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A Deep Dive Into Virtual Presentations

Head of Product at Gloww

• Published on November 1, 2023

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 virtual world. If you want to host virtual presentations that strike the right note, you need to think carefully about readying your material for online audiences. 

What is a virtual presentation? How can you keep online audiences engaged? These are the questions you should be asking yourself if you want to make effective use of the virtual format. 

How Are Virtual Presentations Different From Regular Presentations?

While the ultimate goal of virtual presentations is the same as in-person presentations, there are a lot of differences between the two formats . For starters, there’s generally less performance involved. When delivering an in-person presentation, a lot of focus is placed on keeping an audience engaged . A good presenter needs to be comfortable with public speaking and a master when it comes to body language. 

When presenting online, there’s far less pressure when it comes to performance. This is despite the fact that a presenter may be broadcasting to dozens, if not hundreds of people. An effective virtual presentation is generally more informal and relaxed. 

However, there are some downsides to delivering a presentation online. One of the biggest issues that presenters face is that they’ll have to contend with more distractions than if they were presenting to an in-person audience. These same distractions are what can render a standard conference call a challenge, and presenters often have to work extra hard to maintain audience engagement. 

What’s more, while the usual presentation skills aren’t always necessary, different proficiencies come into play. Body language doesn’t read as well when presenting online, but a speaker will still need to project a message virtually. Tone of voice is crucial, and a speaker needs to consider pauses carefully. Additionally, it’s important to constantly engage the audience if you want to maintain their interest levels. Relying too heavily on slides or failing to interact with an audience is a surefire way of dooming a virtual presentation to failure. For some inspiration you can find our employee engagement calendar on our blog too.

Why Are Virtual Presentations Important?

If your business operates in the virtual space and your teams are working remotely, you need to be thinking seriously about virtual presentations . It’s simply not practical to bring remote teams together for in-person training and team-building exercises, especially if employees are dispersed across the globe. 

Virtual presentations can be used as a learning tool to develop your workforce and introduce them to new ideas and ways of working. Some businesses utilize digital training documents for this purpose, but there’s little scope for interactivity here. With virtual presentations, you’re giving yourself the chance to connect with remote teams . As well as being a powerful tool for communication and instilling a sense of company culture , a live virtual presentation provides you with the chance to gauge engagement and understanding levels. 

How Do You Create a Virtual Presentation?

Is this your first time staging a virtual presentation ? Adapting your in-person approach to the virtual world might seem like a good idea, but you won’t achieve good results this way. To make your next virtual presentation a success , we’ve put together some handy tips. 

Start with Your Content 

This is the most important thing to consider when readying your presentation material for an online audience . While the bare bones of your in-person presentations can be used, they’ll need to be refined for the virtual space. Are you delivering training content to an online audience? All the key information can be captured here, but make sure it’s accessible and not overbaked. Is your presentation more client-facing? Make sure you’re capturing key selling points and considering what can be shared in other formats. 

Think About Your Slides 

Cramming too many slides into your presentation is a guaranteed way of sending your audience to sleep. If you want to maintain high engagement levels, keep slides sparse . During an in-person presentation, it’s easy to read the room and elaborate on complex slides if you feel the need to. When presenting online, this isn’t always possible. If your presentation has to be slide-heavy, try and stick to a single slide for every minute of speech. Ensure the slides you are using are concise and capture key information. 

Focus On Your Audience 

When presenting to an audience, you need to constantly reaffirm the fact that the information you’re discussing is relevant to them. Reading body language and audience responses can be a little tricky when presenting online, but keeping the focus on participants is crucial if you want to achieve good results. Regular interaction is a good way of keeping presentation material focused on your audience. Make a point of underlining how what you’re talking about applies to them and how it can help them achieve their everyday goals. 

Even if the material you’re covering in a presentation is pretty dense, you need to remain lively and dynamic to capture audience attention. Avoid leaning on your slides too heavily and make sure you’re not bound to a script. A little deviation can work wonders for audience engagement. 

Involve Your Audience to Avoid the Ringelmann Effect 

The Ringelmann Effect is something you might encounter if you’re presenting to a large audience. The bigger an audience gets, the less likely it is that individual participants are going to engage. By constantly involving your audience, you can overcome this. If you need to bring a hypothetical scenario into play , put someone on the spot. This way, everyone’s kept on their toes and constantly braced to interact. 

Remove External Distractions

While there’s not much you can do to ensure participants aren’t dealing with their own distractions, you can eliminate distractions from your presenting environment . Make sure your schedule is completely cleared to avoid any unwanted phone calls or interruptions. Are you presenting from an office location? Let anyone who is sharing your space know you need complete quiet so you can concentrate on delivering the best virtual presentation possible. 

Be Enthusiastic 

Even if the content of your presentation is on the dry side, you need to be able to sell it to your audience . If you’re not animated and engaged with the material, you can’t expect your audience to show an interest. Familiarizing yourself with presentation content will go a long way in ensuring you can deliver a lively and passionate event for participants. 

Professional Surroundings and Backgrounds 

No matter how animated you are during a presentation, you’ll still need to keep things professional . A low-key background will not only eliminate distractions but set the right tone for learning and development. Here’s our list of best backgrounds .

Best Virtual Presentation Tips

Now you’ve created a compelling outline for your virtual presentation , you’ll need to work on your presentation skills and deliver a memorable event. Below are some handy tips to get you started. 

Proper Webcam and Lighting 

Production values count when it comes to virtual presentations. A standard laptop webcam probably isn’t going to cut it if you want to make the right impression. An external webcam is therefore a must. You’ll also want to play around with lighting to make your presentation as effective as possible. 

Check Your Internet Connection 

Technical issues are sometimes unavoidable. However, even the slightest lag can render a virtual presentation pointless. Check your internet connection ahead of time to ensure you’re not going to have to contend with this issue. 

Talk to the Camera

It’s tempting to check the reactions of your online audience, but this isn’t really practical if you’re delivering a presentation to a large number of people. Rather than work overtime in an attempt to make a personal connection, talk to the camera instead. This gives you the best chance of making a connection with everyone who’s watching.  

Use Body Language 

Body language is very important when presenting online. While you won’t be able to make eye contact with individual audience members and use the space around you, you can make use of hand gestures and facial expressions to strengthen your message. However, remember to keep things simple.  

Engage Your Audience Members 

If you’re planning a longer virtual presentation or covering a lot of key topics, you need to make sure your audience is engaged . Constantly reach out to participants to hammer out specifics with examples or use quick-fire quizzes to keep everyone engaged. You can even use one of the 49 icebreakers to spice things up .

