**Practice**: While you can’t predict every question you’ll be asked, it helps to practice answering potential questions. Record yourself during practice sessions, and review the footage to spot areas for improvement.
**Use Non-Verbal Communication**: Smile, maintain eye contact, use hand gestures, and pay attention to your posture. These non-verbal cues can help engage your audience and make you appear more confident.
**Relax**: Do your best to remain calm and composed. Remember to breathe deeply, and consider practicing mindfulness or relaxation techniques before you go on camera.
**Dress Appropriately**: Wear clothing that’s comfortable, suits your personal style, and aligns with the image you wish to project. Avoid clothes with complex patterns or bright colors as they can distract viewers or cause issues with the camera.
**Be Authentic**: You don’t need to act or pretend to be someone you’re not. Authenticity resonates with people. Let your natural personality shine through.
**Speak in Sound Bites**: TV and online media often like to cut down interviews into shorter clips or “sound bites”. Try to deliver your key messages in a way that they can stand alone if pulled from the rest of the interview.
**Engage with the Interviewer**: Instead of focusing solely on the camera, engage with the person interviewing you. It will make the conversation more natural and less like a performance.
**Prepare for Tough Questions**: Think about the toughest questions you might be asked and prepare answers for them. This will make you less likely to be caught off guard.
**Admit When You Don’t Know**: If you’re asked something you don’t know, it’s perfectly okay to admit it. It’s better to admit your lack of knowledge than to try and bluff your way through a response.
**Think Before You Speak**: Take a moment to think about your response before you start speaking. It’s better to have a thoughtful pause than to regret saying something hastily
**Have a Positive Attitude**: Approach the interview with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. This will make you more likable to the audience.
**Take Care of Your Voice**: Drink water before and during the interview to keep your throat lubricated. Avoid dairy products or anything that might make you feel phlegmy.
Remember, practice makes perfect. The more on-camera interviews you do, the more comfortable you’ll become.
