in the
All of this means that both the presenter and the slides must work much harder if they’re to keep audiences engaged, and that means the content you have for your face-to-face audiences has to change if it’s to be effective in an online setting.
In a sense all presentations can be thought of as the struggle of compelling content against distraction. Take a presentation online and it’s both harder to make the content compelling – because the presenter and slides aren’t in the room but just showing on a small screen – and harder to avoid distraction – because the audience are much freer to go off and do other things. So all we need to do is eliminate distraction and make our content compelling!
Your audience is in high demand: there are people wanting urgent responses to emails, friends trying to decide where to go for pizza that evening, the dog chewing the blinds – again. That means you, as a presenter, need to be on your a-game if you’re going to capture and hold the attention of your audience for the duration of your online session. For that you need a great set-up so you can present confidently without fear of interruption, but also so that your audience doesn’t have to work too hard to hear you or see you, and so that they can’t get distracted by trying to figure out what laundry you have hanging up behind you.
We all remember the viral clip of Professor Robert Kelly being interrupted by his delightful children . Whether you’re presenting from a home office or from the office, ensuring you have the right set-up to host and attend meetings is a must. It’s not just about locking the door and throwing a smart jumper over your pyjamas, your online meeting set-up needs a little more thought. Here are some of the main things you should consider:
There are lots of online meeting platforms out there. Different platforms suit different organisations, but if you’re in a hurry to find the right one for you, we have a handy comparison table on page 6 of our report that you can use to review your options. It’s worth noting that Microsoft Teams is making a big push to help with slower connections (although it may not be a problem in a corporate office setting) by allowing you to share a PowerPoint file directly from OneDrive or SharePoint. That reduces the bandwidth requirements compared to full screensharing, which makes things much clearer and smoother for your audience.
The other side to running successful online sessions is to create compelling content. Even if the presenter is doing all they can to engage their audience, it still won’t be enough if their slides are a bit boring and plain. This means your slides need to be designed well and be animated.
When it comes to design as a starting point, it’s easy enough to work out what we shouldn’t do: dull text-heavy slides that stay on screen for minutes at a time with nothing moving or changing. All you need is a monotonous voice in the background, and you’ve got a first-class remedy for insomnia. But, when you open PowerPoint and see the ‘click to add text’ prompt tempting you into a deep mire of PowerPoint hell, it can be really difficult to know what to do instead.
We have a wealth of presentation inspiration for everyone, from the entry levellers dipping their toes into PowerPoint, to those with real design know-how looking to get the golden ratio involved.
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Presentation slides should always be visual, otherwise you just have a presenter giving a speech with a rubbish backdrop. But even if you have beautiful slides, if they aren’t dynamic, don’t have movement then you’re still asking your presenter (remember, the tiny person in the small window in the corner of a screen) to carry the energy of your session alone. If something is changing frequently on screen, audiences are likely to keep paying attention. Leave things static for too long and they’ll drift off. We think every 20 seconds is about the right frequency for something to change on screen, certainly no more than 30 seconds. These changes could be a major build, or a new slide. It seems like a lot of animation, but it really doesn’t feel like it for the audience. If animation seems scary, or worse cheesy, try to put those preconceptions aside. Animation doesn’t need to be a mystery and your audiences will be endlessly grateful that you put in the time to figure it out. We’ve got some great tips and hacks you can learn in a matter of minutes that will transform your static slides into dynamic content with just a few clicks!
Presentation animation resources
How to be a PowerPoint animation ninja
Stunning presentation transitions using PowerPoint morph
How to take your PowerPoint animation to the next level
With online meetings it’s worth adding a note about webcam etiquette. Throughout this paper, we’re assuming you’ll use webcam, but we can be a bit more nuanced than that.
Online presenters need to avoid monotony. We used to think that for some presenters the best way to do that was to work hard to develop and refine a natural-sounding script. If you aren’t using video while you present slides, then there’s no risk of being seen reading. But very few people can deliver even the best script in a convincingly natural way. So, our advice is to:
To break up monotony further, consider playing around with the way you structure your content, and the format you use to present it.
Even with the best presentations, virtual events aren’t the same as their in-person equivalents: sales meetings can, however, come much closer. Online sales meetings can still feel quite intimate, people can jump in when they have a question or comment and, if you’re using webcams, you’ll probably be able to see the other people too.
But you still have to modify your approach…
The problem: in a sales meeting, your prospects are visible on webcam; because they’re observed it makes them less likely to be distracted, but that level of focus required much more energy. If you overwhelm them with too much information at once, they’re going to tune out and disengage from the content, no matter how visual it is.
The solution: Split your whole presentation into 3-4-slide sections and present based on what topics the prospect is most interested in, or where you see you can add most value. This keeps the pace and the energy of the meeting high, and you’re communicating to the prospect that you’re first and foremost concerned with their needs.
You can create a ‘visual conversation’ by presenting sections of slides then exiting the presentation and finding the next relevant section. Or you could create a menu slide and use hyperlinks so you can easily navigate around your presentation without having to exit show mode to find the slides you want.
If you want the low-down on how hyperlinks work, then check out this video tutorial .
Compared to sales meetings, events are much harder to move online without some people feeling they are missing out. This is partly because conferences aren’t just about the presentations and talks. People attend events for swag, networking, and the chance to learn from other delegates.
You also no longer have everyone’s undivided attention. Calendars fill back up again. Out-of-office messages get switched off. So what do you do? Here are three practical ways make your online sessions as effective as possible:
Hybrid events aren’t new, but audience expectations have changed. Typically, people dialling in were somewhat ignored, but what was tolerated then won’t be tolerated now! The way to create compelling content is the same as when you’re presenting remotely: meaningful visuals, animation to impart meaning and keep things moving, interactions to help with pacing. It’s your set-up that needs some serious thought.
That said, how can you improve the hybrid presentation experience?
Make sure your audience can hear and be heard: Sound for hybrid presentations can be tricky because usually room conference phones are not great and having multiple mics open in the room at once can cause feedback. A Bluetooth mic can work well but only if you can manage muting and unmuting the room conference phone and your own mic when your audience want to ask questions. Don’t just assume that people joining remotely can hear – run a soundcheck beforehand.
Make sure your audience can see and be seen : Not only should your audience be able to see you, they should also be able to see other audience members and be seen themselves. With a single display room, use the display to show slides and (in a small view) the online audience. You might need to extend the presenter’s screen. If possible, use a webcam to make those in the room visible to those who aren’t. If you’re using two cameras one should show the presenter and the other show people in the room. Microsoft Teams is really trying to push this, with new views and layouts that allow remote audience members to be on the screen next to the main slides.
Leave the meeting chat on and use it : It’s important that your audience can ask questions and provide feedback. Have someone monitor the chat, field questions for the presenter, respond etc. Only encourage people in the room to join in if it doesn’t distract the presenter.
Consider having multiple presenters : Having one presenter in the room and one remote can ensure you’re not ignoring online audience members. The remote presenter can monitor the chat, respond to some points, advocate for the remote audience and present some of their own content to make it clear that remote participants are equal.
We’ve covered a lot in there, but to summarise, here are some key takeaways to remember:
Principal consultant, related articles, why powerpoint crashes and how to prevent it.
If you use PowerPoint a lot, chances are you’ll have seen your fair share of glitches and malfunctions. And nothing is so frustrating as losing work or precious time to PowerPoint crashes! So, after doing some of my own extensive research, here are the most common reasons why PowerPoint crashes and what you can do about it.
In 2016, we reviewed Visme a piece of online software for content creation. Now that they are coming out of Beta, we thought an updated review was due!
More and more companies are outsourcing tasks they don’t have internal expertise for, but should presentations be on that list? We look at the pros and cons of outsourcing to PowerPoint experts versus using your in-house design agency to create presentations.
Hi Hannah, The article references a comparison table of different online platforms for online meetings but I can’t see it, or a link to it.
Please could you point me towards the table?
Many thanks.
Hi Deanna – you can see the table on page six of this report – https://www.brightcarbon.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Moving-Presentations-Online-3-13.pdf .
I suspect it’s going out of date by the hour, but it gives a good starting point at least.
The text in that graphic of what to consider is too small to read (ironic?) on my 13″ laptop. Is there a larger version you can add that users can click on? Thanks. Connie
Hi Connie – thanks for reading, and for the feedback. That image is now clickable, taking you to a full size version.
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It is, quite simply, the best deck we have. I did a nice presentation with it yesterday and would like to do the same next week... I am sure it will get a lot of use. The visual impact and flow are compelling! Peter Francis Janssen
Written by: John Yarbrough
Virtual presentations are not a new concept, but we’ve never before experienced them as frequently as we are in the current moment.
With improved collaborative solutions and enhanced audio and video quality, virtual meetings are more effective and important than ever, helping millions of remote workers stay productive and connected during the global health crisis.
When you match your message to the medium, master optics and online tools and make room for interactive elements, you can captivate your audience and deliver a compelling, highly engaging presentation in the process.
With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to impact our global population, the vast majority of in-person conferences and live events are on hold for the foreseeable future.
But this doesn’t mean daily operations have stopped altogether; rather, there has been a significant rise in remote work across the country and around the world in these last few months.
In conjunction with more teams working remotely, virtual meetings and presentations are increasingly a part of our daily lives as companies are recognizing the value and increased productivity associated with working in an online space.
In fact, a recent study by Citrix found that nearly 70% of employees believe they work at least the same, or more, hours from home as they do when working from the office.
With more employees working remotely and a larger percentage of time being spent in virtual meetings, the ability to craft and deliver compelling virtual presentations has never been more important.
While many practices are applicable for both in-person and virtual presentations, the best presenters know how to adjust their approach to fit within an online platform.
The most polished virtual presentations capture (and hold) the interest of all attendees, despite the possibility of diminished attention spans, additional distractions and conflicting priorities.
By incorporating these tips into your next meeting, you can anticipate stronger results, as well as greater satisfaction among your team.
Any windows you have open that don’t relate to the presentation should be closed prior to the start of every meeting. Failing to close non-essential tabs and apps or forgetting to mute notifications can disrupt even the most polished presenters.
Additionally, having these windows in view may result in being tempted to complete other work, read headlines or send a quick email while your meeting is still happening.
Remember, your colleagues or clients are likely able to tell when you’re looking at something else, rather than focusing on the topic at hand.
If you do need to pull up an email or similar document as a reference, be sure to communicate that to everyone on the call, so there’s no confusion about whether you’re distracted or actively engaged.
One great way to stay on task throughout your presentation is to take advantage of presentation notes so you always know what to expect next and what your main talking points are.
While video conferencing has become the primary method of online collaboration for millions of remote workers , the most common technical issue that causes virtual presentations to fail remains poor audio quality.
For better or worse, the microphones on our computers and mobile devices tend to pick up a lot of background noise.
That’s why it’s important for listeners to mute their side of the call when they’re not speaking. If you’re leading the presentation, make sure all participants know how to use the mute function before you dig into any meeting details.
Since more and more teams are now working from home or other remote locations, there may be any number of sounds going on behind the scenes.
To avoid unnecessary interruptions and ensure you stick to the schedule, non-speakers should be muted for the duration of the meeting.