Be Yourself 

Authenticity matters when presenting online. It’s particularly important if you’re an employer presenting to remote teams. Make sure the persona you’re projecting is true to the one you’ve already established. The more authentic you are, the more credible your message will seem. 

What is the Optimum Amount of Time You Can Keep People Engaged Online? 

Most people will struggle to remain engaged with a single topic beyond five minutes. Your presentation is going to be longer than this, so avoid dwelling on specific topics for too long. For best results, try and keep your overall presentation no within 45 minutes . 

How Often Should Your Audience Share Their Thoughts?

Reach out to participants once every five minutes or so. You can ask individual participants to reflect on topics you’ve just covered, or break things up with more interactive elements like quizzes and polls. 

How Many Presenters Should There Be in a Virtual Presentation? 

With shorter presentations, it makes sense to keep things simple with a single presenter. If you’re planning a longer event and want to keep things as dynamic as possible, consider using two or three speakers. 

Host Your Next Virtual Presentation with Gloww 

Ready to unlock the potential of virtual presentations? Whether you’re presenting to prospective clients or need to reach out to remote teams, virtual presentations are the way forward . However, you’ll need a reliable video conferencing solution to stage a successful virtual presentation. 

With Gloww, you have everything you need to deliver memorable presentations that strike the right note with audiences. You can adapt your existing presentation material for the virtual space or explore brand-new elements to bring interactivity to your sessions. Add existing slide decks to readymade templates, make things more interesting with polls and quizzes, or integrate multimedia assets to take your presentations to a whole new level. You can get started with Gloww today. If you want to learn about Gloww can help you fine-tune your virtual presentations, explore our pricing plans , and discover more about our premium features. Do you still have questions about Gloww? Get in touch with the team.

Want to learn more? Here’s everything you need to record your meeting , a template for your monthly business review meetings , virtual meeting etiquettte , and all about how video conferencing works .

Ben Aflalo heads Gloww's product team with over two decades of leadership experience. Passionate about leveraging innovative technology, he is committed to building products for the greater good.

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas A Guide to Mastering Virtual Presentations

A Guide to Mastering Virtual Presentations

Virtual presentations are a new standard. With over 30+ billion presentations being created every day, traditional in-person presentations, which used to be the commonality, are more and more being adapted to a more frequent online presentation scenario. 

Through the pandemic in 2020, the video conferencing platform Zoom had a participant increase of 2900% with a daily meeting participant figure of 350 million people in December of that year. Yet, either triggered by the lack of human interaction or technological barriers, the truth is that online presentations can still and easily feel daunting.

That doesn’t need to be the case, however! 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. 

What’s a virtual presentation?

A virtual presentation is an event whereby a presenter or a group of people face an audience online to go over virtual material of common interest. In the best of scenarios, a great rendition of an online presentation is clear, meeting a specific purpose that is of its audience’s interest. 

Examples of virtual presentations

At SlideModel, each of our presentation templates sets a valuable example of the kind of virtual presentation that works best for very particular settings. These go over topics in business, strategy presentations , marketing, and SWOT Analysis templates , to name a few. There are also different presentation themes to these on diverse virtual presentation templates; the latest to suit numerous needs. 

How virtual presentations happen

Virtual presentations most commonly take place via web or video conferencing platforms. Though many tools exist to allow a presenter to meet an audience exclusively online, the most famous for this purpose are currently Zoom, as we described above, as much as Microsoft Teams , Google Meet, and Skype. Other virtual presentations can take advantage of video presentations , where the presenter records the presentation , save it as a video, and then stream it to the target audience using a video presentation platform.

In general, these platforms include a screen-sharing ability to let presenters display online presentation decks . And they’ve become a great go-to resource with an augmented work-from-home (WFH) model worldwide. 

Different Types of Online Presentations

Internal virtual presentations (between colleagues).

We give these kinds of presentations to people within our organization. Whether it’s for the same department or team as ours or another stakeholder within our company, college, or any sort of official body with which we interact, internal presentations serve people whose interests and needs we can access first-hand via a common ground. 

Events (conferences, discussion panels, TED talks)

More public than the first item, virtual presentations can also be part of large events, whether these are public or private. Take all sorts of online conferences or talks into account. We can go online to meet worldwide communities of diverse sorts and be invited to speak at a discussion panel or conference, for example, making our presence visible to multiple computer users or over a single live broadcast on a large screen in an auditorium, for instance. 

Sales presentations with prospects

At times, pitches need to happen on-screen with potential prospects who give us a certain allotted timeframe in their schedules for us to touch base on our product or offer. Virtual sales pitch is another method to use.

Training or educational online presentations

Another type of online presentations can be delivered for training presentations . Those can happen for internal and even external teams or as part of an educational program at different institutions.

When we’re seeking to build talent up with new skills, our presentations require a lot of clarity with specific instructions, workflows, examples, charts, videos, and as many interactive or information-specific tools as possible. 

But how do we present online events like the above? 

How to Prepare for Virtual Presentations

Here are a few tips on how to best prepare for virtual presentations. We’ve made sure to include these steps as being well-prepared for an online meeting can significantly improve your road to success.

As usual, do your research before putting a single slide together. Reading up on what you will talk about to an audience can set an enormous difference between the knowledge you bring to a presentation and that of anyone else in the same room with you. Chances are that people listening to you as a presenter are very invested in your topic. As such, they can come from diverse backgrounds, and truly have a natural interest in what you have to say. Be valuable to your audience with high-quality content. For that, seek what interests them, how they respond to similar material, and the best ways in which you can engage them. 

Putting material together

Then, work at designing great PowerPoint slides . Keep a balance between design and content, tailoring what you present with your branding or voice in competitive, slick design that also clearly exposes your expertise. 

Consider your audience’s attention spans here. For that, spread content throughout several slides, if possible. Instead of packing each slide full of text or images, fill them with catchy titles, relevant sub-titles, meaningful text, and attention-grabbing visuals. Doing so will add dynamism and generate a more frequent visual change viewers are bound to appreciate. 

Add the above visual flow especially if your audience will need to spend a long time on-screen to follow you. Quicker online presentations can, on the contrary, afford concise and to-the-point material over the shortest amount of slides you can muster.  

Preparing your script

You may have all the know-how in the world on a given topic, company, subject of study, a product, or whatever is getting you to a virtual presentation need. Yet, an outline of ideas, a sequence of thoughts, and the most important areas of your presentation are all valuable tools to ensure success as you present. 

Write your thoughts out. Think of the sentences you’re verbalizing, how you’re phrasing your communications, and the order in which these will be presented. Slides don’t make up for your verbal communication. That vocal area needs preparation, too. 

