How to Record Your First Business Networking Video (Without Overthinking It)

You’re staring at your phone camera, feeling ridiculous.

Maybe you’ve opened the video app three times already. Hit record, frozen, stopped immediately. Told yourself “I’ll do it later when I’m more prepared.”

Later never comes. Because the fear isn’t about being unprepared it’s about being seen.

Here’s the truth nobody tells you about first videos: They’re supposed to feel awkward. Everyone’s first video feels uncomfortable. The difference between people who build trusted networks through video and people who stay stuck posting in text-only groups? The video networkers hit record anyway.

You need three things: your phone, decent lighting, and 60 seconds. That’s it.

Here’s exactly how to record your first business networking video in the next 10 minutes.

Equipment Checklist (You Already Have Everything)

Stop waiting for perfect equipment. You don’t need a fancy setup to record effective networking videos.

Camera: Your Smartphone Is Perfect

That phone in your pocket shoots better video than professional cameras from 10 years ago. iPhone, Android, doesn’t matter both work beautifully.

Don’t have the newest model? Doesn’t matter. A 3-year-old smartphone shoots perfectly acceptable video for business networking.

Microphone: Built-In Works Fine

Your phone’s built-in microphone is sufficient as long as you’re not in a noisy environment.

What works:

• Home office with door closed
• Quiet corner of your workspace
• Parked car (surprisingly good acoustics)
• Empty conference room

What doesn’t work:

• Coffee shops (too much background noise)
• Open office with conversations nearby
• Next to HVAC vents or fans

Test this: Record 10 seconds, play it back. Can you hear yourself clearly without straining? You’re good.

Lighting: Window Light Beats Expensive Equipment

Natural light from a window creates better video than most ring lights.

The simple setup:

• Face a window (not your back to it)
• Cloudy day? Even better (soft, flattering light)
• Sunny day? Stand a few feet back from window (avoid harsh shadows)
• No windows? Overhead room light works (just avoid shadows on your face)

Don’t overthink this. If you can see your face clearly on your phone screen, your lighting is fine.

Background: Clean and Simple

Your background should be boring in a good way.

Good backgrounds:

• Blank wall (white, beige, light gray)
• Tidy bookshelf
• Home office with minimal clutter
• Plants or simple decor

Backgrounds to avoid:

• Unmade bed visible behind you
• Messy piles of stuff
• Distracting posters or busy wallpaper
• Harsh backlighting from windows

Scan your space. What’s behind you when you sit at your desk? That’s probably fine.

Optional: Phone Stand

Propping your phone against a stack of books works perfectly. If you want something more stable, a $15 phone tripod from Amazon solves it.

You don’t need this to start. But if you’re recording weekly videos, it’s a nice upgrade.

Sarah Martinez

Marketing Consultant

Martinez Marketing Solutions

Vancouver, BC

"I kept waiting to buy a ring light and microphone before recording my first video. Then someone told me: 'Your phone is better equipment than what people used to film TV shows 20 years ago.' I sat by my living room window, propped my phone against a coffee mug, and hit record. Took 4 minutes. The video looked fine. I'd wasted two weeks waiting for 'perfect' equipment I didn't need."

Fictional character for illustrative purposes

“Your phone is enough. The window is enough. You are enough. Stop waiting for better equipment and start building relationships.”

The 60-Second Video Formula

Here’s the exact structure that works for networking videos. Follow this, and you’ll never stare at the camera wondering what to say.

0-10 Seconds: Greeting + Introduction

Start simple. State your name and what you do.

Examples:

• “Hi, I’m Sarah Martinez. I help small businesses with their marketing strategy.”
• “Hey everyone, Tom Marino here. I’m a CPA specializing in small business taxes.”
• “Hello! I’m Linda Morales, mortgage broker in Richmond.”

Notice what’s NOT here: fancy taglines, company slogans, elevator pitches. Just your name and what you do in plain language.

10-40 Seconds: This Week’s Update

Share something real. Not a polished highlight reel an actual update.