You can also include a slide in your virtual presentation asking viewers to mute by creating one using a presentation template like the one below.
If you want to be well-prepared for a virtual presentation , it’s imperative you test out your equipment beforehand – nothing kills a presentation faster than pausing to resolve a technical issue .
Time permitting, a dry run of your presentation may be helpful in avoiding mechanical hiccups, as you can anticipate potential problems and feel more confident using the platform’s features.
In the same way, encourage other participants to test out their own equipment, as well, so they can come to the meeting as prepared as possible.
Whether you’re giving your presentation via Zoom , GoToMeeting or another software, make sure you know where all the controls are, how to share your screen and more.
As a presenter, all eyes will be on you, which means you’ll want to be intentional in how you set up your virtual meeting space.
Make sure to have ample front light (so your face is clearly visible), and a neutral backdrop that won’t take away from your talking points.
The camera should be positioned to frame your face, neck and shoulders; it’s important to be close enough to feel connected to the participants, but not so close your head takes up the entire screen.
If possible, use a standing desk or set your computer where it can meet you at eye level. Standing up during a meeting boosts your energy and gives your posture a more professional look, a true win-win.
In recent years, modern meeting solutions have added a number of helpful features to further enhance the virtual presentation experience .
From screen sharing to integrated chat to interactive features like real-time polling, there are now plenty of ways to supplement prepared content in order to hold attendees’ attention and communicate your message in a more creative way.
These same resources will also appeal to the different skill sets and learning styles of your participants, so everyone will feel included and new concepts will be easily understood by all.
Using a tool like Visme can help you create a stunning presentation with a template like the one below and present online seamlessly.
Whenever possible, it’s always a good idea to share presentation outlines or agendas ahead of time, so participants have clear expectations and can follow along during the meeting itself.
In addition to utilizing online tools, you can strengthen engagement by limiting your talk time to no more than ten minutes before inviting audience interaction .
Use the participant list to interact with everyone by name, and open up for a round of feedback, a brainstorming session, a quick Q&A or whatever makes the most sense for your particular meeting.
Participants who’d like to contribute can raise their hand, so you (as the presenter) are able to unmute that individual when it’s their turn to speak.
You can also embed videos, create popups within your slides and put together a non-linear presentation easily with Visme.
When asked to lead a virtual presentation, you’re being given the reins to influence the mood and flow of the whole meeting.
With this responsibility, it’s necessary to take stock of your tone, your delivery and the manner in which you engage meeting participants.
When speaking to large groups, beware of humor that may not translate well in an online environment.
As a general rule of thumb, you should also avoid interjections to show you’re listening (e.g. “I see” or “I get your point”) as commonly used in face-to-face conversations.
Instead, listen fully and only respond once you’re sure the other person has finished their thought.
You may also find that you need to speak slower than you would in-person, and be more intentional in enunciating so no one is left wondering what was said.
The latest in virtual presentation tools have made it simpler than ever to format slides and create professional-looking visuals with ease, even if you have little to no experience doing so.
The following resources are sure to upgrade your next presentation beyond the traditional slideshow template, and will help keep your audience interested and actively listening.
Visme is an incredibly powerful and flexible content creation tool, empowering brands and individuals to tell compelling stories in the form of engaging presentations , infographics, documents, videos and so much more.
Visme marries intuitive design tools with powerful presentation features to help you generate stunning visuals for your virtual meetings in minutes, not hours.
With a wide selection of pre-set slides, templates, photos, icons and everything in between, Visme’s software has everything you need to create a highly effective and interactive presentation that’s sure to impress.
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Unlike consumer-grade video conferencing platforms, Lifesize facilitates connection, communication and collaboration for teams and companies worldwide.
At its core, Lifesize is a purpose-built, end-to-end video conferencing solution for business, offering a multitude of meeting room solutions and a secure, intuitive cloud platform for video meetings, enhancing productivity and making remote communication and collaboration a breeze.
VideoScribe is an intuitive tool for creating captivating whiteboard animations and explainer videos that look as though they’re being drawn by hand.
The easy-to-use features of VideoScribe’s software don’t require any animation knowledge or prior experience, making this platform accessible to just about anyone.
Brands or businesses looking to customize their virtual presentations can use VideoScribe to meet their exact needs, as every drawing can be tailored to a specific purpose or message.
Not only can virtual presentations keep teams safe in times of crisis, but they are an amazing way to drive home results and see goals achieved.
Delivering a meaningful, high-caliber presentation is no easy feat, but with the right amount of preparation and a bit of practice, you can certainly make it happen.
Remember, presentations are essentially performances, so honor that time and your participants by giving the best performance you can.
Partnering with Visme on virtual presentations can help you create connection, engagement and value for a meeting that’s not simply informative, but incredibly memorable , as well.
Trusted by leading brands
Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.
John Yarbrough is the Senior Director of Marketing at Lifesize , where he helps deliver the idea of customer obsession and creating a high-quality virtual meeting experience for high-powered meetings and everyday communications.
Table of contents, what is a virtual presentation.
A virtual presentation is a demonstration, lecture, informational session or speech meant to inform, persuade, motivate, build goodwill , or present a new concept through a digital medium such as a web video conferencing software where the host, presenter and attendees are convening remotely.
Virtual presentations have gained popularity over the last decade due to the advancement of video web conferencing software such as Zoom and Google Meets as well as the convenience virtual presentations have afforded us. Virtual presentations have also helped break down challenges experienced in different fields of work and study.
On the surface, it might seem that the only difference between a virtual, online presentation and an in-person presentation is the method in which it is delivered.
In reality, however, the two require different approaches to keep viewers engaged in the presentation. Here are two major differences between virtual and regular, in-person presentations you should consider when deciding if your next meeting should be held online or in-person:
Participants viewing a virtual presentation are far more easily distracted than a typical meeting participant would be when viewing the content in the same room as the presenter. With in-office presentations, participants are typically in the conference room, which is a controlled environment with fewer distractions competing for attention, making it easier to pay attention to what the speaker is saying.
Self-surveillance is also less prominent in a virtual meeting rather than in a physical meeting. When you’re in a room with other individuals, you subconsciously start to self-regulate your behaviour thinking others are watching you. For example, you will not find yourself looking at your phone and you will maintain eye contact with the speaker.
With virtual presentations, on the other hand, the attendee has the ability to turn off their video and microphone allowing them to easily switch their attention to other distractions like their phone or carry on side conversation without anyone else ever knowing.
Unlike an in-person presentation where the host, presenter and attendees are physically present at a singular location in the real world, virtual presentations allow for greater scalability which is not bound by the physical environment they are held in.
An in-person meeting would have you bound to the limitations of the room or venue space and the flexibility of other people to attend the presentation at a singular location. On the other hand, a virtual presentation allows you to present to more people at the same time, aided by group video conferencing services, which allows for hundreds of participants per meeting. With a virtual presentation, you are not restricted to the physical capacity of a venue space or the challenge of traveling distances for people.
Either virtual or in person you need a visual presentation that captures the attention of your audience before you tell your story.
When the most dynamic CRM sales tool in the industry reaches out for help, we couldn’t resist joining forces. We worked with their team to develop a concept that aligned with their branding and allowed their “Sales Force” to share their value proposition with potential customers in an engaging way.
Virtual presentations are important because they help break down barriers when it comes to bridging time zones, connecting remote regions and keeping one another safe as we have recently seen with COVID-19.
Remote teams working in space or up north in remote regions are able to share their research and findings far more quickly and easily by being able to connect with other researchers around the world and discuss in real-time. Although it may seem like this could have been done with phone calls, fax machines or even videos, virtual presentations allow for a consolidated, streamlined process that allows for spur-of-the-moment conversations with multiple people in a live presentation format.
As globalization continues to impact our everyday lives, virtual presentations are another way we are connecting with one another around the world. With remote work on the rise , learning about virtual presentations and the nuances that come with them is an important skill to know as more companies, government agencies and cultures adopt virtual presentations and communication.
With any other project you decide to take on, to make it excellent, knowing where to start and setting up a good foundation is key to its success. The same applies to virtual presentations. If you don’t have a solid plan in place or create a solid foundation on which to build your presentation upon, your presentation won’t be as successful as it could be.
We’ve put together our top four virtual presentation tips to bring your virtual presentation to life.
First, you need to start with your content and understand what message you want to share with your audience. You need to fully understand the topic and content at hand so you’re confident in your delivery.
Start by asking yourself some questions.
It might help to create a story around your topic with a beginning, middle and end to help guide you and your audience through the content.
You want your slides to be engaging. Without engaging slides, you’ll lose the interest of your audience. Remember to keep slides colorful. Use an image or a graphic to help tell the story of the slide. Don’t go overboard though. Keep it simple and follow a 1:1 ratio. One image per slide.
Throughout your career, you’ll be presenting material to different audiences. Not every audience is the same. For younger audiences, you’ll want to use more visuals and use more vocal energy to keep the audience’s attention. For an older demographic, you might want to keep things more succinct, to the point and talk at a slower pace. It’s one thing to know the content and create a great presentation but it’s useless if you’re not sympathetic to how your audience gathers information.
Keep the attention of your audience by being dynamic and not static. If you’re able to present with a webcam, then do so. Take advantage of as many tools and features as the video web conferencing software you decide to use will allow. For example, some software allows you to have the audience interact with your screen and slides. Depending on the content you’re delivering, you can even have the attendees break out into smaller groups. This will keep the presentation lively, unique and encourage audience participation. Ultimately, you want to keep it fun.
Before you deliver your next virtual presentation , be sure to review these ten tips to help you prepare.
First, check your webcam and lighting. Before you present, turn on your webcam and make sure you’re visible. Even if you think you have sufficient lighting, it’s always best to double-check as some webcams aren’t calibrated correctly. If you’re using a ring light, it may appear like a harsh, blue light is being used. Use this time to also check your microphone and audio source. You’ll be able to check the sound quality and ensure the audio pick-up levels are correct.
If you’re not used to presenting virtually or you’re using new software, try practicing your delivery with the technology you’ll be using. If you run into any technical issues, you’ll be able to resolve them beforehand.
This is absolutely critical . A virtual meeting or presentation is only possible with an internet connection. If you don’t have a proper internet connection, you won’t have a presentation. It’s also a good idea to practice presenting with all the technology you’ll be using as more software usage requires more internet bandwidth. If you plan on presenting with your webcam on, test your internet connection with your webcam on so you have an accurate measurement.
When you’re delivering your message, make sure you keep eye contact with the camera . This will allow the audience who is watching your presentation to feel more connected and engaged. If you’re simply reading from a screen, it makes the presentation feel inauthentic, unpolished and it makes it seem like you’re not confident in the content you’re presenting.
If you have the ability to stand up while presenting, you should . Standing is beneficial because it allows your airways to be fully open. While you’re sitting, your core is typically tight and you might find yourself hunched over. This will restrict your diaphragm from moving to its fullest potential. If you stand, you’ll have a much clearer voice when speaking.
Keep your presentation dynamic. Your body is a communication tool. Use hand motions to emphasize key points. Use facial expressions to deliver emotion . The combination of body language with your words will help connect the audience to your message on a much deeper level.