Write an outline, jot down pointers, and even prepare an essay, if you must. However you feel most comfortable, a script in any form is necessary for a clear rendition of your ideas in front of an audience, whether that happens virtually or in person. 

While you’re at it, include attention-grabbers as you prepare what you’ll say. These can be as easy as saying: “Look over to our graph at the bottom right”, for example, inviting people to actually connect to what you’re presenting. These tricks are especially needed during an online presentation given the potential audiences have to be distracted via so many other means that are available on their computer, tablet, or cellphone. 

Practicing in front of an audience

Quite succinctly, peer feedback can do wonders for your virtual presentations. Gather whoever will connect with you to get their valuable insight on what’s coming through from your efforts. 

Sit back without judgment to listen to what business partners, friends, and even family have to say about your work.

Recording a demo

Tied to above, record that session. You can use it as your demo. 

Pushing you to be fully ready for a practice run will ensure you have thought about everything that matters for your final presentation. It will also add a level of security that can give you a more successful edge in the end. 

This practice might sound tedious, but it can also help your team, for example, if you bring people on board to your demo before you launch a product, face a client, present before a different department, face your teacher, and so much more!

Checking your online tools

Because online presentations essentially depend on technological tools, much more so than in any other kind of presentation setting, take the time to check everything works before you get started. 

Check your invitation links, log in to your meeting platform, open up relevant files, click on the presentation sharing icon, and make sure you’ve got all the privileges you need to perform any action you intend on making. Test your audio, try your mic and speakers, and hit the record button as a trial…do it all!

A demo, practice, and even setting 30 minutes ahead of your presentation can be golden for you to troubleshoot any unexpected technological failures. Go through your required steps one by one to make sure everything works!

Presenters are muted quite commonly and cannot get their volume to function, their cameras have stopped working, or they simply can’t share their screen. While no one will generally count that against anyone if the delays aren’t meaningful, this kind of setback can easily signal a lack of preparation. Because many issues can get in the way of a successful and timely virtual meeting, prepare for those challenges ahead of time. 

Concentration

Once your checklist up to here is done, remember to take some time for yourself. Seek your focus. However you concentrate best, find that mental spot where you can truly be attuned to your thoughts and the way you speak. Release any heavy emotions, such as anger, fear, anxiety, or stress. And seek to be balanced within your own self. Even three deep breaths can do the trick if time is pressing, but never forget to start presenting until you’re at your best concentration level. 

Putting yourself out there

Then go for it! Hit that record or live button, let people in your waiting room into your meeting area, say hi to anyone present, or let people know if you’re expecting anyone or waiting for someone for a few minutes. Become the host and take over as a leader, which is ultimately what presentations are about; for a specific period, all attention will be on you. Take your space, put yourself out there, and do your best. 

Establishing conversation

Virtual presentations don’t end when you’re done presenting your slides. Whenever possible, open up the space for the audience to give you feedback, ask questions, and engage in conversation with you. You can include a question and answer (Q&A) session or display frequently asked questions as a means of addressing commonly unclear areas. Also, leave room to address whatever comments come up via chat. 

By the way, just as a pointer to get your next presentation rolling, set the stage at the beginning of your online presentation in terms of when and how you’d like your audience to ask questions. Will everyone be able to stop you as you’re presenting to clear any items that come up? Or would you rather leave all questions for last? 

Commonly, addressing questions via chat or at the end of the session keeps your attendees’ focus under better control. Remember you’re directing people’s attention every time you present. This works just like a maestro would command an orchestra. Make the best of your expertise and knowledge to wow your audience with a unique presentation that gets people talking. 

Conclusions

Virtual meetings aren’t going anywhere. If anything, the use of online tools to group on a given topic is more and more common. As work-from-home leniency becomes widespread after COVID-19, especially, we can heavily rely on virtual presentations being here to stay. 

Consider using slide deck templates to help your slide quality. Templates are a great base for design as much as content. With industry or topic-specific material, templates are a great guide that can also accelerate how you create and share content in a high-paced environment. 

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Business PowerPoint Templates, Business Presentations, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentations, Verbal Communication, Virtual Presentations Filed under Presentation Ideas

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How to Give a Virtual Presentation: Tips, Challenges, and More

For many, virtual presentations are an acquired taste. But, with remote teams becoming increasingly popular—especially now due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—virtual presentations are not only to be expected, but they are also rapidly becoming the norm in our day-to-day professional lives. In addition to helping colleagues stay aligned on major projects, virtual presentations are a useful sales tool that helps you improve your profit margins and are also a staple of customer or client engagements, whether in the form of quarterly business reviews, new feature introductions or providing regular reporting.

How Do Virtual Presentations Differ From Regular Presentations?

It’s tempting to think that the same rules that apply to in-person presentations would apply to virtual presentations as well. In reality, however, the two require different approaches to keep viewers engaged in the presentation. Here are two major differences between virtual and regular presentations:

Virtual presentations are competing with more distractions

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 tune into body language and what the speaker is saying. With virtual presentations, the context is very different.

Often, viewers are on mute (video or audio), making it much more difficult for presenters to understand who is engaging with the content. At any moment attendees may be answering a phone call, checking email, browsing social media or simply multitasking due to lack of interest, to all of which the presenter would be none the wiser.

Virtual presentations offer greater scalability

Virtual presentations allow you to present to more people at the same time, aided by group video conferencing services such as Lifesize, which allow for hundreds of participants per meeting . To participate, all that meeting attendees need is a device with an internet connection, greatly simplifying logistics when compared to a traditional in-office presentation, which often requires making travel plans, blocking a few days to travel and booking a conference room. Even then, you can’t be sure that everyone will show up on the agreed date and time until the meeting begins.

While virtual presentations are convenient, that doesn’t necessarily make them easier for you or your audience members. We’ve all experienced the pains of failed virtual presentations plagued by poor audio or video quality or presenters who don’t feel fully comfortable navigating controls to share content. Additionally, when you’re not physically presenting to an audience face to face, you have to work that much harder to establish a connection and sustain their attention. Here’s how to do it.

4 Virtual Presentation Tips for Your Next Meeting

Great content, preparation and practice speaking in public are key factors for every presentation, but if you can’t keep your audience engaged by getting rid of all distractions, your presentation is likely to flop. Here are four presentation tips that will help you minimize distractions next time you’re in the meeting spotlight.

1. Keep it short

When presenting virtually, your audience has a near-infinite supply of distractions at their fingertips, from email to instant messaging to social media feeds. So if you’re doing a virtual presentation, keep it concise and straightforward. Even if you’re committed to a longer presentation like a webinar , staying focused and not meandering is critical.

