5 Steps to Building Your Instagram Without Getting Behind the Camera
Ok, I can do this.
My makeup is on, my shirt is cute, and everything I want to say is written down in front of me. All I have to do is press record.
But what if the makeup makes it look like I’m trying too hard? Maybe I should take it off…
Well no, I have to look professional. Wait, what if reading off my phone makes me sound too scripted?
Maybe I should just do this tomorrow…
(We all know I’m not going to do it tomorrow)
In fact, I’d be perfectly happy never posting a reel while I awkwardly talk to the camera for the rest of eternity.
Because if you’re anything like me, recording yourself sucks. It feels unnatural, you convince yourself you look stupid and that you’ll never be able to run a successful business. All those Instagram influencers will take the spotlight and you’ll be left in the dust.
But, lo and behold, I’m still here, not covered in dust.
In fact, I haven’t had an awkward moment of face recording in weeks. Dare I say, posting on my business Instagram is kind of fun now.
And even though I’m not dancing on screen or doing any of the other face-filming trends, the algorithm isn’t shoving me aside. I’m gaining followers, and I’m still left with plenty of time to do the other kinds of marketing that I actually enjoy doing.
So, what replaced my hours of filming anxiety with results that didn’t leave me in last place?
I started showing up how I wanted to show up.
No face. Just relevant, original, helpful content for my followers (which I mainly pull from my blog because, well, writing is my thing).
But before I can give tips about how to post without using your face, we need to understand why influencers post so many videos of themselves in the first place so we can modify their strategy and make it more introvert-appropriate.
Why is posting videos of yourself so effective?
It shows you’re a real person (and boosts credibility)
If you run your own business, people want to make sure you’re a real, semi normal human. Especially if they’re interested in working with you, it’s nice to know who they’ll be talking to in the first place.
You can show off your personality (and foster relationships)
Having a clear business personality (aka brand) helps people get familiar with your business and build trust over time. Showing who you are and what makes you different helps build a human connection, and that's a really effective marketing strategy. Recording yourself is one easy way to accomplish that.
It catches attention (and doesn’t feel like work)
You know how when you’re scrolling and you come across someone doing something weird on camera, and you can’t help but watch? That’s their goal. Putting yourself out there is an easy way to get people to view your content, which is the first step in moving them towards a sale.
But luckily for us, publicizing your face isn’t the only way to build credibility, show off your personality, or catch someone’s attention.
So, how can you gain traction without talking straight to the camera?
5 methods to make Instagram work for you, no selfies required.
Voiceovers
Posting a video of something other than your face but with your voice in the background is a less stressful way to add some personality to your feed. You can film something you’re working on, your office, or anything relevant to what you’re talking about.
Pro tip: add captions to your video so people can tell what you’re saying even if they don’t have their sound turned on
Eye-catching captions
Sure, seeing someone dancing on camera catches attention, but if you know how to write a catchy hook in your caption or on an image, you can just as easily get someone to notice you (and provide a lot more value).
This topic could be a whole blog post in itself, but one of the easiest things you can try is to ask a question in the first line of your caption. If I were to make this blog an Instagram post I might start with “Do you hate taking videos of yourself?” to get people reading who could benefit from my tips.
Behind the scenes
Instead of talking directly to the camera, you can film yourself working, or helping a client, or even film your steaming coffee while you’re on your laptop. That way people can learn more about how you work and start connecting with you.
For example, dog trainers might film a session with a client (with permission of course) and post that. Or photographers might film their back or side profile while they catch a shot. That way your mind is on work and not public speaking.
Personality-packed writing
Your captions have the power to show off your personality just as much as a video does. You can make them funny, serious, enthusiastic, or matter-of-fact. Think about your favorite blogger—you probably feel like you know them on some level even if you’ve never seen their face.
If you enjoy connecting with your followers through writing, you can also direct them to your newsletter or blog so they can engage with you more, and you can focus on Instagram less!
Encouraging engagement
One of the best ways to build relationships is to interact with people, and you definitely don’t have to show your face to do that. Ask people to comment, answer polls, ask questions, or head to your website in your posts to get them interacting with you and your business.
You can also engage with other accounts by commenting on their posts to start conversations. Human connection is the goal, and there are a ton of people out there who prefer to do that through writing than by face to face talking.
Instagram is a great marketing tool, but not when you look like you’re forcing yourself to do something that makes you uncomfortable.
I will say, it can be great to push yourself and put yourself out there when you post on Instagram so people can start to connect with you. You don’t have to talk directly to the camera to accomplish that, but, maybe it’s worth a try?
I like to experiment with videoing myself now that I have the comfort of knowing I don’t have to show my face. But again, I definitely understand that it’s not for everyone, and your business will do just fine if you decide to stick with other forms of content.
As long as you manage to grab attention and form connections with your audience, Instagram can be an amazing tool to help you get more clients. No makeup required :)