Keep your audience engaged and allow them to participate. Some ways you can keep your audience engaged is by using polling software to ask the audience questions. You can host a Q&A at the end of your meeting , or you can have them play games like Kahoot! to win prizes.
Having a moderator helps you stay focused. A moderator can help monitor the chat and gauge audience engagement. If you’re conducting a Q&A session, depending on the software you use, a moderator can help filter questions that might be inappropriate. They will screen questions before they are made public to the rest of your audience.
This is a tip not many presenters take advantage of that will help you stand out amongst the rest and will make your next presentation even better. At the end of your presentation, consider sending out a poll. Ask for feedback from your audience to see how well you did . You might want to ask their opinion on the visuals, see what information they retained or see how you presented as a whole. If done correctly, for your next virtual presentation, you’ll know if you need to slow down if you’re a fast talker or if you need to add more visuals.
The most important tip of them all is to be yourself . When you’re yourself, you’ll have fun. Presenting and everything will appear natural.
Now it’s about you! Are you in need of a fresh, engaging presentation that captures your audiences attention? Whether you need a clean up, a re-design or a completely custom build we have you covered. You can find our presentation packages and pricing options here . Want to speak to a geek, click the button below.
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As society gradually shifts back to “normal” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic—with some segments of the population resuming in-office work—there’s still no question that remote work is going to be more prevalent than it was pre-pandemic, perhaps for many years to come.
With that in mind, you still may not always be in the same room as folks you’re having meetings with—which makes virtual presentations something you’ll really want to master. Whether it’s a recurring work meeting, a sales pitch, a webinar, or any other kind of online session, there are specific things to consider that don’t apply to in-person events. At the same time, there are also upsides to virtual events—if you know how to take advantage of them.
Let’s dive into some of the challenges—and opportunities—when it comes to virtual presentations, along with concrete, expert-sourced advice on how to prepare for your presentation, how to lead it successfully, and what to do afterward.
As with anything, there are positive aspects as well as downsides when comparing virtual presentations to in-person ones.
With these pros and cons in mind, how do you successfully pull off a virtual presentation? Read on for 14 tips to help you before, during, and after your next virtual offering.
1. get clear on your purpose.
Clarity is always key, says Stacey Edelstein , Cofounder and Design Director at the creative studio Raygun. She spends most of her current workdays running or supporting virtual presentations, from in-house presentations for her agency clients to group meetings she’s facilitating for local organizations.
Virtual events usually require you to work a little harder to maintain folks’ attention; if you’re disorganized or veer off track, people’s minds will wander and it will be harder to reengage them.
“ Zoom fatigue is real, so it’s important to be intentional around the purpose of the presentation first. What is the ‘why’ behind what you’re doing? Build your outline or script from there,” Edelstein says. “As a friend once told me, ‘Start with the headline.’” Edelstein keeps her talk centered on what she wants people to remember when they walk away. Anything beyond that can be included in a handout or perhaps a follow-up communication.
For webinars and other online events, Femily , a gender and inclusion advisor in Silicon Valley, likes to use the sign-up or registration page as a chance to get some insight into who is attending. You can ask a question or two as they register to learn if they have pressing questions about the topic, what they’re hoping to gain from the event, and more. You can even use the information you get from these questions to prepare your talk.
If you’re presenting to colleagues at work, you can take a similar approach by sending an email ahead of your presentation and asking folks to send you questions in advance.
Lean more on visuals and go easy on the text if you’re using a slide deck to accompany your talk, Edelstein says. A wall of text will take people away from what you’re saying. “At our San Diego Design Week event last year, we used a simple slide deck with big, bold type to complement the conversation without distracting from what was being said.”
But don’t be scared to get creative and try new things here. For instance, you can use relevant images like GIFs, memes, and other photos to connect with your audience and visually communicate your points, says Chris Zullo, Practice Director of Marketing at the cloud solutions provider AllCloud, who has extensive experience presenting both at work and at virtual conferences like London’s Calling and Virtual Dreamin.
Whether or not memes and GIFs feel like the right fit for your audience, you can still make your presentation visually enticing. Marcia Dickerson , a management consultant and college professor who’s been teaching online classes and workshops to all different sizes and types of groups, likes to use color, graphics, and art to spruce up her slides, which she designs via Canva.
Ideally, you’ll gather your content and then start practicing with time to spare. “Before a virtual presentation, just like any other, you need to practice, practice, practice,” Dickerson says. In some ways, it’s even more important to do ahead of a virtual presentation. “If you’ve got your content down cold, you can pay more attention to the cues you get. I will often watch the chat function during webinars to see if a question comes in, and that’s not easy to do if you don’t know your content.”
You should also be sure to test any equipment you might be using or any features you aren’t familiar with—just as you would for an in-person event. “Many presentations are derailed due to avoidable technology issues,” Edelstein says. “Make sure to practice on your preferred platform to find your flow and get comfortable using tools like screen share, breakout rooms, etc.”
If you’re able to, it may be beneficial to enlist someone to help run your presentation. That way, if you have technical issues during your talk, you’ll have backup. “I had an experience in which my computer shut down right in the middle of a webinar,” Dickerson says. “I was able to log in on my phone and assign a friend to be the new host, and she told the group I’d be back. Now, I always get someone to attend as a cohost in case that happens again.”
You can also ask the cohost to monitor the chat or Q&A features while you speak, so you can stay focused. Edelstein says that at her company, they call their tech support attendees “chat cheerleaders” and ask them to cue slide decks and videos, manage breakout rooms, and, as the nickname suggests, help engage people in the chat while the speaker talks.
6. optimize lighting and sound quality.
Proper setup really helps you come across clearly and professionally. Here are some tips to help you get it right:
Make a great first impression on the group by starting things off in a fun way. “ Ask them something about themselves or the topic. Play a video,” Femily says. “The first minute of people logging on is the most important to set the energetic tone for the session.”
Edelstein agrees; her preferred way to start a session is by playing music as people enter, right before the meeting starts. “It really helps with those awkward silences!”
Of course, you’ll need to adapt your kickoff to the situation. If you’re presenting to senior leadership at your company and you know this crowd tends to be buttoned up, you might opt for a serious question related to the topic at hand over loud dance music.
You might have to be a bit larger than life when you’re presenting remotely—whether that means standing instead of sitting to keep yourself engaged; wearing a fun, bright color to pep yourself up; or using body language more than usual to show attendees you’re listening.
Dickerson likes to keep the self-view option on in a larger group. “It’s a check to be sure that my gestures and facial expressions are big,” she says. “I feel it helps me to try to be just as big and exuberant on a virtual presentation as I would in a large lecture hall.”
While there are times when it may be appropriate to keep self-view on, as Dickerson does with larger groups, in other cases, it may be best to turn it off. You don’t look into a mirror the whole time you have a conversation or teach a class, so why would you want to during an online presentation? Hiding self-view can make you feel less awkward, Dickerson says. Experiment to see what feels right for you in different scenarios.
If you’re doing any kind of event, meeting, or workshop where you aren’t speaking for a while, remember to use the mute button to cut down on background noise that could be distracting for attendees. For example, if you’ve delivered a prompt and are giving people 10 minutes to write their answers, this would be a perfect moment to use mute. Over time, toggling it on and off will become more natural, but it’s definitely something to be aware of if you’re newer to virtual presentations.
Because of the lack of body language and real-time input, you may have to take action to get feedback, Zullo says. Consider prompting the group with questions or polls if that works for your session. If you don’t have someone helping you out, you’ll also likely want to keep an eye on the chat yourself. You may decide to take a pause every so many minutes to read through any comments or questions that have come in, or you might keep an eye on it as you talk; whatever works for you is fine.
Outside of the chat window, you may need to give people more time than usual to speak up. “I’ve learned to pause a little longer for questions,” Dickerson says. “It takes people longer to unmute or be sure they aren’t talking over someone else. When someone does talk, I like to reply to them by name to make it more personal.”
If the platform you’re using has a breakout rooms feature, this can be a good way to get people into smaller groups and generate discussion. You can also have everyone go into breakout rooms and then come back to the main room to reconvene and discuss insights or discoveries together.
Dickerson also pairs her presentation with a worksheet that she emails out ahead of time when appropriate. Having a place to take notes or write down answers to questions you ask can help attendees remain engaged.
At the end of the day, you may still be nervous even though the event isn’t in person. That’s OK! Femily encourages everyone to show up as they are, no matter who you are: “It’s vibrancy and bold statements that magnetize people. Be imperfect, wacky you!”
13. don’t be scared to follow up.
After the presentation, you might need to email people for a number of reasons: to send out materials you mentioned during your talk, to recap takeaways and action items, to send them the recorded event, or to ask people to fill out a survey so you can get an idea of how the presentation went and what you could do better in the future.
If you’re speaking to a group of strangers, consider letting attendees know how they can get in touch with you. You might even have your last slide in the presentation display your contact info, so people have it in case they have questions or thoughts afterward. If you’re speaking to your coworkers, you can still encourage them to reach out to you (via email, on Slack, etc.) with additional questions and thoughts they may not have had time to share or may not have realized they had until later.
Watch the recorded presentation and evaluate yourself, Edelstein says. This can help you get an idea of when people were most engaged during your talk and improve for your next presentation.
Brainstorm other ways you can get feedback to assess your performance. For example, if you did a webinar, the platform you used may have a way to track interactions and participation level. If you presented something at work, perhaps you can ask a colleague you trust for some insight on their experience as an attendee.
If for some reason you feel you fell short, don’t beat yourself up. Virtual presentations have the potential to create more distractions than usual, and that can affect your results, Zullo says. “You can put together an amazing presentation with all of the engagement, bells, and whistles, and still not see the quantifiable results,” he says. “Things can come up at home. People might have multiple screens and be multitasking. They may not be ‘present’ for whatever reason.”
Virtual presentations are likely here to stay. So you can always come back to this expert insight on how to prepare for, facilitate, and follow up after your presentation to help you become more comfortable leading and connecting online.
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November 8, 2022 - Dom Barnard
There has been an unprecedented rise in flexible working practices , with remote working becoming the norm for millions of people around the world. Businesses have adopted this approach to cater for not only the global workforce, but also staff who wish to maintain social distancing recommendations.
As online presentations become part of everyday working life, Zoom has established itself as the leading software, but other platforms have also seen massive growth , such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex.
Presenting virtually is a very different experience to presenting in-person. This article explores tips to ensure you communicate effectively through these virtual presentations.
Dial into your call ahead of time. You should have enough time to set everything up and be able to greet everyone in a relaxed manner as they dial-in. Beware that you may need a few extra minutes to set up your microphone or camera correctly.
If you are hosting the meeting, consider having the first slide of your presentation up on the screen with the topic visible, to reassure people that they have dialed into the correct meeting.
Ensure your laptop or computer is plugged in or fully charged – the last thing you want is to run out of power mid-way through your presentation (you wouldn’t be the first person this has happened to).
Test out your microphone and camera before you start to make sure they are working:
Raise your computer so that you are looking slightly up at your screen (you may have to put your computer on some books to get the right height). This is much more flattering than having the camera below you looking up at you.