The average attention span when listening to a presenter is between 5 and 10 minutes. Even elite, experienced speakers struggle to hold an audience’s attention for longer than 20 minutes. In order to avoid listener fatigue and hold the attention of the (virtual) room, you want to pack a punch in your presentation, condensing content to no more than five key points along with a succinct summary of the action you want the audience to take after the presentation.

One way to do this is by starting with the end in mind. For example, if you’re giving a presentation on how to be productive working from home , your goal may be to have the audience put the advice into practice and provide feedback on their experience. Having identified this, you will know the amount of information you need to provide that will lead them to take that specific action you want them to take.

2. Close out windows you don’t need

Before you share your screen, make sure you have the content you want to present already prepared. The first few moments of your presentation are critical to establishing a connection with the audience, and no one enjoys watching a speaker scramble nervously to find their presentation on a cluttered desktop or, worse, inadvertently sharing sensitive or personal information that may be displayed from another application.

Additionally, if you’re using the same presentation for different audiences, make sure you evaluate every slide to ensure it’s relevant and tailored to the room. Distracting your viewer by having to go through a bunch of generic slides that haven’t been tailored to their organization, job function or priorities makes you seem unprepared, giving the audience the perfect excuse to tune out what you have to say. Whenever you do this, you break the flow of your presentation and their willingness to stick around till you’re done.

3. Ask the audience to commit to a distraction-free meeting

Many remote companies have an unspoken rule: mute your mic if you’re not presenting. It’s easy for an ambulance passing by to throw a presentation off track, so before you start, ask participants to mute their mics until you’re ready for Q&A. Luckily, many video conferencing platforms allow meeting hosts to mute participants’ mics to better control the meeting experience. As an additional benefit, muting helps presenters hold the attention of meeting participants by establishing when it will be their turn to speak.

For fully remote and distributed teams, it’s also common to ask meeting participants to avoid multitasking and mute phones for the duration of the meeting. This creates a meeting environment that more closely resembles an in-office meeting with minimal distractions competing with the speaker for attention.

4. Test your equipment beforehand

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely participated in an online meeting where someone presented for several minutes without knowing that their microphone was muted or that their content wasn’t showing on the screen. It’s an uncomfortable experience for both the presenter and the audience and, luckily, very easy to avoid.

Before your next virtual presentation, make sure to test your mic, screen sharing and camera 5-10 minutes before you go live. This helps you identify what’s working and what isn’t and rectify it. This is also a great opportunity to check your lighting to ensure your video feed is clear and ready for prime time.

Besides, knowing that your tools are in good condition boosts your confidence because you’re sure they won’t interrupt your presentation.

How to Virtually Present on Lifesize

Lifesize is a high-definition, secure video conferencing solution for online meetings that helps you hold uninterrupted presentations and deliver an exceptional experience for meeting participants across different devices. 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.

Great copy helps back up your slides and persuades your audience to take action. You want to talk about the benefits of taking action, overcome objections and provide irresistible calls to action to make it easy for your audience to get involved.

For your most critical presentations, consider hiring a copywriting service to help you create compelling slides that leave a lasting impression in the minds of your audience so that when you ask them to take action, they’ll be ready to do so. Interactive presentation development tools like Visme also simplify the process of building unique, immersive content that will show great during meetings. The company also regularly publishes presentation best practices  to help users avoid overly cluttered or text-heavy layouts.

2. Click “Present”

Once you’re ready with your presentation, join your Lifesize meeting from the desktop/web app, confirm that your attendees are present, then click on the “Share your screen” icon to start your presentation. You’ll then be prompted to select which display or application you want to share.

3. Share your slides or the entire screen

Once you’ve made your selection, click on the “Share” button to show your slides. Remember, you can’t share slides at the same time as another presenter, so make sure any other speakers have ended their presentation before you try to share your slides.

What to Do After the Presentation

Great news — you crushed the presentation. Now what do you do? The best presenters don’t stop once the meeting ends. After every presentation, take a few minutes to evaluate yourself, or ask colleagues for feedback, to see how well you did and whether you achieved your objective. In addition, here are a few ways to ensure the presentation translates to business impact.

1. Send out your recorded meeting link

Depending on the material, your audience might need to rewatch the meeting to help them get hold of crucial details in your presentation. Lifesize allows you to record and share your presentations so that once you’re done, all you need to do is share a link of the recording with your attendees for later reference. You can also use a video editor to stitch different videos together to use for added material in any future webinars, meetings or presentations.

2. Schedule a follow-up meeting if necessary

When is the appropriate time to reconvene and discuss progress? In a week? Two weeks? All great virtual meetings result in some type of action, so don’t wait to schedule and send a meeting invite for your next Lifesize call. Follow up meetings are great way to stay top of mind with customers, move projects forward or course correct if there is any misalignment concerning next steps.

Your next presentation won’t suck because of one thing: keeping your audience engaged. You’ve got excellent presentation skills and great content, but distractions are your biggest enemy.

By implementing the ideas we’ve discussed above, it’s possible to get rid of these distractions to help you focus on getting the most out of your presentations.

Virtual Presentation FAQ’s

How do you create a virtual presentation.

You’ll need some sort of visual medium to create a virtual presentation (such as PowerPoint) and a teleconferencing solution like Lifesize that allows you to share screens. With the visuals in place, you just have to come up with a speech or speaking plan to accompany your presentation.

How do you engage the audience in a virtual presentation?

To create an engaging virtual presentation, make sure that the presentation flows smoothly with no awkward pauses, and that you have a number of things to say for each slide or visual reference. From there, you have to speak in a lively and engaging manner, and ask the audience questions if possible to keep them engaged.

What are some of the challenges you need to consider when presenting in an online environment?

The wild card is technical difficulties: lag time, poor video/audio quality, or connectivity issues can ruin a presentation. If you have an integrated video conferencing solution in place, then the main challenge is keeping the audience’s attention (which can easily be lost).

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Improving the Video Conferencing Experience in the Era of Remote Work

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past six months, it’s clear that remote work and distributed teams are here to stay, even after the pandemic recedes. While some workers will gradually find their way back to in-person (office or otherwise) workplace settings, this is just the on-ramp to the highway of working from anywhere for many others.

PRESENTATION DESIGN

How to Create Engaging Virtual Presentations: Tips and Best Practices

While virtual presentations sit alongside in-person and keynote as their own distinct style, in recent years the lines between each type have become increasingly blurred. 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.

In this guide to creating engaging visual presentations, we’ll walk you through the key ideas, tips, and best practices to help you keep audiences focused on your story no matter where they are!