What to talk about:

• Client win this week (without names): “Helped a client increase their email open rates by 40%”
• Challenge you’re working through: “Figuring out how to scale my onboarding process”
• Industry insight: “Noticed a trend more clients asking about tax planning earlier in the year”
• Personal milestone: “Just hit 5 years in business this month”

This is where personality comes through. Don’t script every word speak conversationally like you’re updating a colleague.

40-55 Seconds: What You’re Looking For

Be specific about what would help you right now.

Examples:

• “I’m looking to connect with commercial real estate brokers I have several business clients expanding offices.”
• “If you know anyone struggling with their tax strategy, I’d love an introduction.”
• “Looking for referrals to reliable plumbers my contractor clients keep asking.”

Notice these aren’t vague “let me know if you need marketing” statements. They’re specific requests that make it easy for others to help.

55-60 Seconds: Sign-Off

Wrap it up warmly.

Simple sign-offs:

• “Looking forward to connecting with you all this week!”
• “Thanks for watching talk soon!”
• “Have a great week, everyone!”

That’s it. 60 seconds. Name, update, ask, goodbye.

Technical Setup (Takes 5 Minutes)

Step 1: Position Your Phone at Eye Level

Don’t hold your phone. Don’t look down at it on your desk.

Eye level means the camera is aligned with your eyes when you’re sitting or standing naturally.

How to achieve this:

• Stack books to desired height
• Lean phone against the stack
• Adjust until camera is at your eye level

Why this matters: Looking down at camera makes you appear less confident. Eye level creates natural, engaging eye contact.

Step 2: Frame Yourself Properly

Open your camera app. What do you see?

Good framing:

• Your head and shoulders visible
• Small amount of space above your head (not cutting off top)
• You fill about 2/3 of the frame (not tiny in the distance)

Too close: Just your face filling the entire screen (feels claustrophobic)
Too far: You’re a small figure with tons of empty space (feels distant)

Aim for “video call distance” the same framing you’d use for a Zoom meeting.

Step 3: Check Your Lighting

Look at your face on the screen. Can you see your eyes clearly? Is your face well-lit?

If your face looks dark:

• Move closer to window
• Turn on overhead lights
• Face the window directly

If you have harsh shadows:

• Move slightly away from direct sunlight
• Use sheer curtains to diffuse bright light
• Shoot on cloudy day (soft, even light)

The goal: your face should be clearly visible without harsh shadows or backlighting.

Step 4: Test Your Audio

Hit record for 10 seconds. Say something. Play it back.

Can you hear yourself clearly? Is the volume consistent?

If audio sounds muffled or distant:

• Move closer to phone (but keep good framing)
• Close door to reduce echo
• Avoid rooms with hard surfaces (tile, concrete)

If you can hear yourself speaking clearly at normal volume, you’re good.

Step 5: Background Check

What’s visible behind you?

Do a quick scan:

• Any clutter you should move?
• Anything embarrassing in frame?
• Is the background distracting?

You don’t need a perfect Instagram-worthy background. Just make sure there’s nothing actively pulling attention away from you.

“Perfect setup doesn’t exist. Good enough setup takes 5 minutes. Ship the video.”

Recording Tips That Actually Matter

Take 2-3 Attempts (Not 20)

Your first take is practice. Your second take is usually better. Your third take? That’s the one you use.

Don’t record 20 versions trying to get it “perfect.” You’ll overthink it, sound robotic, and exhaust yourself.

Two or three takes. Pick the best one. Move on.

Don’t Script Every Word

Bullet points work. Full scripts sound wooden and unnatural.

Instead of writing: “Hello, my name is Sarah Martinez and I am a marketing consultant with 15 years of experience helping small businesses grow their customer base through strategic digital marketing initiatives.”

Write bullet points:

• Name: Sarah Martinez
• What I do: Marketing for small businesses
• This week: Helped client improve email open rates
• Looking for: Referrals to businesses struggling with marketing

Then speak those points naturally. You’ll sound like a human, not a press release.

Smile (Even If It Feels Forced)

Smiling makes your voice warmer. It changes your tone in ways you can hear even if people can’t see your face.

And when people CAN see your face (which they can, because video), a genuine smile is the fastest way to appear approachable and trustworthy.

You don’t need to grin like a game show host. Just a natural, friendly expression.

