{"id":1165,"date":"2020-04-24T16:07:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T16:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webinarninja.com\/?p=1165"},"modified":"2025-10-07T08:24:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T08:24:42","slug":"webinar-background-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webinarninja.com\/blog\/webinar-background-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Webinar Background Ideas: Create Professional, Branded Experiences That Wow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve all seen one: a not-exactly-professional scene in the background of a webinar or online meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s the stuff of classic memes or just a little too \u201chome\u201d and not enough \u201cwork,\u201d the awkward online background is becoming a COVID-era staple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We understand that a lot of people are new to the whole remote life. Many are suddenly working from home, in spaces that don\u2019t normally provide the best work environment, let alone the best webinar background. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this guide isn\u2019t about screaming kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is about setting the \u201cstage\u201d so that your webinar background doesn\u2019t hurt your credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve discussed how the best way to present yourself on a webinar is with a balanced combination of relatability and professionalism. The same principle applies to what\u2019s going on behind you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, your background is just as important as your person in terms of what it says about you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as you wouldn\u2019t show up to your webinar in your pj\u2019s (unless you\u2019re selling pj\u2019s, of course) or in black-tie formal wear (unless you\u2019re selling 007 cosplay gear), your background should strike a balance between authentic and responsible, approachable and professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ratio will depend on your specific brand and business, but you need both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t require remodeling your house or any fancy digital effects. It simply requires a little thought, creativity, and, at most a small investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Off-Camera Tips for Improving Your Webinar Background<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you decide what to put in the frame, set yourself up to win by nailing what\u2019s out of frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first consideration is your desk placement. Whether you\u2019re sitting or standing, the surface your computer and webcam are on has to be in the right place within the space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since this is the biggest home-office problem to solve, logistically speaking, start there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve written about the crucial importance of defining your workspace, so choose a space you have some measure of control over. In other words, don\u2019t use a shared or multi-purpose space like the table where you and your family eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One classic mistake<\/strong>: many people naturally put their desks against a wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normally, that makes sense. It saves space, limits distractions while you\u2019re working, etc. But if you\u2019re on camera, putting your desk against the wall leaves you with the biggest possible background. You have to \u201cstage manage\u201d the whole room when the whole room is behind you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So flip the script; have your desk face into the room, with your back to the wall. Only leave enough space to comfortably get in and out from behind your desk. Now, you only have to stage manage a little section of the room \u2014 much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a little added depth, you can also use a corner rather than a single wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nail the lighting<\/strong>. Ask anyone with a photography background, and they\u2019ll tell you that light has a bigger impact on how you look on camera than\u2026anything, really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, you don\u2019t have to become an expert in photography, but you do have to find the right lighting setup for you and your space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s an option, you can\u2019t beat the sun. If you can face a window, nature\u2019s stage light is the most flattering for our faces and our spaces. But weather happens, as does night, so you\u2019ll probably need to rig something man-made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two key principles to follow here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Keep the light in front of you<\/strong>. This might sound obvious, but I\u2019ve seen backlit presenters silhouetted like anonymous witnesses on Unsolved Mysteries<\/em>. Even an imbalance of competing light sources can unexpectedly create this effect; if even a small amount of light is coming from the space behind you, the light in front of you has to be increased to avoid the Witness Protection Program look. \u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The light should shine down on you, not up<\/strong>. There\u2019s a reason people tell campfire stories with a flashlight under their faces; it\u2019s inherently uncomfortable to look at. We look our best when the light comes from above, which is presumably why they mounted the sun up there.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Generally, a common floor lamp placed somewhere in front of your space will do the trick. But to fine-tune your appearance for maximum effect, consider getting a ring light. They\u2019re inexpensive and, more importantly, adjustable. By playing around with the settings, you can find your personal lighting sweet spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Nail the framing<\/strong>. If you\u2019ve ever FaceTimed with the grandparents, you\u2019ve seen up enough nostrils to know how important this is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ideally, there should be room in the shot for your shoulders and chest, plus a bit of space above your head. If not, you\u2019re too close, with not much background to speak of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Likewise, don\u2019t be too far. If there\u2019s too much background and not enough you, the intimacy is lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And just like the light source, your camera should point slightly downward at you, never upward. If you\u2019re not convinced, hold your phone at chest level, open your camera app, and put it in selfie mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now pick up the shattered pieces of your self-confidence and make sure your webcam is mounted just a little higher than eye level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, the most important thing off-camera is\u2026your camera! We recommend going beyond the camera your computer came with and springing for a Logitech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>On-Camera Tips for the Best Webinar Background<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    So, with everything around your \u201cstage\u201d in place, what should you actually put on camera besides your adorable self?