Start by understanding your audience

Your audience matters: Every presentation should start with a clear understanding of your audience. In the case of virtual presentations, it’s even more important as you aren’t just competing with generally short attention spans, you’re also competing with all the other things happening on their devices.

How to understand your audience: There are two main questions to answer when you assess an audience: 1) who is in the room, and 2) what do they want from your presentation. Of course you can go deeper into your analysis, but at a high level these are the primary questions you need to answer.

Who is in the room can be as simple as the names and titles of the audience. Are they new, or have you previously engaged with them? Are they in sales, marketing, development, etc? Are they high-level executives, or in-the-trenches workers?

Each of these distinctions (and many others) can help you to better understand who you are presenting to, so that you can more clearly answer the second question: what do they want from your presentation?

Different audiences prefer to see different things in a presentation. For example, an executive audience might want lots of data visualization, while a sales or marketing audience might want to see visuals that communicate the brand or product story.

If you present a deck full of brand-focused visual storytelling to an executive audience, you might make it three slides before they interrupt with pointed questions. Similarly, if you go right into the data with a marketing audience, they might tune out entirely. 

So understanding your audience isn’t just about knowing what you should say to that person – instead, it’s a way to help you get a handle on how to present your information most effectively. For more help with adapting content for the audience of you presentation, download our free “Understand Your Audience” guide .

Structure your presentation like a story

Stories are the core of communication:  Storytelling techniques help you communicate in familiar and relatable ways. They are a clear and relatable way to present information, and help you craft content that is engaging throughout, as opposed to a long list of random slides on a topic.

Techniques for presentation storytelling:  The simplest way to format your presentation like a story  is to break the content out into three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. Seems obvious, right? But few presentations follow this format. Instead, they are typically organized around content chunks: here’s the challenges section, here are the opportunities, here are the tactics, etc.

While this can get the job done, it’s not really helping you to create more engaging content for your audience.​​ Specifically, the problem is this structure lessens the narrative tension that a speaker can create by alternating between opposing ideas.

With a three-part structure, your presentation has a momentum and directionality that keeps it moving forward. For example, if you are walking through the major challenges your sales team will face in the coming year, by chunking all your challenges and opportunities, the tension is resolved quickly. 

But if you break each one out and put a little time and focus on the challenge before resolving it, now you’ve created a situation where there is consistent narrative tension that your audience will want to see resolved. This means they have a strong reason to stay focused and engaged, as opposed to quickly reading your slide and then moving on.

These moments of contrast are key drivers of narrative, and help frame your content in more dramatic ways.

Make your virtual presentation slides (even more) visual

Visual slides keep audiences interested: For many old-school presenters, there are only two things on a slide – words, and pictures. Words are essential, and they are what the audience cares about, and pictures are just nice-to-haves. These days, this approach no longer works.

Now, a highly visual slide is the best way to get an audience engaged with your content. There are a few reasons why.

First, content-heavy slides mean the audience will read ahead of your presentation, and they will be done reading before you are done speaking. During that whole time, they haven’t been paying attention to you, and now they are done and you’re still going through the slide. In both of these instances, you’ve lost their focus and attention.

Second, using visual storytelling  helps to reinforce your content, not just make slides look prettier. The idea is to choose visuals (pictures, icons, infographics, video, etc) that help to communicate your point and add nuance and detail to your ideas.

Third, visuals are what people are conditioned to look for from brands. From social media to YouTube and beyond, content is becoming more and more visual in all channels. By ignoring this change in audience preference, you are missing an opportunity to speak to them on their terms, which is much more engaging than forcing them to follow an outdated presentation style.

How to make your slides more visual:  The easiest way to craft more visually appealing slides is to reduce the amount of content on each. Start by editing your slides to have 50% less content and see if the message is still clear. Remember that the words on the slides are only one part of the equation – images should contribute to rounding out the message, and the voiceover should really drive the message. 

For a more visually engaging virtual presentation, your slide content should never be your script. As noted above, if you are just reading off of your slides, your audience can do it faster than you. And if you are simply reading back the slide to them, what’s the point of having a presentation? They can do that themselves on their own time. Instead, the presenter's job is to bring the story together, connecting the words and images on the slide and completing the story with their own voiceover.

So focus on simple, uncluttered slides, with minimal text and thoughtful images. 

Get the audience involved

Interactivity is engagement: The biggest challenge with virtual presentations is that you are battling against the entire internet for their attention. When email, online shopping, and social media are just a tab away, it’s hard to get audiences to stay focused on a presentation that isn’t designed for engagement.

How to get audiences involved:  While we aren’t advocating for turning presentations into open forums, we do think it’s valuable to find moments in a presentation to get the audience involved in the action. 

This could be a poll at the beginning, a pause to ask if anyone has experience with a point you make, a Q&A at the end, or using feedback tools like a poll to gauge engagement.

But be strategic in how you deploy these tools. Overusing audience interactivity can dramatically shift the tone of a presentation, and can disrupt the flow and timing of a tightly-organized story.

Gather feedback for continuous improvement

Great presentations are iterative: The best presentations aren’t typically created and given just one time. They are edited, practiced, refined, tested, and repeated again and again until they are perfect. But without the right feedback, it can be hard to know what areas to focus your efforts on.

How to gather feedback for a presentation:  There are a few ways you can ask for feedback from your audience.

First off, you can assess any of the responses and engagement from the interactive elements described above. What questions were asked? What type of interactivity was most effective? These simple points can give you insights on where to focus your efforts before the next presentation.

Polls are another great way to gather information about your presentation. Some presenters will send out a poll after the presentation, but another approach is to share out some follow up materials, like a leave-behind of your presentation or a key infographic, and then embed the feedback form into that communication.

You can also debrief with any of your own teammates who attended the call. Getting feedback on your delivery, any sticking points, and parts that worked well, from a more objective perspective can really help you focus on the places where you can make the most improvements.

Creating more engaging virtual presentations is easier than it sounds, and the return on a rather small time investment that it offers can be huge. Let’s recap the key points:

Start by understanding your audience and the best way to present to them

Structure your content like a story for more engaging slides

Make your slides more visually appealing by removing content and choosing visuals intentionally

Build audience engagement into your presentation

Get feedback from attendees and integrate those changes

By following these steps, you can make your next virtual presentation more engaging and interesting, sharper and more streamlined, and more visually appealing to modern audiences.

Looking for more information about virtual presentations and beyond? Check out our resources for expert advice and tested strategies.

Presentation Design 101

Presentation Training

Storytelling

• PowerPoint design

PowerPoint tips and tricks

About the author

Danielle John is the founder of VerdanaBold. She has more than 25 years as an award-winning designer and creative lead, directing the visual expression and production of thousands of high-value new business pitches, C-level presentations and internal presentations for major global brands. When she’s not busy at VerdanaBold, she can be found antique shopping and spending time with her husband and two kids.

