Camera
Position your webcam at eye level — not below (nostril cam) or above (looking down). An external webcam on top of your monitor is ideal. A laptop camera is fine if you elevate the laptop to eye level. 1080p minimum, 4K if you want to stand out.
Lighting
The #1 factor in video quality is lighting, not camera resolution. Face a window for natural light (best and free). If no window, place a key light at 45° to your face. A ring light directly behind your camera works too. Never sit with a window behind you — you'll be a silhouette. A monitor light bar (BenQ ScreenBar) adds indirect fill light cheaply.
Background
Clean, uncluttered background. A bookshelf, plant, or simple wall works. Avoid virtual backgrounds — they look unprofessional and glitch with movement. If your space is messy, blur your background instead of using a virtual one.
Audio
Audio quality matters more than video on calls. A dedicated USB microphone (Blue Yeti, Elgato Wave:3) sounds dramatically better than laptop or headset mics. If you prefer headphones, noise-canceling with a decent built-in mic (Sony XM5, Bose QC Ultra) works well. Test your audio before important calls.