This is one that people often overlook – just because you are home doesn’t mean you are not at work. Dress as you would in the office, not only will this create a good impression, but you’ll feel more confident as well. If in doubt, err on the side of the professional – you want people to focus on your message, not your clothes.
For additional information, visit these links:
Eliminate any distractions – turn off any devices that could interpret you, such as alarms on your phone, and tell anyone else in the house that you are about to start a video meeting.
Examples of good and bad setups for video-based presentations. Compare the lighting, audio quality, video quality, what people are wearing, and surroundings across the clips.
Which setups look the most professional to you? Do they have anything in common?
Good lighting will make a huge difference to your appearance and make you look much more professional:
“Shadows, dark patches, and uneven lighting obscure facial expression. In the absence of body language, people on video calls rely on facial expressions for complete meaning. Lighting can make or mar your message.” – How to look good with better lighting .
Check what is in the background of your camera shot, ideally keep things pain and neutral. Another option is to use a virtual background. These can usually be set up using your video conferencing software.
Perfect your virtual presentation skills by practicing them in a realistic online exercise that mimics Zoom, Webex, and Microsoft Teams. Learn More
If it’s your presentation, decide how you would like to manage the participants / audience. For example, are you happy to take questions as you go along, or would you rather wait and have a Q&A session at the end? How will you field questions? Via a chat feature or verbally?
Practice muting and unmuting participant microphones. Set out the ground rules at the beginning so that everyone is clear.
This is a simple tip that can make all the difference to how you are perceived by the audience. Make sure that throughout your presentation you periodically look at the camera. Try to relax your face and smile. This gives the impression that you are looking into the eyes of the participants and helps to keep them engaged during the virtual presentation.
It can be difficult to actually maintain eye contact this way – this article discusses why it can feel uncomfortable: I Feel So Uncomfortable Making Eye Contact in Work Video Calls
This video demonstrates how important eye contact is during a virtual or video based presentation. Watch the different executives (including CEO Reed Hastings) talk and think about which one comes across the best on camera and why.
Most presentations include some visuals to complement what you are talking about. Traditionally Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides and Apple Keynote have been the go-to tools. Whatever software you decide to use, make sure you know how to use the features on it.
Software to help you create presentation visuals:
Prepare yourself, so you know how to navigate through your slides and share your screen. Generally, try to keep your slides light on text, as you don’t want to overload people with information. It’s usually better to expand and elaborate on the slides verbally.
Practice your presentation with a virtual presentation simulator, so that you’re better prepared.
The VirtualSpeech virtual presentation simulator .
Before you start, try to find out who will be on the call. During your virtual presentation you can then ask them specific questions, addressing individuals by name .
There are also other tools that you can use, such as giving control of the screen to a participant, so that they can share a document with the group, if necessary. Beyond this, you can use videos, infographics and even host quizzes, polls or surveys.
Remember that sounding confident and happy to be there is the key to success. Your participants will note your mood from your voice, so get into the right frame of mind before you start. As you speak, try to alter the speed and tone of your voice so that you avoid sounding monotonous.
Here are some more ideas to add enthusiasm to your presentation .
This short video shows two examples of enthusiastic speakers. Notice how they use their eye contact, hand gestures and vocal range to appear enthusiastic over video.
Body language helps keep participants engaged. Move your camera away from you a little so that everyone can see your hand gestures.
Many regular tips about body language can be applied to the virtual environment. For example, eye contact can be achieved by looking into the camera (see tip 5). Try pausing and adding a small, subtle nod after you finish making a point. This will add emphasis to what you are saying. This article covers more on how to project leadership presence .
If you are standing up, do not lock your knees as this can look very rigid. You can lightly clasp your hands when you are not making hand gestures, this will help to not distract your audience.
Time your presentation beforehand, so you know roughly how long it will take you. Make sure you have just the right amount of content for your time slot and factor in time for any questions. You don’t want to run out of things to say or stay on the call too long either.
Less is more – try not to include too much information, as it is better to stick to a few key messages. The beginning and end of your presentation need to be strong as that is what people will remember the most. You should be clear on your aims at the start and recap everything at the end.
What to know before you go live.
September 26, 2016
Presenting online? Try these suggestions to improve your results. | Illustration by Tricia Seibold
As audiences go global and you need to reach more people through technology (including webinars, conference calls and teleconference), you must consider the challenges to connecting with a virtual audience. Here I pinpoint 10 valuable best practices to ensure you communicate successfully.
Audiences begin to lose attention after roughly 10 minutes of hearing from the same presenter. If you have more than 10 minutes of content, use interactive activities to keep your audience engaged (for example, take a poll, give quizzes, or ask audience members for their opinions via chat).
Keep slides simple — avoid too many words, graphics and animation features. Less is definitely more!
Light yourself well | Illustration by Tricia Seibold
Look straight into your camera, not the screen. Wear clothing that is neutral in color (no plaids or stripes). Light yourself well and from above. Be mindful of what appears behind you in the background. Invest in a good microphone.
Even though your audience cannot see you, stand when you present. This allows you to stay focused and use good presentation delivery skills such as belly breathing, vocal variety, and pausing.
Practice delivering your presentation with your technology in advance of your talk. Make sure all of the features of the technology work. Record your practice using the recording feature of your tool. Watch and listen to learn what works and what you can improve.
Have someone available to deal with technical issues and to field email/text questions. Also, if you have multiple remote audience members in one location, be sure to pick one of them to be your “eyes and ears.” Ask them to queue up questions and facilitate discussion on your behalf.
Ask pointed questions to avoid too many people answering at once. For example, rather than ask, “Are there any questions?” try “Who has a question about the solution I provided?” Set a ground rule that people state their names prior to speaking.
Imagine your audience | Illustration by Tricia Seibold
Transitions are critical. You must connect what you just said to what is coming next when you move from point to point. Transitions between topics and slides are good opportunities to get people reengaged to your talk.
Imagine your audience even though you can’t see them. You can place pictures of audience members behind your camera so you can look at people as you present.
Encourage your audience to access your call or webinar in advance of the start time so you can iron out any technical issues in advance and get them familiar with the technology.
Matt Abrahams is a Stanford GSB organizational behavior lecturer, author, and communications coach.
For media inquiries, visit the Newsroom .
Can we be candid how to communicate clearly and directly, directive speech vs. dialogue: how leaders communicate with clarity, balance, class takeaways — how to run a meeting effectively, editor’s picks.
April 04, 2016 A Big Data Approach to Public Speaking Key takeaways from analyzing 100,000 presentations.
November 19, 2014 Matt Abrahams: The Power of the Paraphrase An expert on public speaking shows how paraphrasing can help you navigate tricky communication situations.
Whether you are giving a research talk, lecturing, or giving a workshop, virtual presentations present a new set of challenges, from interacting with an audience that you can’t always see to managing teleconferencing technology. You can keep your audience oriented by presenting a talk with a clear structure . Make sure to practice in this new environment and prepare your technological set-up . Finally, create a plan for engaging your audience .
If you haven’t yet, check out our Slide Presentation article.
A successful virtual presentation…
How you design and deliver any presentation, virtual or in person, depends on the goal you want your presentation to achieve. However, in a virtual environment with more distractions and less audience feedback, identifying the purpose of your presentation is even more important. This goal will help you decide what you need to emphasize and what you can drop to make sure your message rises above the digital noise.
For this article, we divide presentations into three general categories:
Below, we share both general strategies and specific recommendations for the three categories, to help you tailor your talk for success no matter how far away you are.
To make sure your presentation is effective, you need to know not only what you want your audience to take away, but also who they are and how they will perceive your work. For any talk, it’s important to remember that your audience can vary widely in their expertise and goals , but virtual presentations create additional challenges for the audience’s experience.
Yes | Maybe | Real-time feedback (audience to speaker) | |
Yes | Maybe | Non-verbal communication (speaker to audience) | |
Yes | No | Audience’s ability to focus on the presentation | |
Generally no | Yes | Speaker’s ability to focus on giving the presentation |
If you keep these audience challenges in mind, you will be able to choose design and delivery strategies that will help your message shine through.
Design principles are similar to those for an in-person presentation , but since the audience may be distracted, it’s more important than ever to have a structured, clear, and focused presentation.
In these figures, we illustrate best practices for slide design:
In-person presentations allow you to use non-verbal communication to gauge audience understanding, help emphasize key points, and convey energy. In virtual presentations, you and the audience are deprived of these physical cues, and the success of your presentation is often dependent on the quality of your voiceover and your mastery of virtual tools. Therefore, it is critical to practice, practice, practice — with friends, lab mates, family, and, of course, Comm Lab Fellows.
Experiment with slowing down, adding pauses, and transitions between slides. | Slowing down around key points will emphasize them and give your audience time to digest. | |
Which makes you feel most comfortable and confident? | You may find that standing allows you to better project your voice and feel more confident. | |
Familiarize yourself with all of the options. Plan the instructions that you’ll give participants for using these features. E.g., how much time will they have in breakout rooms? Will you give them time checks? | Although these features seem easy to implement, it is always better to test them and avoid surprises during your real presentation. Appoint a co-facilitator to help if you can. | |
Make sure what you are saying explains and reinforces what is illustrated on your slides and matches the overall goal of your presentation. If you don’t actually talk about it, remove it. | This will reinforce and streamline your message. Recording a practice run can also help you assess the overall clarity of your communication. |
Even if you nail the oral delivery of your presentation, to have a successful presentation, you must mitigate distractions introduced by your technological set-up. A bad internet connection, unmuted audience member, or low-quality audio can make it difficult for the audience to stay focused. The below tips will help you give your audience the IMAX experience (or as close as you can get with virtual meeting platforms):
if you would like to see your notes separately from your presentation. | |
available on Zoom. This allows you to see your presentation on one screen and the participants in a gallery view on the other. In a teaching or workshop setting, this feature is particularly useful to monitor and engage your audience. |
If the audience knows where your presentation is going and what their role will be, they are more likely to stick around for the ride. Be upfront with your audience about what you will talk about, what kind of feedback you are seeking, and when you would like to receive that feedback. Engage your audience throughout the presentation, whether that be walking through problems step-by-step or telling a cohesive story to talk about your research.
. Stories can help the audience understand and remember scientific content. ahead of the meeting with concrete questions or goals you want to address in the meeting. . | |
a tablet, or a projector to show students how to work out problems step-by-step. function. You can download results to see who participated, and count participation toward students’ grades. of complicated concepts rather than explain them verbally. . | |
As the goals of a workshop are somewhere between that of a class lecture and research talk, you can draw engagement strategies from either or both presentation categories listed above. |
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Blog Marketing How to Adapt Your In-Person Presentation Into a Virtual Presentation
Written by: Lisa Schneider Dec 16, 2020
In May 2020, I gave my first formal talk on Zoom. I do a fair amount of public speaking, and generally I move about the stage quite a bit: it’s an expression of energy, serves as punctuation to what I’m saying, and supports an intentional effort to make sure I look at and connect with as many people in the audience as possible.
So when it came time for this remote talk, I figured that standing while I delivered it might feel more “normal” and akin to my regular modus operandi.