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Virtual presentation framework: Your guide to presenting online

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Michael Lee March 01, 2021

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 credibility, build trust, and appeal to your audience’s emotions.

This presentation framework serves as an online presentation guide to help you make sense of the most common elements of successful online interactions. As you get more comfortable with all the elements, you’ll be able to use the presentation framework as a digital toolbox of sorts, calling on the right skills at the right time.

It’s important to note that these segments are not mutually exclusive, but should work together. After all, you can be credible without earning trust, and you can be informative without eliciting any emotion. The best online presenters and speakers will apply the presentation framework as a whole to both their content and delivery. Read on for a more detailed look at each segment in the virtual presentation framework. 

Presentation framework: Establish credibility 

Credibility is a measure of how qualified you are (or at least, how qualified you seem) to speak on your topic. Basically, do you look like you know what you’re doing? On virtual presentations, you’ll need to consider:

How you set up your space

It may seem like a minor detail next to everything else you have to do for your presentation, but your home studio setup can greatly impact audience perceptions. If your face is dimly lit or your audience can’t hear you, it’ll make your entire presentation feel less professional. 

Position your light source in front of you (whether it’s a window or a lamp). Also, test out different microphones to find the one with the best audio quality. You’ll also want to avoid distracting your audience with busy backgrounds. Though, don’t be afraid to show more personality than a blank white wall! Even small, inexpensive adjustments can make a big difference. 

Get more tips from Jessica Chen , the founder, and CEO of Soulcast Media and an Emmy Award-winning journalist:

How you present yourself 

Any online presentation guide will tell you that to deliver an engaging presentation, you’ll need to practice. While one of the benefits of virtual presentations is the ability to include presenter notes , you also don’t want to look like you’re reading the entire time. Practice speaking with confidence, paying particular attention to your pacing and volume. Also, try cutting out filler words like “um” and “like.” Lorraine Lee , the Managing Editor here at Prezi, shares how standing while you present and projecting your voice can help:

How well do you know your material?

It can sometimes be painfully obvious when someone speaks on a topic they don’t actually know much about. If you’re giving a virtual presentation, it means you’ve had the time to prepare and pick your topic. Make sure you’re speaking to your subject matter expertise, whether it’s for a keynote, webinar, sales pitch, or just an internal presentation. 

Richard Mulholland , a global speaker and founder of presentation agency Missing Link , highlights the benefits of finding your “area of authority” and then focusing the vast majority of your attention on that subject: 

Presentation framework: Build trust

While trust may seem very similar to credibility, there’s a key difference. Credibility determines if your audience finds you qualified to speak about your topic. However, trust determines whether they’ll actually believe what you say. To build trust with your audience on virtual presentations, you should: 

Appear on the screen 

Body language and facial cues are crucial in conveying meaning, which is why it’s necessary to appear on-screen if you want your audience to trust what you’re saying. This also applies to screen sharing. If your camera’s on, but nobody can see you, then you’re going to lose out on opportunities to connect with your audience. 

Vanessa Van Edwards , a keynote speaker and Lead Investigator at Science of People , explains that hands act as “trust indicators.” That’s why you should use tools like Prezi Video to bring your content on-screen with you, so that you can show your content while still using hand gestures to keep your audience engaged . Watch Vanessa’s video to learn more and to see these principles in action: 

Back up your claims

With enough practice, you can say anything with confidence, but empty promises and hyperbole will only erode your audience’s trust. Make sure you use trusted sources while researching, and present facts and data as necessary. 

For example, see how Brian Xu , a Senior Data Scientist at LinkedIn , uses data to analyze the economic impacts of COVID-19: 

Respect your audience

Don’t forget that while you’re the one presenting, your audience is also investing their time and attention into your content. Make sure your content is tailored and relevant, and be mindful of sticking to your allotted time. 

You may also want to consider employing a more conversational approach to your virtual presentation. In a remote sales pitch , for instance, you don’t have to go through all of your content from start to finish. Instead, find out what your buyers are most interested in and only focus on those topics.

Presentation framework: Appeal to emotions 

Even if your content is well-researched and expertly presented, it ultimately won’t matter if your audience can’t remember any of it. Part of what makes content impactful and memorable is having it resonate on an emotional level. Be sure to include these elements in your virtual presentations: 

Displaying a wall of text on the screen is only going to result in glazed eyes. Use visual communication to help your message resonate with your audience — whenever possible, replace text with images, videos, and charts. 

In this webinar with Tiffani Bova , the Global Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce , she uses both photos and designed graphics, and clever placement of her visuals, to support her message. When illustrating the divide between sellers and buyers, she puts photos on either side of her screen. This creates a more visceral and memorable message than a bullet point:

Interactivity

Because you’re working with limited screen real estate on virtual presentations, you’ll need to work harder to keep your audience invested and engaged. That means you should avoid becoming a static talking head or hiding behind your screen share. Take advantage of Prezi Video to add some interactivity to your presentation. With Prezi Video, you can point at graphics you want to focus on or emphasize your message with gestures. 

Plus, there are currently a wealth of tools that can help you better connect with your audience. Take advantage of the chat, poll, and Q&A functions on your video conferencing tools, or use third-party apps like Slido to create impactful conversations . 

Storytelling

Stories are still one of the best ways to connect with your audience. They can take complex ideas and recontextualize them in a way that feels relevant and evokes emotions. And, our brains are already wired for stories (which is why they make up two-thirds of our daily conversations). 

Try starting your virtual presentation with a story or anecdote to capture your audience’s attention quickly. Elena Valentine , the CEO, and co-founder of workplace media company Skill Scout Films , explains how stories and anecdotes can make you seem more human instead of just “the expert,” and why that works in your favor:

Using the virtual presentation framework

This virtual presentation framework is by no means comprehensive. However, it can serve as a useful guide to online presentations. As you start putting content together for your next presentation, refer to the framework to pinpoint areas that you’re still missing and start incorporating them. You can also get even more advice and insights from our Virtual Presentation Innovators .

If you’re speaking at an upcoming virtual conference or event , drop us a line at [email protected] for a chance to work together on a virtual presentation that your audience won’t forget.

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How to Bring Your Virtual Presentation to Life

In this post

• Creating a virtual presentation
• Tips for giving a virtual presentation

No matter how many presentations you’ve led, it’s normal to have butterflies.

Especially if you're hosting a virtual presentation for the very first time.

A virtual presentation is when both the host and the audience attend the presentation remotely, whether it be from home or an office building across the country.

