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What your Zoom Background Says About You
How to look ‘Premium’ on video sales calls
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Good Morning. AT&T kicked off their return-to-office mandate this week, but things got a bit awkward when employees didn’t have enough desks and found motivational signs next to the elevator saying, "There's no elevator to the top of the corporate ladder". I’d like to meet the manager who thought that motivational sign would be a hit. If that’s you and you’re reading this, please reach out. 🤣
Look ‘premium’ on sales calls ✍️
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Look ‘Premium’ on Video Sales Calls
Imagine walking into Walmart and seeing a Louis Vuitton bag sitting on the shelf for $5,000.
It wouldn’t sell.
Louis Vuitton is a premium product, but Walmart isn’t a ‘premium’ place to shop.
Last week Manny Medina, Outreach.io's founder, dropped a truth bomb on LinkedIn that every sales rep should hear: Your environment speaks louder than your pitch.
Your first impression matters, and the way that you come across to clients affects their buying decisions.
And with 1 in 5 workers being remote these days, the way we come across on a video call is more important than ever.
So we put together the 4 things you should be thinking about to come across as ‘premium’ on a video call.
1. The Background: Your Business Canvas
Your Zoom background says a lot about you. And we’ve got science to prove it.
A study at Durham University asked 167 adults how they perceived people with different zoom backgrounds.
The study found:
Houseplants and bookcases in the background = most trustworthy and competent.
A living space or poster in the background = incompetent and un-trustworthy.
When you’re getting ready to sell an expensive product through a video call, the last thing you want your prospect to think is that you’re incompetent and untrustworthy.
Or non-premium, as Manny highlighted.
2. Clothing: Your Professional Brand
Even on video, the clothes you wear matter.
What you wear is a part of your brand. So if you want to be seen as a professional or premium, you’ve gotta dress like it.
As mentioned in our previous newsletter on clothing in sales, a Quantified Communications study found:
If you want to be seen as an expert, your best bet is to dress business formal.
But if you want to be seen as trustworthy, your best bet is business casual.
3. Audio & Video: The Technical Part
It's 2025, and the debate of camera on or off is over.
Your camera should always be on, even if your prospect's isn't. Showing your face builds trust, and shows you're a real person, fully focused on the meeting.
To go above and beyond, a nice camera and mic can shout ‘premium’ to the person on the other side.
For a good mic & headset combo, check out the Jabra Evolve 65 headset for a premium option or the Logitech H390 headset for a budget-friendly option.
If you want the full professional podcaster-looking mic, check out the Shure MV7+.
4. Conversation: Strategic Sharing
It turns out, sharing too much isn’t a good thing. As made apparent in Manny’s post about the sales rep who overshared about her small apartment and roommates.
If the small talk doesn't add value to the conversation or help build rapport with your client, it's probably oversharing.
Safe to talk about: Professional experience, where you're from, hobbies, sports, etc.
Probably avoid: Personal drama, opinions, living situations, etc.
Every interaction is a part of your brand, and you have the power to control it.
Have you put a lot of thought into your zoom background & setup? |
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