About halfway through, I realized that since I couldn’t pace in my normal fashion I was…swaying back and forth.
Fortunately this was an internal presentation for our new interns at Merriam-Webster, and while they are absolutely important, it wasn’t quite as bad as doing it in front of hundreds or thousands of strangers.
Two months later, I was indeed slated to give a remote talk to hundreds of attendees; this one pre-recorded followed by live Q&A. Mindful of my earlier gaffe, I walked through my talk several times thinking about how it might play differently on a screen than in person.
While the content of an in-person presentation versus an online presentation may be the same, there are some fundamental differences between how you deliver the presentation and in your presentation design .
Replace your physical energy with vocal energy, replace physical cues with visual cues.
Think about your ending, prepare for your q&a.
Skilled speakers , of course, bring both to the stage. But when you’re limited to the video equivalent of a head shot, it’s even more important to vary the pace, volume, and intensity of your delivery throughout the virtual presentation.
Pause early, pause often.
This is a great tip for all speakers, especially if you’re a fast talker like I am. The best training I got was not to alter my natural cadence, but to pause more often to let what I’ve said settle, and allow people to catch up.
You can reinforce that pacing in your slides, by focusing on a single point per slide. This prompts you to pause as the speaker, and lets the point sink in for your audience.
In person, a pause is also a good opportunity to catch someone’s eye, smile, and make personal contact. When you don’t have the audience in front of you, the temptation is great to just run through at full tilt. Resist that temptation and remember: without a room to look around, pauses might feel awkward to you—but they’ll still read as natural flow to the audience.
Your physical cues add a layer of meaning to your presentation. When a presentation is given virtually, certain physical cues can be lost in translation.
That’s where adding visual cues to your presentation slides can come in handy. You can use icons, apply arrows and lines, use contrasting colors, or add shapes to grab and direct your audience’s attention. Here are a few examples of visual cues in action.
This slide design uses icons to reinforce content. The use of icons helps your audience not only make sense of the information you’ve shared, but process it and hold onto it for longer.
Arrows are simple ways to visualize a process . This slide design organizes information into a logical flow with the use of arrows. It helps your audience to organize and understand your content.
High-contrasting colors help to emphasize information. This slide is obviously tackling a problem. Other slides can be differentiated the same way when you describe a solution, next steps, and so on.
Shapes are also great ways to emphasize information or visualize data . In this slide, circles are used to convey the magnitude (and significance) of the statistics shared. Even without the numbers, you’d guess the circle on the left has the highest value.
In some instances, you may need to use PowerPoint to host your slides. But that doesn’t mean your creativity should be stifled by boring PowerPoint presentations templates . With Venngage, design your entire deck in the editor and then export it as a PowerPoint file.
Keep in mind, the opening of your presentation impacts how excited and engaged people are throughout. A strong opening statement brings energy to your virtual presentation, and helps you start off strong.
Combine an impactful title with an image that reinforces the message to hook your audience:
Punchy sentences are a trademark element of a persuasive presentation . For a speaker, it adds emphasis and weight to your statements as you present. A presentation slide isn’t the place for fluff—stick to short sentences or even just phrases to really drive the point home.
Learning to effectively summarize information for your slides is an important skill. It enables you to repurpose blog content, present detailed reports, discuss research findings, and so much more in ways that are organized and clear.
Naturally, you can’t just rely on your title slide to do the heavy lifting. The slides that follow need to be equally as engaging and effective.
A rule of thumb is to vary your slide layouts. Different layouts will help offer something new for your audience to latch on to. In a virtual presentation, the same repeating layout can put them to sleep. Here’s a presentation example that uses different slide layouts to keep the information fresh:
Need more presentation ideas? This blog has all the presentation examples you need.
This was a big one for me. I’m a natural-born storyteller , so I use a lot of anecdotes to illustrate my points, and am often more conversational than presentational. But all of that requires reading the room and pacing myself according to the audience reaction in real time. When you’re behind a screen running a virtual presentation, you don’t get any of that feedback. Your talk can still incorporate those elements, but it has to be very tightly scripted and balanced.
Usually when I’m sharing personal anecdotes I have a single, simple background slide. The focus is on my delivery of the story and how it connects with the audience. As you tighten that storytelling for a virtual presentation, think about amping up the infographics or illustrations on your slides for balance.
For example, the icons and illustrations on this presentation are bold, meaningful, and engaging and really help underscore the information and make it memorable.
Last year, I gave a talk at a Women in Publishing conference. One of my slides was a GIF of an epic eye roll—in context, it got the (mostly female) audience responding with an eye roll and enthusiastic head nod in response. It was a group bonding, amirite?! moment.
In another presentation, I reference learning on the playground “the longest word in the dictionary.” Usually at this point I pause, look around, and audience members will spontaneously call out what they think the word is that I’m referring to.
These moments of group comity can’t really be replicated on a recorded talk or virtual presentation, and I adjusted my slides and my script accordingly.
If you’re on the right platforms, of course, you can engage the audience with polls, chat boxes, and the like. But as with all platform changes, don’t lift-and-shift your exact interaction: what works in person might not translate as compellingly to a poll widget.
If you’re doing this, be sure to practice how integrating these tools changes the flow of your talk, and what you might do if the interaction or response are not what you expect.
Tools like Demio and Zoom , GoToWebinar , WebinarNinja and others let you conduct live surveys/polls, but the process can vary. With a tool like Poll Everywhere , you can create word clouds in real time. Online games like Kahoot are great for creating online real-time quizzes (ideal for smaller groups).
You can also use whiteboards to create diagrams as you’re explaining a process, which involves the audience’s attention as they follow along. Zoom, ClickMeeting and other platforms have a whiteboard feature.
How do you usually close your talk? Are there physical cues, such as moving to center stage and quieting your body language? Have you rehearsed with the moderator when they will come back on stage? Absent these cues, you’ll want to make especially sure you have a powerful and clear closing statement , ideally one that will resonate in people’s minds for a moment as the platform switches to the moderator or next speaker.
To close your virtual presentation, consider a strong call-to-action or next step for your audience. Asking people for what you want them to do is always powerful. You can also leave them with something worth thinking about, to help your engagement extend longer than the duration of the talk.
A simple thank-you also is a great way to sign off. It’s clear, concise, and reminds audiences that you appreciate their time. Plus, it’s the easiest slide you can design.
I gave the same talk, for the same conference, at two different locations (opposite ends of the country, different audiences).
At one, there were so many questions we ran out of time.
At the other, there were so few questions that the moderator (bless you, Rob!) filled the space with questions of his own.
For some virtual presentations you will still have a moderator who plays this role and is prepared to step in, but for others you may be tasked with checking the Q&A or chat box on your own. If the latter, be sure that you have some questions prepared so that you’re not fumbling if the audience is a bit quieter.
It’s fun and exciting to share something you’re passionate about and to connect with people as you do it. For a lot of us, pre-recording our talk or presenting from behind a laptop can throw us off our game. If public speaking was already a little tough for you, losing the in-person presence may be an even harder adjustment.
As you prepare for a virtual presentation, walk though your presentation with an eye to where you rely on that audience connection and adjust accordingly:
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Delivering a memorable, high-caliber presentation is no easy feat, especially when the stakes are high. As the Covid-19 pandemic pushes more work into the digital world, business owners and leaders are experiencing the added challenge of creating presentations that engage and inform their teams and customers from a distance. But without a thoughtful plan for design and delivery, many of these presentations will, unfortunately, fall short of expectations.
Based on my past and current experiences delivering online presentations -- from workshops and courses to webinars and even keynotes -- I've learned that the most powerful and polished presentations do the following things before, during, and after the event.
Many leaders worry that a virtual presentation will feel impersonal and long-winded, since they rely on the energy and body language of a "live" audience to guide their delivery. That's why the design process is so critical -- and you need to think about how you'll match your message to the medium. Consider making these your guiding design principles:
Just because your presentation is virtual doesn't mean you should sacrifice quality. Paying attention to the sound, lighting, and optics of your "stage" will make a difference in how your presentation is perceived by others. As your presentation is about to get underway, check your audio and video settings to make sure they're at optimal levels. Your background should be tasteful and professional, free of clutter and visual distractions.
If you're presenting through Zoom, share hosting privileges with someone on your team (or, if you're presenting to an outside group, with an event organizer or lead) to manage production duties like sharing screens, advancing slides, or cueing external online content. These tasks, though minor, can break your flow and cause unnecessary delivery drags. And for additional support, consider turning your phone into a confidence monitor by logging into Zoom as a participant (you can adjust the settings to go incognito) to see what your audience sees.
Your presentation may be over, but if you want your message to matter, the work's not quite done. To help your attendees review, retain, and revise their next steps, share post-presentation resources and reflections with attendees that not only summarize the main points but offer guidance on how to follow up.
After wrapping up an online training for a client or industry group, I create a post-presentation playbook that features a full recording of the session, a transcript of the chat discussion (which I use strategically to collect insights and ideas from attendees), a run-down of key learnings and round-up of related readings and research for further study. This may seem like overkill, but I can't tell you how many people find the playbook instrumental in helping them transfer and apply new knowledge.
Even when conditions allow for groups to gather in person, the impact of a well-designed, thoughtfully executed virtual presentation should become part of your communication platform. Not only can you widen your reach, but you might even stretch your horizons.
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Demand for virtual presentations is on the rise. Team meetings, webinars, client meetings and even some conferences are being held virtually or at least in a hybrid format.
And most likely you will be doing a virtual presentation soon.
At work, you probably use software like Zoom and GoToMeeting , and there is no way out of that anytime soon.
In fact, as technology evolves the medium of presentations will keep evolving too. I can’t wait for the time when we use a full on Virtual Reality set like Oculus (It will be amazing, and we are getting ready for it at Magnetic Speaking !!).
The good news is that despite the ever-changing medium of presentation delivery , there are constant fundamentals that will never change. This article will help you learn the fundamentals.
P- Plan A- Audience C- Content E- Engagement S- Socialization
The key to an excellent presentation is a solid plan. You have to plan the time, the location, software to use and back up plans.
I once attended a presentation where the speaker showed up 5 minutes late. The worst part was his excuse; he said that it took “him a while to download the software needed.” That reason is not sufficient even for the attendees let alone the speaker.
The best thing to do is think ahead of all the things you need before the presentation and execute. If your planning is done the right way, your virtual presentation should be seamless.
A lot of people fear virtual presentations even more than regular presentations. The reason: in real presentations at least you see who you are talking with, in virtual presentations a lot of times you don’t see them. As a result, you end up speaking into a void with no feedback. When your brain does not get the feedback it needs, it creates all sorts of scary scenarios. You don’t want that.
To avoid the scary scenarios, you have to set an image of a person to talk with mentally. I learned this technique from Oprah Winfrey . She once said in an interview that she imagines her best friend when she looks into the camera. Now I do the same thing; I imagine the ideal person for the presentation I am giving.
For example, if I am doing a virtual presentation for TechWomen’s constituents, I would imagine Dalia (A woman that fits the target audience of TechWomen).
