brain is wired for survival. When something feels unfamiliar (like speaking to a camera), it senses danger and kicks into flight mode. That’s totally normal, but it’s also totally beatable.

My go-to trick to beat the nerves

Ready for it?
Use a mirror.

Yep. Simple, free, and surprisingly powerful.

Here’s what to do:
Stand in front of a mirror and practice saying just the first sentence of your video. Out loud. Over and over. For five full minutes.

Try something like:
“Hi everyone — face-to-camera videos are one of the best ways to build trust with your audience.”

That’s it. You don’t need to rehearse the entire script. Just nail the opening line. It’s like warming up your voice and your brain at the same time.

At first, you’ll feel silly. That’s okay. Keep going.

After a couple of minutes, you’ll notice the discomfort start to fade. The words come more naturally. The tension eases. You’re not just practicing, you’re training your brain to stop being afraid.

Why this works

Repetition is the antidote to fear. When you do something enough times, your brain stops treating it like a threat. What once felt scary becomes… boring. And that’s the sweet spot because when the emotion is gone, the fear leaves with it.

Think back to school: remember when you studied so much that you walked into a test totally prepared? The anxiety disappeared because you knew the material. It’s the same here. Five minutes of focused practice makes the unfamiliar feel familiar, and confidence follows.

Bonus tips to make your video even stronger:

  • Speak slower than you normally would. This naturally lowers your tone, which sounds calmer and more confident. A lower tone is also more pleasing to listen to.
  • Smile and gesture. These little movements make you more engaging and help viewers connect with you.
  • Skip the “Happy Monday!” intro. Keep your opening timeless so you can reuse the video later as your audience grows.

What do you do to rehearse after the first sentence?

Not much, because the rest of the video becomes much easier if you nail the first sentence. Once the nerves are out of the way, your natural voice and energy can take over. In fact, I recommend not over-rehearsing the rest because you know your content. Let it flow so that your audience feels an authentic message instead of a robotic one.

Will you plan a date with your mirror this week?

You might feel a little awkward at first — but five minutes from now, you’ll be one step closer to confident, compelling videos that actually connect. And that’s worth showing up for.

« The Most Important Marketing Lesson You’ll Ever Learn
Mindless Busyness is a Productive Part of Your Work »

Vanessa Errecarte

Hi, I’m Vanessa Errecarte

I am a marketing strategist, lecturer, and consultant, dedicated to taking your knowledge, ideas, products, and businesses from unknown to known.

Recent posts

  • The Most Overlooked Piece of Storytelling (and How It Makes You Unforgettable)
  • Do You Know Your Connection Rate?
  • Five Steps to Change How You Persuade
  • Mindless Busyness is a Productive Part of Your Work
  • How to Build Video Confidence in Five Minutes

Marketing Blog

The Most Overlooked Piece of Storytelling (and How It Makes You Unforgettable)

May 15, 2025 By Vanessa Errecarte Leave a Comment

Whether you’re building your personal brand or growing your business, we all know storytelling is powerful. But there’s one piece of the story puzzle that often gets overlooked: the obstacle. Compelling stories have you on the edge of your seat rooting for the main character to succeed and they achieve that with a setback. This … Read More about The Most Overlooked Piece of Storytelling (and How It Makes You Unforgettable)

Testimonials

headshot for Dr Lisa Hornick

“Vanessa changed my life. This is not an exaggeration. I learned more about marketing and brand management from Vanessa in one weekend than I did in YEARS of trying to navigate these subjects on my own. Vanessa has a way of presenting material so that it is easy to understand, effective and immediately actionable. She makes complex concepts simple and accessible. With her many years of experience, she is able to teach real-life lessons that you can implement to launch or improve your business today. Most of all, Vanessa can see your potential and vision sometimes better than you can see it yourself. She truly believes in her students and clients and has a unique way of helping them make their dreams a reality. I did not always think of myself as a thought leader in my industry but Vanessa inspired me to look at my career in new ways. She has helped me bring forth opportunities that I never thought were possible. I am so thankful to have her in my life and forever appreciative of the impact she’s had on both my personal and professional endeavors. Vanessa uses her special gifts to help bring out yours.”

Dr. Lisa Hornick
Optometrist
headshot of Ryan Wilson

“A huge thank you to Vanessa and for her unwavering commitment to shaping leaders of the future. Her knowledge and strategies with personalized thought leadership was the foundation that transformed the way I presented myself and my business. I realized how crucial it is to create a brand that authentically represents you, your values, and your mission. This branding not only impacted my career but shaped the way we position WilsonTech in the market, emphasizing our dedication to excellence, trust, and innovation.”

Ryan Wilson
student and business owner
Heidy Kellison

“Working with Vanessa is like being in your mother’s arms. Seriously. She‘s persistent yet patient, nurturing yet assertive, and accessible while promoting independence. Most impressively, Vanessa knows what she’s talking about. Doing what she says, even when it removes us from our comfort zone, always pays off. You cannot have a better ally for online marketing.”

Heidy Kellison
DOWNTOWNNORCAL
Meaghan Likes

“Before Vanessa, I literally spent thousands of dollars on other marketing courses, and Vanessa’s strategies continue to outperform and exceed my expectations every single time!”

Meaghan Likes
OWNER, BOOKKEEPING ACADEMY ONLINE | CEO, LIKES ACCOUNTANCY COMPANY
Claire Tauzer

“Vanessa helped us realize that we needed to look at marketing one of our new ventures in a whole new way — the opposite of we were doing before. When I followed her approach to create our offer, conversions were downright easy.”

Claire Tauzer
CO-OWNER, TAUZER APIARIES
Bruce Watts

“I like how Vanessa begins with the end in mind. She has you strategically understand your goals, ideal customer, and offer first, then teaches you how all the rest applies. It’s not tied to one thing, but rather, it’s an integrated approach. I would like to create online products for my business and Vanessa really reaffirmed the possibilities. She also highlighted how simple it can be to get them started.”

Bruce Watts
WATTS-WOODLAND AIRPORT
Alison Kent

“Vanessa’s careful nurturing of her clients, her guidance, and her cheerleading have been invaluable to me. The amount of information you get in her workshops and online course is staggering… it includes email marketing, social media, paid traffic, content creation and so on… email marketing was especially valuable for my business. I would recommend her to anyone looking to increase their organization’s online marketing presence.”

Alison Kent
PRINCIPAL, LISTENINK
Lorraine Beaman

“We actually slowed down our marketing plan to keep up with all the new business!

Vanessa has expert knowledge of marketing techniques, but what is really special is the way she helps her clients understand and apply those techniques. She is a great mentor and coach.”

Lorraine Beaman
FOUNDER, INTERVIEW2WORK
headshot of Tracy Fauver

“Vanessa’s strategies have allowed me to significantly outpaced competitors in fundraising revenue generation. But what I really appreciate is her passionate approach, the way she cares about each individual person she works with, their mission, and how it can change the world. Her marketing strategies can’t be found in any textbook but they work significantly better than the ones I find there.”

Tracy Fauver
Executive Director, Davis Community Meals and Housing
More testimonials
What's next

Click here to get started on your Strategy Development Session.

Marketing Simplified on LinkedIn Marketing Simplified on Instagram Email Vanessa Errecarte

Copyright © 2025 · Vanessa Errecarte · Developed by Design Olah |  Privacy + Terms + Cookies  |  Web Design  |  Contact