Look at the Camera (Not at Yourself)

This is hard. You’ll want to watch yourself on screen while recording.

Don’t. Look at the camera lens.

Why? Because when viewers watch your video, it feels like you’re making eye contact with them not staring at your own image.

If you struggle with this: Put a small sticky note next to your camera lens. Focus on the note while recording.

Speak Conversationally

Imagine you’re talking to one person not presenting to a crowd.

Sounds like a presentation: “Today I would like to discuss the importance of effective networking strategies and how leveraging video-based communication can optimize professional relationship development.”

Sounds like a conversation: “I’ve been thinking about why video networking works better than email. Here’s what I’ve noticed…”

Talk to one person. Use normal words. Speak at your regular pace.

Linda Morales

Mortgage Broker

Morales Home Loans

Richmond, BC

"My first video was terrible. I said 'um' seventeen times. Almost deleted it. But then I thought would I judge someone else for this? No. So I posted it. Nobody mentioned the 'ums.' Got three comments on the content. One referral two days later."

Fictional character for illustrative purposes

Linda Morales, Richmond-based mortgage broker (fictional character for illustration):

“My first video was terrible. I said ‘um’ seventeen times I counted when I watched it back. I almost deleted it and started over. But then I thought: would I judge someone else for saying ‘um’ a few times? No. I’d just appreciate that they shared an update. So I posted it. Nobody mentioned the ‘ums.’ Three people commented on the actual content. One sent me a referral two days later. Perfect videos don’t build relationships. Real videos do.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Scripting Every Single Word

We covered this, but it’s worth repeating: full scripts make you sound like a robot reading a press release.

Bullet points. Conversational delivery. You’ll sound like yourself.

Apologizing for Your Video

Never start with:

• “Sorry, this is my first video…”
• “I know I’m not good at this yet…”
• “Please forgive the quality…”

Nobody was thinking about your video quality until you pointed it out. Just start. Introduce yourself. Share your update.

Confidence doesn’t mean perfect. Confidence means not apologizing for being human.

Overthinking Before You Start

The more you think about recording, the harder it gets.

You’ll invent problems that don’t exist:

• “My voice sounds weird” (it doesn’t you’re just not used to hearing it)
• “My background isn’t professional enough” (it’s fine)
• “I don’t know what to say” (use the 60-second formula above)

Thinking time doesn’t improve your video. Doing reps improves your video.

Record three attempts. Pick the best one. Post it. Do it again next week.

That’s how you get comfortable.

“Done beats perfect. Shipped beats polished. Real beats scripted. Your second video will be better than your first. But only if you actually record the first one.”

Ready to Record Your First Video Today?

We built Rhythm of Business because we were tired of networking that felt like performing. Tired of polished LinkedIn posts and carefully curated Instagram stories that never led to actual relationships.

We understand what it feels like to stare at a camera and feel ridiculous. To worry about saying “um” too many times or not sounding professional enough.

Here’s what we learned: Perfect videos don’t build trust. Consistent, real videos build trust.

So we created a different approach:

The Problem We Solve:

• First videos feel intimidating (fear of judgment, perfectionism, tech overwhelm)
• Text-only networking lacks the human connection video creates
• Traditional networking requires polished live performance (exhausting for introverts and overthinkers)

Our Solution (The Plan):

Step 1: Record Your First Video Using This Guide

• Use your phone, window light, and the 60-second formula above
• No fancy equipment needed just you and 5 minutes
• Focus on authentic connection, not perfect production

Step 2: Join a Small Video Networking Group

• 8-10 local business owners (not hundreds of strangers)
• One industry per local area (protected territory)
• Share weekly videos on your schedule (not mandatory live meetings)

Step 3: Build Real Relationships Through Consistent Showing Up

• Watch your groupmates’ videos each week
• Respond personally (not generic comments)
• Give referrals when you can, receive them when you need them

No pressure to be perfect. No fear of live performance. No competing for attention in massive groups.

Just real people building real relationships one 60-second video at a time.

Related Reading

• Why Authenticity Beats Polish in Business Videos
• Why Business Owners Who Share Struggles Get More Referrals
• Why Video Networking Beats Facebook Groups and WhatsApp Chats