Content is king in the virtual landscape. In the live presentations, you keep people’s attention with your eye contact, with your body language, with your movement onstage. You can’t do any of that in a virtual environment. Therefore, you should consider using a wide variety of media types to keep and attract attention. These include, but are not limited to:
– Links – Images – Screen sharing – Videos – Slides Carefully designing your content is the key to keeping your virtual presentation interesting. To keep your information clear, concise and visually appealing, try to simplify your data point, use compelling imagery, and avoid overloading text. I have experienced slide hypnosis, and I’m certain I’m not alone. It happens when the presenter uses one slide for every explanation or data point and the audience zones out.
A dynamic presentation is an impressive presentation, so use a variety of media, images, and graphics to keep your audience’s attention. Also, information overload and endless slides are a sure way to lose your audience, so be sure to stay on point and have a clear focus.
Engagement will captivate your audience. Take advantage of your virtual presentations to make your audience feel like they are right there – sitting next to you – every time you present. Use live Q&As, surveys, polling and chats (among other engagement technologies) and your audience will be far more involved in your presentation.
However, don’t do engagement for the sake of engagement. I hate it when presenters use silly questions just for the sake of having people interact. Only use interactivity and engagement when it adds value to the audience.
We human beings are social creatures. We like to be individuals, and we like to be part of groups. It is easy to lose this socialization affect when you are communicating with the camera on your laptop. The camera becomes a barrier between you and the audience. To minimize this anti-socialization effect, you have to utilize your language more efficiently to create a more intimate dialogue. It’s simpler than you think – don’t freak out.
To create an individualized intimate sense, use the word YOU as if you are speaking to one person. Instead of saying “Can everyone out there here me” implying disconnected, lost masses, use, “Can you hear me.” it’s a subtle difference, but the effect is significant. If you suggest through your language that you are speaking to a group of fragmented people, then your effect of reaching the individual gets diminished.
If you are talking to your team virtually, make sure you use the word “we” as much as you can. Remember, we as humans like to be individuals, and we also like to be part of a group. Using you, taps into the individual need, and using we taps into the group need.
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There is more to giving a virtual presentation than meets the eye. The message you deliver must resonate well with the audience whom you are presenting the content. Therefore, it’s helpful to follow the PACES concept when preparing your presentation. So long as you know how to keep your virtual audience engaged, you can be sure that your presentation will be well received.
Following are five additional ideas that can work well with the concept of PACES while going beyond that established backbone in some very dynamic ways.
People build trust through eye contact and body language, and this is still true even when you are presenting remotely. Even though you may not be able to see your audience, they may be able to see you if you are using a camera. You can create a connection with your virtual audience by doing the following: – Look into the camera directly and fight the temptation to look down at your notes. – Simulate your intended audience with topic-driven photos of real people. – If you can, stand up and deliver your message as if you are giving the presentation to a live room.
Virtual presentations may or may not include a camera.If you happen to be doing a presentation without a camera, your slides and voice are the only tools that you have available. Provide clear slides that are easy to digest without an overabundance of details and information on any one slide.
If you are using a camera, it is best to stand while speaking. Use body language, such as hand movements, and vary the volume, speed, and pitch of your voice.
One great way to grab the interest of your audience is to have a guest speaker, either pre-announced or as a surprise. Sometimes I bring one other Magnetic Speaking trainer to my virtual presentations. I cover one topic, and they cover another; this ensures variety and spontaneity. In addition to doing our designated sections of the presentation, we also interact with each other during the presentation. This keeps it fun and interactive.
Most of the people attending your virtual presentation will be listening to it through headphones, so every noise they hear will be noticeable. To ensure that you do not distract yourself or your audience, use the following guidelines: – Remove rustling papers, email pop-ups, and your mobile devices. – Ask a moderator to field incoming questions from your attendees. – Log into the meeting at least half an hour early. Most importantly plan well. One time I was doing a virtual meeting in my home office while my brother and his kids were visiting. The kids were making lots of noise in the other room, and my audience could hear everything. I could have done better planning on my part because kids will always be kids 🙂
Over and above everything else, remember to have fun. If your virtual presentation gives you and your audience the opportunity to laugh, smile and connect, it will be a rewarding experience for everyone. Happy people retain information better and longer than bored or disinterested ones.
Use the tips and tricks discussed above, and you will have no problem creating high-impact virtual presentations. Go through these ideas every time you have a presentation to make, and you will soon find your peers and associates turning to you for assistance when it comes to creating a virtual presentation.
The keys to making a world-class virtual pitch or presentation.
My last keynote speech was for 2000 people at a conference in Florida on March 8th, 2020. By the end of that week, 11 speaking gigs canceled. By the end of April, my calendar was wiped clean. Like every sales team, start-up company, and CEO in the country, I was forced to go virtual with all my business.
Initially, the community celebrated the potential of the virtual pitch or presentation. Could this be the magic formula that delivered results like an in-person meeting without the travel and hassle? What people envisioned being the best of both worlds, turned out to be the Chevy El Camino or mullet haircut of business. Good in theory, but bad in reality.
As Zoom fatigue blanketed the nation, I found myself flooded with training requests for making engaging virtual presentations. It was a natural transition, as I'd been making virtual pitches and presentations for more than a decade. (see 2016 sample below)
At the height of my television career, I was taking nearly 250 pitch meetings a year! Try doing that fighting LA traffic. I developed a system to virtually pitch TV show ideas, mimicking as if I was actually in the room. In addition to saving countless hours and dead brain cells crawling the 405 and 101 freeways, I sold more shows than ever.
A recent article in Forbes described me as one of the top virtual trainers in the country. And while flattering, I might attribute that to the bar being so incredibly low.
Innovationrx: myocarditis from covid-19 is much more severe than from vaccination, bitcoin prices fell below $58,000 as various factors fueled losses.
I promise you don't need a television production background or decades of experience to make a world-class virtual presentation. Here is a video that will show you what’s possible, and below are some guidelines that will elevate you virtually with just a little effort and some planning.
Virtual Or Not – It Still Has To Be Good - First, understand if your in-person presentation isn't excellent, your virtual version is not going to be better. Start by taking the time to make your core presentation rock-solid. I wrote a best-selling book detailing how to do this; I'd say it's an important starting point.
Stakes And Value - I always start with two questions. What are the stakes of the presentation? How much value do you place on the meeting?
If it's just a Zoom update with your internal departments, by all means, do that from your kitchen, with your laptop camera, in your pajamas. If you are dealing with high stakes pitches and presentations where real business is on the line, and you value the audience's time and attention, you’ll want to take it up a notch.
Here are the 3 D's I use with clients. Have a D irective, be D irect, and be the D irector.
Directive - Why does this require a virtual meeting? The reality is, people don't want to do a Zoom meeting. They don't want to get dressed, turn on their camera, and let you in their home. So why does this NEED to be a video conference? Focus on the elements that make this a 'Zoom worthy' presentation. Do you have specifics to walkthrough on your investment opportunity? Do you need to demo the software, etc.? If that's what you're there for, make that your directive.
Be Direct - Get to your directive, directly. In The 3 Minute Rule I illustrate how a pitch is not about what you want to say, it's about what needs to be said. It's even more crucial to get to the point and simplify your message in a virtual presentation. Zoom calls are too clunky for chit chat conversation, lengthy introductions, or superfluous anecdotes. People crave simplified, concise information; give it to them, and they will treat it as a gift from the business heavens.
Be The Director - A movie director tells you precisely what to focus on to best understand and engage with the story. Infinite distractions surround your audience, so If you don't tell them where to look and what to follow, you will lose them. You can't just throw up your PowerPoint slides and talk over them. How is that 'Zoom worthy'? The key is movement and pacing as you control the screen.
Be The Director. There are so many good options at your fingertips
Let's Get Technical.
Debeers' campaign called for 'two months salary' when choosing a diamond engagement ring. My clients use the 'One Business Trip' formula. Take your average spend for one business trip and invest it in your virtual meeting setup and equipment.
My website has in-depth technical details , but here are some crucial basics:
Technical outline of the basic virtual presentation
Dedicated Camera: You need a high-quality webcam or a DSLR type camera. It doesn't have to be expensive, but dedicated is important.
Dual lighting positions: Flooding your face with bright light is almost as bad as being dark. It's so easy to create a warm shadow-less look.
Microphone: Again, so easy to set up, but it makes a world of difference. Hanging AirPods out of your ears is not a good look or good sound.
Dual monitors: One to see the meeting and your camera, and one to track your slides and or script (yes you need a script)
Teleprompter: They have iPhone versions that allow you to read your bullet-proof script direct to the camera.
Purposeful Background: Have an area that is designed and designated for your zoom meetings or presentations. I had a client order a shed from Home Depot that he furnished just for his presentations. Another client spends 45 minutes every morning and evening converting his bedroom. Why? Because the stakes of his sales presentation are high, and he values his clients. (Unless you have an actual green screen and light it correctly, Zoom’s virtual background is not a good look)
Plan It Out - I use a specifically programmed stream deck to automate the presentations for my clients. While it's straightforward to use, just the simple act of visualizing and preparing to use it makes a world of difference. It's a bad look logging-in 10 seconds before the meeting and trying to wing it.
Don't give up - Don't get sucked into the pool of Zoom mediocrity. Making a world-class virtual presentation takes effort, planning, and practice, but that's a good thing. When everyone is bland, grey, boring, and uninspiring, you can shine. You may not get another opportunity to rise above the crowd so easily again.
Christoph’s Content Corner
Content Strategy Leader, Head of Content, Content Marketing
Trappe Digital LLC may earn commission from product clicks and purchases. Rest assured, opinions are mine or of the article’s author.
Links to products mentioned in this virtual presentation tips article are affiliate links to Amazon, meaning I get a super small cut if you click and buy. As always, products are relevant to the content.
There are tips that can make virtual presentations better and David Kerrigan, author of “Better Online Presenting,” shared a number of his top presentation tips on this podcast episode .
Certainly, at some point, virtual presentations will be livestreamed in true virtual reality . A whole new set of presentation tips would come into play then I envision this to look like this:
Some of the first bullet point is possible already. I recorded a 2019 Madrid keynote in VR and people watching the replay can scroll around the room and even watch it with a VR headset .
I shot this with a 360 Nano , attached to my iPhone, and placed on a tripod . You can also livestream to a number of social channels with the 360 and the iPhone. Make sure you have a good WiFi or data connection.
Certainly, we have to remember that presentations in VR might not be as exciting as an active shooter training , for example. That active shooter trainer video and the corresponding content assets were so good and new that it even won “Best Immersive Video Storytelling” at a national media awards ceremony in 2019.
Read next: Are virtual conferences really working? And how about the networking?
On-site, in-person conferences are very similar usually. There’s a screen to show your PowerPoint. And let’s be honest, most people expect PowerPoints, no matter how boring or unnecessary they are. But it is possible to present without PowerPoint. At a conference in New York, I did that for two hours even.
The key here is to make it interactive. As you can read in my article: I basically had four t-shirts on top of each and took them off as topics advanced . In a Berlin workshop, I threw emojis at people .
That’s hard to do virtually. But the key takeaway is that it’s worth thinking about how to make the presentation more engaging.