It’s understandable to be unsure of how to approach a completely virtual presentation. You not only have to consider the design of the slides but also how to keep a remote audience engaged from afar.

As technology and presentation software evolves and the demand to move presentations virtual continues to increase, it’s in your best interest to master the skills needed to lead an effective virtual presentation.

How to create a virtual presentation

Before you can sit down and turn your webcam on, you first have to map out how your virtual presentation will look from start to finish.

Choose the right presentation software

The first step in creating a winning virtual presentation is to choose which presentation software you’ll use. While building well-designed slides can go a long way, the right presentation tools can make it easy, even if you’re not especially tech-savvy.

Some benefits of using presentation software include:

• Being able to communicate in an organized and digestible way
• Engaging listeners of your presentation visually and orally
• Providing the slide deck as a post-presentation resource
• Converting listeners to leads through interest and engagement

No matter your industry or the reason you’re turning to presentation software, you’ll feel empowered to create an eye-catching visual that will hopefully engage your audience long after the presentation is over.

Related: Creating a presentation on a budget? Take a look at the best free presentation software on the market.

Keep it simple

As you create and map out your presentation, don’t forget that your audience can only remember and retain so much information at once. This is called cognitive load theory, and it’s important that you respect your audience and how much they can handle.

With cognitive load theory in mind, keep your presentation as simple as possible, and don’t be afraid to find ways to stretch out your content to help break down the information into bite-size pieces.

Put yourself into the shoes of your audience. It’s likely that when they see a slide with a long list of bullet points or multiple paragraphs of text, their eyes will start to glaze over and they’ll lose interest fast. If you find yourself creating a slide like this, consider breaking it up into three separate slides.

Use colors effectively

When building out your slides, don’t forget about color. While in some cases you may be limited to brand-specific colors or company brand guidelines, sometimes you’ll be able to get more creative with the type of slides to include.

When this is the case, pay attention to the specific color scheme you’ll want to use. Steer clear of anything hard to read or overly flashy. If anything, the colors you choose need to complement the purpose of the presentation and the points you’ll be making.

For example, you may consider going with a complementary color scheme if you’re explaining two distinct elements and how they differ from another.

Create meaningful titles

On a similar note, consider the titles of your slides and make sure they’re meaningful. The title of each slide plays an important role in your virtual presentation, as they let viewers know the context for what is being discussed.

They also help viewers follow the presentation more easily, especially those who may be viewing the slides post-presentation.

Choose a safe font

When choosing a font type , make sure it’s easy to read on your slides.

It’s in your best interest to steer clear of script typefaces that have a more formal and decorative vibe, as they can be difficult to read and often won’t match the tone of your presentation.

Pick something traditional that people are familiar with, and keep it consistent across all of your slides. You should also consider how fonts will look across varying devices by factoring in smaller and larger screens where the font may be skewed.

Limit the amount of data you present

Certain elements will enhance your virtual presentation and some will simply be distracting.

While charts and diagrams can help present data more convincingly, presenting too much data can overwhelm your audience. Instead of explaining and making data appear clearer, it will only confuse them further.

This goes back to what we previously discussed about cognitive overload. It’s best to only use charts and graphs as needed, like when the information being shown needs to be simplified.

Related: Unsure of which chart or graph will show your data in a clear and concise way? Discover the 67 types of data visualizations you can incorporate into your virtual presentation.

The same can be said about transitions and animations. Because your virtual presentation will be shown over the internet, there is always a chance that you may experience some lag or that some audio elements will be out of sync with the presentation, depending on the quality of each viewer's connection.

Because of this, keep animations and slide transitions to a minimum. They’ll only be a distraction to your audience if they’re overused.

Make the most of white space

If you know a designer, they’ll tell you just how important white space can be. While you may not be able to pinpoint when it’s used properly, you’ll know when it’s not.

In your virtual presentation, white space is any clear and empty space around the elements of your slides, like images, titles, and text boxes. When you have enough white space incorporated, each slide will be easy to read and will appear less busy. It will also make it easier for you to convey the desired message of the presentation.

Want to learn more about Video Conferencing Software? Explore Video Conferencing products.

6 tips for giving a successful virtual presentation.

Once you have your slides created, complete with meaningful titles, effective white space, an easy-to-read font, and simple diagrams, it’s time to actually present your virtual presentation.

Before you turn on your webcam, there are some tips to follow to ensure success.

1. Plan ahead

You may think that planning ahead simply means creating your slides before the eleventh hour… but there’s more to it than that.

Use a professional background

There are certain elements you’ll need to consider before you begin. For starters, your virtual background.

While you may think your refrigerator and vintage tapestry look great, they aren’t ideal backgrounds for your virtual presentation. Take the time to ensure that whatever is behind you is visually appealing, isn’t distracting, and doesn’t showcase the cluttered corner of your living room.

Some video conferencing software offers virtual backgrounds that take the guesswork out of determining if your apartment is camera-ready or not.

Invest in some basic lighting

Looking to really shine? Then you need some decent lighting that isn’t just a tableside lamp.

While natural lighting is good, it can be incredibly unpredictable. Maybe a rogue cloud will go in front of the sun and your face will all of a sudden be in a shadow.

You don’t need to purchase anything overly fancy or expensive, but if virtual presentations are something you plan on doing more than once, it’s worth the investment. Even something as simple as a ring light can make a big difference.

Get dressed

We’ve all heard the jokes about only getting half-dressed for virtual meetings, meaning you wear a professional shirt paired with sweatpants or workout shorts.

When presenting, you must take the time to dress professionally from top to bottom. After all, you never know when you may have to unexpectedly stand up and blow your cover.

When planning an outfit, go with something simple. Don’t pick a shirt with a crazy pattern or one that’s neon green. Your outfit needs to be able to translate on camera, and anything too busy can be distracting.

Layout a schedule

Whether you do so to eliminate nerves or to remain organized, you should always create an in-depth schedule of how your virtual presentation will go.

For example, as the host of the virtual presentation, it’s imperative that you start on time. There’s no such thing as being fashionable late when you’re the host.

However, you may experience that some attendees are a little late in joining. Because of this, consider having two openings. One that is “soft” and designed to get your audience engaged without diving too deep into the content, and another that will be your “hard” opening. This second one will be reserved for when everyone, or almost everyone, is in attendance.

Also, be respectful of your audience’s time and end promptly as well. They may have other meetings to attend to or a child to pick up from soccer practice. At the very beginning of your presentation, make it clear how long it’s expected to last and if there will be time for questions at the end.

Make sure to provide your presentation schedule ahead of time so your audience knows exactly what to expect.

