Even if you don’t work remotely, it’s likely that you’ll have a virtual meeting with someone else who isn’t in your office. Videoconferencing has transformed work. But even though you can work from anywhere, you may not want the other person to get distracted by your workspace. With a custom Zoom background, you can present yourself professionally from any location. Here are some tips on choosing the best background for your virtual meeting.

Choose Colors Well

To appear more professional on Zoom, use neutral backgrounds so that you don’t distract the audience. Bold colors may feel like a better option, but it can have a negative effect. A yellow background can make you appear washed out. Don’t forget to think about what you are wearing. Your clothes shouldn’t be the same shading as your background. A few well-placed props can make your background feel more office-like, but don’t overdo it.

Customize Your Own

Create your own virtual office backgrounds for your team to present a unified image throughout your office. A custom background won’t be so generic and will give your team an edge when meeting with people outside your office. You can present your brand whether you’re in the office or not on your Zoom meeting. It’s a great way to connect with an audience and to polish your image.

Show Off Your Logo

The best Microsoft Teams backgrounds let you present your brand to your audience. You can include your logo in your background to keep your brand front and center. Working remotely won’t be an issue when your audience doesn’t even realize you aren’t in your office with a Zoom background that diminishes distractions and presents a professional image.

Watch Your Lighting

While you want a fairly bright space, you do need to pay attention to your lighting to present your best on screen. Soft lighting that illuminates you from the front is preferred. If you sit next to a window or have side lighting, it can make the lighting uneven. Face the window and add lighting if you feel like you need to. Practice with lighting by Zooming with a friend so you can see the difference.

Check Your Camera Angle

The right background can help you present a great image, but it can only go so far in making the meeting work well. Practice with video meetings so you can see how you appear to your audience, whether one person or hundreds. Know where to place your camera to get the best look at your face. You don’t want your audience staring up at your ceiling or worse, up your nose. Your camera should be at eye level. This may mean you need to prop it up with a stack of books or a tripod. Also make sure to keep the lines in the background straight. Again, you should practice and see what your audience sees. Understanding how things look on camera can help you make discreet adjustments when you’re in a meeting. Learn to use Zoom backgrounds more effectively in your meetings.