First, it’s good to understand the setup of the virtual conference. Here are the different types I’ve seen.
The split-screen model is where the PowerPoint and the speaker get about an equal amount of real estate on the screen. Here’s an example of how that might look:
This is a good setup in my opinion as it shows everything on screen the whole time that is relevant to the presentation. Of course, it also assume that the presentation needs a PowerPoint for the duration.
There are a number of versions of this. Zoom does this well, that when you share your screen it makes the presenter smaller. But when nothing is being shared the presenter is full screen. Here’s one example from the virtual Content Tech Summit in 2020.
I’ve seen versions of this from other platforms, where the presenter is shown in a little bitty window and the PowerPoint takes up the majority of the screen. Why even show the presenter, in that case, is beyond me? You can’t even see them.
That screenshot is from Tim Hanse’s presentation and he joined me on the Business Storytelling Podcast which you can listen to our conversation about his topic from the conference here .
I also love that the software the Content Marketing Institute uses has those chapter links. Easy to skip ahead and back. Again, that’s good to know how to trigger those as a presenter. For example, in my presentation, I didn’t really think about that and didn’t have very good chapter breaks. They looked like this, unfortunately:
CMI uses Knovio.com for this setup, which their chief content officer and I discuss on this episode of the podcast .
Read next: Read my reviews on other event platforms
Maybe my least favorite is where just the PowerPoint is on-screen, like this:
As surprising as it was to me, but people do look at PowerPoints on Slideshare . Of course, that’s self-paced. They just click forward at their own pace. In a presentation, looking at just the PowerPoint can get boring. Even if it’s well-designed. There might be reasons when this is the way to go, though. For example, when the slide is highly technical. On the other hand, who wants to look at a highly technical slide while somebody is blabbing about it?
Another option is to show the presenter only, like how I presented at the AgoraPulse Summi t.
This one was kind of born out of necessity due to some tech issues on my end, but it’s something worth considering. If you don’t have any useful visuals, why force it?
[Tweet “If you don’t have any useful visuals, why force a PowerPoint slide?”]
There are probably other versions as well that I haven’t seen and feel free to tweet me more examples.
At the Virtual Insight Summit , no decks were allowed and the featured presentations are actually conversational interviews between the speakers and executives at the organizing companies.
Ryan Barry , president at Zappi, and Jenn Vogel , SVP of marketing at Voxpopme, joined me on a podcast episode to discuss the concept.
Like with any conference, planning and collaboration matter. Make sure you understand the event tech, how will things look, and work. It’s easy to say “oh yeah, I’ve done a virtual presentation before, plus I’m on Zoom calls all day.” Same here but there are all kinds of technology options out there already and more keep popping up. What event planners use can vary widely from conference to conference so it’s important to find out.
I also find it important to understand their philosophy:
In addition, it’s good to understand how attendees will and can interact with you.
Also, consider who will run the PowerPoint and how that works. Do a test run!
It sounds simple, but I’ve spoken at conferences where they didn’t really introduce me and I did it myself. That’s fine if I know this in my opinion and I can give a quick overview of who I am. If somebody will introduce you, make sure they have a good intro. When I spoke at the Print and Digital Innovations Summit in London in November 2018 I was the opening talk and discussed my steps on how to actually evaluate new technology .
Nobody introduced me and they told me to start at 8:45 and be done at 9:30. The room was filled and I got going at 8:45. I didn’t know who knew or didn’t know me. So I introduced myself and then started. Or continued rather. I encourage audience participation so introducing yourself here is similar to introducing yourself in a meeting. Some speakers of course don’t need an introduction anyway.
Read next: How to create conference speaker images for better event promotion
Long paragraphs without phonetic spellings are hard to use and when people roll their eyes that something was mispronounced that’s on the writer – not the person reading.
With that in mind, here are some things to keep in mind for introductions that you choose to write out:
Chris TOFF Trap is a global content marketing strategist and top four-teen content marketer. The projects of his teams have been recognized globally. He has worked with clients around the globe. He’s a keynote speaker and has written three books that have been sold on all continents except Antarctica. He’s not holding out hope there. Please help me welcome Chris TOFF
It’s like a TV script really. Of course, that might add work, which is probably why this is not a common practice.
Now speakers or their reps need to provide two bios. And then the organizers need to keep those straight. We wouldn’t want the phonetic one in the printed program or on the website!
Virtual speaking certainly is different from speaking at a conference. At the end of the day, it’s another way to connect with our audiences and as we should do for all channels: Consider what works on that specific channel and do that. Make it work for everyone involved – the audience, the speaker and the conference.
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By david p. otey, m.a., m.b.a. principal speaking coach, speaking of solutions, llc certified virtual presenter.
If you are like me, the past 12 months or so have brought significant changes in how you present information to audiences. You have most likely had to change your delivery mode from primarily in-person to primarily, if not exclusively, online. You may already have a good idea of what has been working well for you and where the challenges lie. The purpose of this article will be to look at some considerations you might not have thought of. By the end of it, you will have some ideas to help you forge a stronger audience connection so you can be more memorable, have more impact, and be recognized as the expert that you are.
The fundamentals of the presenter’s responsibilities are unchanged. It is still the speaker’s job to engage and serve the audience. This will come as news to some presenters, notably those who believe their job is to serve up information. An information-focused speaker risks leaving the audience behind. Surely, we have all experienced the dreaded “information dump.” This occurs because the speaker (and here I include myself, for I know I have done this) feels compelled to share information that he or she found compelling, without regard for the audience’s needs.
The result of an information dump is usually one of two conditions: an audience that is confused and overwhelmed, or an audience that is bored and tuned out. Neither result is what the presenter is looking for, so why do they allow this to happen? Usually, it is because they don’t know better. It is what they have seen modeled by other presenters.
The way to avoid this result is to focus on the audience first. Why are they present? What do they need? Specifically, what problem do they have for which the speaker can offer a solution?
The first step for audience engagement is to know one’s specific purpose . In contrast with the general purpose of “to inform” or “to educate,” the specific purpose is the answer to this question: “What do I want my audience to think, do, or feel differently when I am done?” Asking this question leads naturally to a higher degree of audience understanding, for answering it requires some awareness of the audience’s needs and their initial state of mind. How will you move your audience from their starting point to some new level of awareness or action?
Once you know the answer to the specific purpose question, that answer becomes the filter through which all your content must pass if it is to be allowed into the presentation. No matter how proud you are of this graph or that paragraph, if it does not support the desired change in the audience’s condition, it does not go in. Focus on the audience and on how you intend to change their condition for the better. You are there to serve the audience, not to serve your information.
To put it simply, what you are trying to do for your audience is still the universal starting point. The differences for virtual presentations lie in how you will accomplish your purpose. If your job is to engage the audience so that you can make a difference to them, and your audience is remote from you, then we must consider the added challenge of engaging that remote, and potentially unseen, audience. What are the additional obstacles that you must overcome?
The first is lack of immediate feedback. This is especially true in a webinar format where you cannot see the attendees at all. But it also happens even in a virtual meeting with webcams being shared. Consider some of the cues you receive from an audience that is in the room with you: Are they sitting quietly and attentively, or are they fidgeting and looking down at their phones? Do they return your eye contact and nod occasionally to indicate “Yes, I get it”? Do their facial expressions change, especially when you slip in something humorous or surprising?
Few of those cues survive even in a Zoom or Teams meeting; and none, if webcams are not visible to you. Therefore, presenting virtually requires more confidence, intentionality, and energy on your part. If you use humor, you must have the presence of mind to wait for a laugh you cannot hear. If you ask a question, you need to make it clear whether it is rhetorical—in which case you must wait long enough for the listener to form an answer even if it is not shared—or whether you want them to go to the chat function and type in a response.
Speaking of chat, you need to make clear early on how you expect your audience to interact with you. Besides chat, you might use white boards, breakout rooms, polls, or other tools. Details of how to use these tools vary across platforms and so are beyond the scope of this article. Know what is available to you and practice ahead of time with a friendly, hand-picked audience until you are comfortable with your platform’s tools. Having a technical producer or facilitator to help you during the event is highly recommended, especially if the audience is large.
Aside from the lack of traditional feedback channels, another challenge is that your audience’s attention is diluted. You are a virtual presence on their computer screen, and their local distractions are real and present in the room with them. Therefore, every minute that you want their attention, you must remember that you are competing for it. And you are competing against an unseen and unknown foe.
One of the most powerful ways to change your delivery and recapture attention is to move in and out of sharing your screen (or slides). When presenting in person, I always make it a point to insert black slides in my slide deck when I want the audience’s attention to be fully on me. Many presenters do not seem to realize that this is an option. They may think, “There’s a screen next to me; therefore, I must fill it.” This is erroneous thinking. Your slides are not the presentation. You are. The slides are merely the visual aid .
Just as I will sometimes make the screen go blank when presenting in person, when giving a webinar or virtual training I will stop sharing my screen when I want to vary the pace and recapture attention.
You have likely seen other ways presenters vary the pace when presenting virtually. One popular technique is to pose questions in poll format. All too often, though, it seems to me that such polls are not really that interesting and do not add to my engagement as an audience member. So try to pose questions that cause your audience to reflect on your content and the experience they are having. Consider using a live-polling site like Mentimeter to expand the possibilities and capture a wider array of responses.
Be particularly careful not to overload your screen with too much detail in your tables or figures. Always go lighter in your screen content for a presentation—whether in person or virtual—than you would in print. The reader of your paper or article has the luxury of deciding how much time to spend poring over your figures. An audience member does not have that choice, because you decide when to go on to the next visual. How do you know your attendees have had time to peruse that slide to their satisfaction? You don’t, so make it something they can take in quickly while you are talking about it.
If you want them to have more detail available to them, put the full table or more detailed diagram in a handout. Have it ready to go in a PDF document and upload it to the presentation platform so that your attendees can download and keep it. Then hit the highlights in your presentation and move on.
By changing your pace and your visual elements, you can compete more effectively with the distractions that are in the same room as your audience members. And by focusing on your audience and what you are there to do for them, you are more likely to make a lasting difference and be remembered as an effective presenter. By both of these means, you will be better positioned to succeed on whatever platform you find yourself once the pandemic is past.
About the author: David P. Otey, M.A., M.B.A., a frequent speaker at AAPS meetings, hosts the podcast “The Power of Story and Science ” on communication skills for scientists. His books include The Speaker’s Quick Guide to Technical Presentations and The Speaker’s Quick Guide to Presenting with Confidence (arriving May 2021). Check them out ! He can be reached directly by email or through his website , He resides in Golden, Colorado.
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It's hard enough retaining the attention of your audience when delivering a presentation face-to-face. How can you do so when the people you're addressing aren't even in the same room?
Virtual presentations, or presentations delivered over videoconferencing software, appear to have skyrocketed in popularity since COVID-19 and the remote-working boom. But you might be surprised to learn that this meeting format has been a favorite for nearly a decade.
Way back in 2013, the Harvard Business Review reported that as many as 80% of presentations were delivered remotely. In a virtual setting, presenters have instant access to all of their colleagues, no matter where they are in the world and at any time. It's an opportunity for increased collaboration, improving efficiency and saving time and money that would otherwise be spent on business travel.
