Are you about to start your first Udemy course and want to know if you have to show your face? Maybe you are teaching your first course on Udemy and want to know if you have to show your face. Or are you curious and want to know more?
Whatever your question might be, we are here with the answers for you! Finding out if you need to show your face or not on Udemy can be tricky. You want your online courses to be considered reliable and trustworthy, but you aren’t sure if showing your face is the right way to do that.
You head online for some guidance but are met with conflicting information that leaves you unsure who to trust or where to turn. Frustrated, you wonder if you will ever know the answer. Well, no more! Today we are here with the answers you need.
Keep reading to find out if you have to show your face on Udemy (as a student and teacher) and everything else you need to know.
Do You Have To Show Your Face On Udemy?
Let’s dive straight into it! There is no requirement from Udemy that you have to show your face as a student or teacher of any course.
This is welcome news to all the shy people out there that don’t fancy talking to a camera for hours on end or having other people see them.
However, as a teacher, it might be worth showing your face. Allowing your students to see you can increase your reliability and help attract more students to your course! We have more on this below so be sure to keep reading!
For now, let’s dive a little deeper and look at whether students or teachers have to show their faces on Udemy or not!
Showing Your Face On Udemy As A Student
As a student, no, you do not need to show your face in Udemy classes. None of the Udemy courses or video classes you attend will be live, so there is no need for you to show your face!
You will never be asked to turn your cameras on or move into small breakout rooms to discuss the topic or elements of the course. This is a welcome relief for any shy or introverted students that don’t enjoy the interactive elements of some courses like art courses.
With Udemy, you can learn at your own pace, and there is no need to worry about live sessions or discussions! All the sessions are pre-recorded, so there is no chance of any sneaky group work or discussions!
For those that do want to chat with others taking the course, you can take advantage of the forums available. Here you can discuss the course content with other students and the course instructor if you wish.
It is a good chance to see other opinions about the course content and brainstorm ideas, although it is entirely optional! There is also a direct messaging feature that allows you to contact the instructor directly if you wish.
This is a good way to raise any queries with them directly and engage in conversation with them. Again, this is optional too! You also don’t need to create a profile picture, so there is no need to show your face on Udemy if you don’t want to!
Showing Your Face On Udemy As A Teacher
For teachers or course instructors, there is no requirement to show your face. Your videos can be a voice-over of you explaining the content if you wish. However, it is recommended that you do show your face.
Udemy courses are very visual, thanks to their video format, and students will; want to see their teacher’s face. Doing so can help your students build a better relationship with you.
When you can see the face of someone talking to or teaching you, it helps you build a deeper level of trust. Would you believe a faceless voice on the internet?
Showing your face even briefly helps your students to connect with you and the material at a deeper level. Plus, it can help them respond to the online course better, leave a positive review, and encourage others to take the course!
Udemy claims that multiple courses that feature a person’s face do better than those without in terms of engagement and sales. So why not try a brief introduction or outro using your face and see how it feels?
Remember, you don’t need to do anything you feel uncomfortable doing, after all, showing your face isn’t essential!
How Should I Show My Face On Udemy?
Before we wrap up for the day, let’s quickly consider all the ways you could show your face on Udemy. You don’t need to follow all of these, but if you are looking for some inspiration, you can expect to find it here! Check out our list of ideas below:
- Include a profile picture showing your face.
- Start your videos by showing your face. Make your introduction 30 seconds to 1 minute where you introduce the class by talking to the camera.
- Where you don’t have information on the screen, show your face. This can break up content-heavy videos and allows your students to reconnect with you.
- Split the screen or include a small box with your face as you speak through the content (like you would on Zoom). This gives the students something else to look at if they find reading from a screen challenging.
- Finish each class with an outro where you show your face. This can include wrapping up the content, setting any self-directed study tasks, or simply saying goodbye.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! Although you don’t have to show your face on Udemy, we recommend that you briefly show your face during your classes. This will help your students connect with you and the course material better, and it makes your classes seem more trustworthy and reliable!