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Naturally, it depends largely on your brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re a life coach, your background may skew towards the soothing: items like plants and nature scene artwork, as opposed to businessy things like clocks and binder-filled shelves. If you\u2019re a financial advisor or you\u2019re teaching software, it might be the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s all about what you want to signal to your audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But whatever you\u2019re selling, your background must do two things: align with your brand and not steal attention from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Brand alignment:<\/strong> Think back to the relatability\/professionalism balance. Regardless of the business, if your background looks too much like an office, it will have the same effect as wearing a tie on a webinar \u2014 ostensibly professional, but potentially stiff and off-putting because\u2026well, because who wears a tie at home, besides Downton Abbey<\/em> characters? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Even always-suited up pro news anchor Chris Cuomo switched to casual wear when COVID-19 forced him to report from home, for example: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"camera<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Cuomo\u2019s background? Clearly a living space in the basement of his home. Is it a cynical attempt to be more relatable? Maybe. But if so\u2026it\u2019s working. Take note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Likewise, if your background is a little too cute, a little too full of overly personal items, it\u2019s the stage-setting equivalent of wearing a stained hoodie, even if you\u2019re a fitness coach who normally works in sweats. If I can see a family photo, fine. But if I can see a bed, or laundry, or dishes, I\u2019m not sure I can trust your advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The trick is to choose a few credibility-signaling background items that a person with your expertise would plausibly have on hand, and integrate them into a neutral space. If you\u2019re a fitness brand, go ahead and leave that kettlebell in the shot. A productivity expert? Clocks and calendars make sense. You get the idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And for every industry, attractive hardcovers on the topic in question are never a bad thing to have lining the shelf behind you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since e-reading and audiobooks became a thing, ownership of physical books says more than it used to. Real books imply not only knowledge but demonstrate enough passion in the subject for you to have invested in something tree-based. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Non-distraction:<\/strong> Anything that steals attention from you hurts your webinar objectives (e.g. sales). That\u2019s why the central principle of WebinarNinja is a focus on user-friendliness; screwing around with software takes away from your message. Having too much going on in your background does exactly the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s not to say you should strive for boring. You don\u2019t have to be John Oliver, broadcasting from his \u201cwhite void:\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"focus<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    But think about that for a second; with millions of dollars in HBO money at his disposal, Oliver\u2019s home office background is literally nothing. That\u2019s because his job is to explore complex topics, and every bit of distraction hurts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is why digital backgrounds, as fun as they are, are a gimmick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, it\u2019s hilarious when your uncle in Wisconsin pops on a Hawaiian shirt and puts the beach behind him during Virtual Family Cocktail Hour. But just like Uncle Hank\u2019s fourth homemade appletini, a digital background can be a bit much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Unless you\u2019re a meteorologist, there\u2019s really nothing a digital background can do, besides compete against you for the audience\u2019s attention. Keep it simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>No Good Background? Create One<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s say you\u2019re like Conor from WebinarNinja\u2019s marketing team. Like so many of us, he rents his home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He lives in New Jersey, but his landlord has a bit of a fetish for Key West. The entire house is painted in the vibrant, screeching colors that characterize the South Florida lifestyle. Even if Conor takes the random nautical wall hangings down and parks himself in front of a blank wall, that blank wall will still be the color of a Miami Vice<\/em> soundstage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The point is that we don\u2019t all have a good spot in our homes. Fortunately, there\u2019s an easy solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For $10-$20 on Amazon, you can buy simple backdrops that photographers use for pleasant, neutral backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many are available in interesting, but not distracting, textures like wood and brick. If you can rig them to hang from a curtain rod, you don\u2019t even have to spring for the portable rack photographers typically use (though you can score one of those for under $50). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>Easy, Inexpensive DIY Webinar Background Formula<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We get it: you\u2019re busy, you\u2019re trying to run a business, and you\u2019re not keen to set aside too much time to consider what kind of houseplant best reflects your brand. If you\u2019re just getting started and you want a quick and easy setup, do this formula: wall + books + art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n