Taking the time to hone your virtual presentation skills is well worth it during the coronavirus crisis and beyond. Here are seven tips for delivering a killer presentation that will keep your attendees focused, engaged, and alert.
Soft skills make a big difference to how you come across in the workplace. Brush up on your soft skills with our free ebook to give yourself an edge in your next presentation.
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When you present virtually, rather than in a meeting room, it's harder to convey your humanness. To avoid slipping into a robotic mode and sending your attendees to sleep, a concerted effort is needed.
Imagine that your webcam is a person you're eager to engage with. An enormous part of how we communicate is through body language , and that doesn't change in a virtual setting. You wouldn't dream of spending a 30-minute face-to-face conversation reading notes from a sheet of paper or failing to make eye contact.
Consider ways to communicate your enthusiasm and passion for your presentation, whether it's standing up when speaking, using hand motions and gestures to illustrate your points or varying your speaking tone, pitch, speed, and volume.
Ahead of the presentation, record a snippet of yourself speaking. If you sound bored and disengaged, you can guarantee your audience will feel that way when they listen to you.
Remember, you might be discussing a subject about which you are passionate and knowledgeable, but be cautious not to bombard people with masses of information in one go. Be patient with your audience, divide your presentation into bite-size portions, and don't ramble unnecessarily.
Around 30 million PowerPoint presentations are created every single day. Not only does this mean your audience has learned to recognize an excellent presentation when they see it, but they'll quickly switch off when it doesn't quite meet the mark.
The most important thing to bear in mind when developing slides for your virtual presentation is that readers should be able to take in the meaning of each slide within three seconds – this is known as the glance test .
To ensure your presentation passes the glance test try the following techniques:
The Ringelmann effect refers to the theory that the less someone feels needed in a situation (i.e., a virtual meeting), the more distracted they become, and the less effort they will make. The bigger the audience gets, the less responsibility attendees will feel to make it a success. This impact is magnified in a virtual meeting.
Breakout sessions can happen virtually. Lots of video conferencing software includes a tool that divides attendees into breakout groups. This is a particularly useful feature when presenting to a broader audience – it mixes up the flow of the presentation and encourages everyone to participate in some form. Once you've split your audience into small groups, you might want to assign them with different discussion topics or challenge them to solve a business problem. Once everyone reconvenes, ask a spokesperson from each group to provide an overview of their discussion.
Some other ways to add variety to your presentation include:
Many people experience nerves before delivering a presentation, whether in person or virtually. If presenting doesn't seem to come naturally to you, ask your manager to help fine-tune your delivery style, the slideshow, or the content itself.
It doesn't take much to disrupt a virtual presentation. Annoying background noise, faulty technology, or a messy background are enough to distract your audience from the valuable information you're sharing. Identify potential distractions and solutions ahead of your presentation. That means testing all technology in advance, arriving for your presentation ahead of time, finding a quiet place to deliver it, making sure you have poured yourself a glass of water, and rehearsing to avoid mistakes.
Your audience will also be distracted if their purpose for attending your presentation is unclear. Be sure to communicate effectively with your attendees ahead of the presentation, outlining the agenda and providing any necessary supporting information you'd like them to review in advance. Share attendees' contact details so they can reach out to one another for help should there be any technical glitches.
There is no need for your virtual presentation to be overly formal or stilted in tone. You're far more likely to capture the attention and earn your audience's affections if you adopt a laid-back, conversational style and incorporate some fun activities. Consider using props to illustrate your points, telling jokes, holding a competition to test the audience's concentration, or conducting an ice-breaker.
Finally, never underestimate the power of storytelling. As many as 90% of people believe that a strong narrative in a presentation is critical for audience engagement. It improves focus, interest, and helps the audience to resonate with what you're saying. Check out this video lesson from the GoSkills Public Speaking course to brush up on your skills:
The nature of your presentation will determine how you follow-up with your audience afterward. If its primary purpose was to educate and inform, you might simply choose to share some additional resources such as reading lists or websites. Consider offering your time to anyone eager to learn more.
However, if your presentation is business-results-driven, you'll need to clearly outline the next steps and assign roles to your audience. Did you make decisions or come to any conclusions throughout the presentation? What needs to be achieved in the coming weeks, and who needs to make that happen? To help people fulfill their roles, consider sending them the transcript (or recording) of your presentation.
Presenting isn't an easy skill to master, but practice really does make perfect. As you fine-tune your presenting technique, remember that your enthusiasm and dedication in the virtual meeting room will go a long way to keeping your audience engaged.
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Hugo Britt is a freelance content writer who believes that every topic is fascinating if you dig deeply enough. Hugo is the co-founder of content marketing agency Discontent. Since 2020, he has written content on topics such as workplace training, LMS, elearning, remote work, and entrepreneurship for GoSkills. He has a Master's Degree in Publishing and Editing (Communications) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in English Literature. Learn more on Linkedin here.
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A little prep can go a long way.
While virtual communication platforms help keep remote teams connected, they’re not always the ideal venue for delivering engaging presentations. It’s difficult (or impossible) to read your audience’s nonverbal cues over video and audio — if you’ve lost them, you might not even realize it. You’re also up against the many distractions inherent to working from home. Delivering effective presentations over video requires a little extra preparation. Ask a few people you trust to help you out before and after the meeting by being ready to participate when called on and by giving you actionable feedback afterward. Learn about your audience in advance and build in a short, relevant personal story that will make them feel included. Above all, be concise and clear.
My coaching client, an engineer named Carlos, is a magnificent in-person storyteller. He talks with his hands and tells lengthy, animated stories replete with humorous metaphors and plot twists. His wit and warmth used to be received positively.
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A Deep Dive Into Virtual Presentations. Virtual presentations are becoming increasingly common. With more businesses now embracing remote work, they're an unavoidable adaptation that is essential for onboarding, employee development, and more. However, it's not as straightforward as transplanting in-person presentation scripts into the ...
With online presentation templates for a solid base and specific tactics to keep remote audiences engaged, presenters can easily connect with people in a virtual setting for great presentation success. This guide to virtual presentations provides a definition of virtual presentations, common examples, and instructions on how to best present online.
Here are a few steps to help you use Lifesize for your next virtual presentation: 1. Have your presentation ready. Compelling visuals and copy make any presentation better. Don't worry if your design chops are lacking; use content from your company's website, blog or social media feeds.
Virtual presentations are now the norm, and virtual presenters or audience members are typically present during in-person meetings as well, leading to a new hybrid style of presentation that requires a unique approach to designing slides. ... First, content-heavy slides mean the audience will read ahead of your presentation, and they will be ...
By now, virtual presentations are a staple in the way many organizations conduct business. But just because most people are used to presenting online doesn't mean they're any good at it. The best virtual presentations require more than just appearing on screen or sharing content. To really connect with your audience, you need to follow the virtual presentation framework: Establish ...
5. Eliminate distractions. If you're presenting from your home office, put your smartphone out of arm's reach, and don't forget to turn it on silent. Turn "Do Not Disturb" on for any notifications that may sound from the device in which you're conducting the presentation, like email or text messages.
The ULTIMATE guide to virtual presentations. For many organizations, the days of giving face-to-face presentations for every meeting are over. Though face-to-face meetings are still a powerful communications tool, conference organizers, marketing teams, and B2B sales people can attest that virtual presentations are here to stay.
A virtual presentation is a presentation over video conferencing software, often for coworkers or peers. Rather than occurring in a physical room, these types of remote meetings take place over various video conferencing apps. While a virtual presentation doesn't occur in a physical location with your colleagues, learning ways to give an ...
4. Perfect Your Presentation Setup. As a presenter, all eyes will be on you, which means you'll want to be intentional in how you set up your virtual meeting space. Make sure to have ample front light (so your face is clearly visible), and a neutral backdrop that won't take away from your talking points.
7) Engage Your Audience Members. Keep your audience engaged and allow them to participate. Some ways you can keep your audience engaged is by using polling software to ask the audience questions. You can host a Q&A at the end of your meeting, or you can have them play games like Kahoot! to win prizes.
Use Icebreakers and Music to Set the Mood. Make a great first impression on the group by starting things off in a fun way. " Ask them something about themselves or the topic. Play a video," Femily says. "The first minute of people logging on is the most important to set the energetic tone for the session.".
The VirtualSpeech virtual presentation simulator.. 9. Keep everyone engaged. Before you start, try to find out who will be on the call. During your virtual presentation you can then ask them specific questions, addressing individuals by name. There are also other tools that you can use, such as giving control of the screen to a participant, so that they can share a document with the group, if ...
4. Be Standing. Even though your audience cannot see you, stand when you present. This allows you to stay focused and use good presentation delivery skills such as belly breathing, vocal variety, and pausing. 5. Be Prepared. Practice delivering your presentation with your technology in advance of your talk.
Here are 15 expert tips to set you up for success in your next virtual presentation: 1. Get the Lighting Right: As a presenter, it is essential that people can see you well. Make sure you have ...
Virtual Presentations. Whether you are giving a research talk, lecturing, or giving a workshop, virtual presentations present a new set of challenges, from interacting with an audience that you can't always see to managing teleconferencing technology. You can keep your audience oriented by presenting a talk with a clear structure.
Here are some practical virtual presentation tips I learned from this experience: Replace your physical energy with vocal energy. Replace physical cues with visual cues. Vary your slide layout. Don't count on reading the room. Don't count on audience interaction. Do use interactive virtual presentation tools. Think about your ending.
Break down your ideas into bite -size portions that can be easily grasped and digested. Chunking lessens the cognitive load of learning online and makes your presentation more understandable. Use ...
2. Keep it Interesting. Virtual presentations may or may not include a camera.If you happen to be doing a presentation without a camera, your slides and voice are the only tools that you have available. Provide clear slides that are easy to digest without an overabundance of details and information on any one slide.
Don't give up - Don't get sucked into the pool of Zoom mediocrity. Making a world-class virtual presentation takes effort, planning, and practice, but that's a good thing. When everyone is bland ...
Links to products mentioned in this virtual presentation tips article are affiliate links to Amazon, meaning I get a super small cut if you click and buy. As always, products are relevant to the content. I just have to say it: A virtual keynote in Istanbul isn't the same as hopping across the pond, meeting people face-to-face, and enjoying the city while keynoting on-site. Bu
About the author: David P. Otey, M.A., M.B.A., a frequent speaker at AAPS meetings, hosts the podcast "The Power of Story and Science" on communication skills for scientists. His books include The Speaker's Quick Guide to Technical Presentations and The Speaker's Quick Guide to Presenting with Confidence (arriving May 2021). Check them out!He can be reached directly by email or through ...
Virtual presentations, or presentations delivered over videoconferencing software, appear to have skyrocketed in popularity since COVID-19 and the remote-working boom. ... to bear in mind when developing slides for your virtual presentation is that readers should be able to take in the meaning of each slide within three seconds - this is ...
Above all, be concise and clear. My coaching client, an engineer named Carlos, is a magnificent in-person storyteller. He talks with his hands and tells lengthy, animated stories replete with ...