Practice beforehand

When it comes to giving your virtual presentation, it's in your best interest not to "wing" it... meaning make sure you practice beforehand!

This includes not only running through your slides and what you want to say a few times, but also practicing how to use the software and setting up your background.

Once you've given it a few run throughs, listen to how you sound. This is where you'll be able to test the audio to make sure there aren't any playback issues. You'll also be able to listen to ensure your pace isn't too rushed.

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is an absolute must when presenting virtually. Find out who they are, why they decided to join, and what pain points your presentation can hopefully solve.

Also, find out where they’re located so that any main objectives you plan to touch on translate across varying cultures if necessary.

3. Vary the content

When presenting in person, whether at work or at a conference, you can keep your audience’s attention by making eye contact and through specific body language. When presenting virtually, your content will have to do the heavy lifting.

Because of this, you’ll want to vary the type of media that they can interact with.

Consider adding media like:

• Clickable links
• Live tutorials by sharing your screen

Keep in mind that you’re not trying to overdo it or overwhelm your audience, but rather you’re making an effort to combat the boredom that comes with seeing slide after slide of bulleted points and paragraphs.

4. Use engaging slides

Add engaging elements to your slides in order to avoid slide hypnosis. To make your audience feel like they’re involved with your presentation, consider incorporating surveys, polls, or a Q & A session at the end of the presentation.

However, make all engagement worthwhile and not a fluff piece of the presentation. When asking the audience a question, make it meaningful and ensure that it has value.

Also, when planning the run time, don’t forget to factor in time for interaction so it doesn’t fall to the wayside or feel like you’re rushing through it.

Related: Learn more about ways that you can make your presentation interactive .

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. Not only will this be distracting for you as you present, but your audience will hear these notifications on their end.

Also, close the door of your home office or wherever you’re presenting so you don’t get distracted by a pet that may wander nearby. It will also help to drown out any noise from other members of your household that your audience may be able to hear.

6. Keep the conversation going

When your virtual presentation is wrapping up, make sure to end on a thought-provoking note. Whether it’s asking a question or even giving your audience some homework to complete on their end, it’ll help to engage your audience long after it’s over.

Also, don’t forget to ask for feedback from your audience or encourage them to engage with you on social media to discuss any points further.

Break a leg!

You’re now ready to lead an engaging and well thought-out virtual presentation. Go through these steps and tips every time you have a presentation to create.

Don’t forget to have some fun along the way, laugh with your audience, and roll with the punches.

Take your learning one step further and explore five expert tips on how to create an effective marketing presentation .

Mara Calvello

Mara Calvello is a Content Marketing Manager at G2. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Elmhurst College (now Elmhurst University). Mara works on our G2 Tea newsletter, while also writing content to support categories on artificial intelligence, natural language understanding (NLU), AI code generation, synthetic data, and more. In her spare time, she's out exploring with her rescue dog Zeke or enjoying a good book.

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The ULTIMATE guide to virtual presentations

• Written by: Hannah Harper
• Categories: Presentation technology , Industry insights
• Comments: 4

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. However, attempting to simply give the same presentation online as you would offline is likely to result in a disappointing presentation that neither engages nor impresses your audience.

Throughout this article we’re going to look at some practical ways your teams can make an impact in an online era. If you want even more detail, we’ve compiled this, and more, in a report you can download for free:

Click here to download the report

What makes online presenting different?

How to eliminate distraction, how to create compelling content, how to run an effective sales meeting online, how to run a successful online conference, how to run hybrid presentations.

These days web conferencing platforms are widely available, affordable, and really pretty good. But what effort is involved in making your in-person content online-ready? Sadly, we’re not talking about a lift and shift here, and to understand how content needs to change, we need to understand the differences between in-person and online presentations.

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.

Best practices for an online set-up

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:

What meeting platform is right for you?

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.

How to design compelling slides

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.

Presentation design resources

Three easy design hacks to make your presentations more professional

Presentation design principles for better PowerPoint design

Stunning presentation design using PowerPoint morph

Advanced PowerPoint grids and guides

How to animate compelling slides

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

Webcam etiquette

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.

• Use video, but not where this distracts from your slides.
• Use your webcam for introductions, for conversation, and to answer questions, but think about turning your camera off when presenting slides.
• If you have access to a greenscreen or can videocast yourself presenting in front of your slides, consider that as an option – but please practice first!
• In a much smaller meeting – like a sales meeting – turning on your webcam creates a social pressure for the audience to do the same, so as a courtesy make it clear that you are planning a video meeting when setting up the call.
• On some online platforms you can set a picture as a background image – so you could set a static slide as your background. But hacking this function to display your slide show is high risk because of the set-up and rehearsal needed to make it as slick as possible. It  can  work well, however, if you use the background to bring up a key visual or stat during a Q&A session.
• More recently Zoom has added the ability to incorporate a PowerPoint deck as your background, so you can superimpose yourself on the slides. It’s great, but remember, you don’t want to cover up key content, so you’ll probably need to design slides to specifically leave space for your video. Also, the slides are static with no animation, but you can split content over several slides to achieve ‘build’ effects.
• Microsoft Teams has the same idea, but takes it a step further to incorporate animated PowerPoint presentations as your video background, along with different layouts you can choose from.

Presentation skills for online meetings

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:

• Speak from notes, not a full script
• Practice beforehand
• Don’t read verbatim

To break up monotony further, consider playing around with the way you structure your content, and the format you use to present it.

• Break up your material every five to eight minutes, so that attention levels don’t sag too much. A non-stop 30-minute presentation might make sense face-to-face, but it’s not going to work online.
• Intersperse chunks of material with clean breaks in the content, use a change of speaker, or even an interview format – introducing content in response to pre-planned questions – to keep your audience engaged.
• If you’re selling to a small group, show a few minutes of content at a time, and select this content in response to questions and the direction of the conversation. Create a visual conversation.

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:

• Schedule small discussion groups around certain topics, with cameras on so that delegates can still network and socialise.
• Shorten your sessions. Give your audience breaks from their screen, and condense the content you have into shorter, more impactful sessions.
• Make the most of your platform’s interactive features to make your session more engaging. You might want to do a quick orientation at the beginning of your session – point out what interactivity options there are and where to find them.

How to deliver hybrid presentations

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:

• Don’t just take what you would do face-to-face and try to do the exact same thing online. It makes a huge difference to attention levels and energy levels not being in the room with the presenter.
• Slides presented online need to be visual, and they need to change onscreen frequently. We think every 20 seconds to keep things compelling.
• Use natural breaks in content, or speaker changes, or interactivity, to keep sections short. This makes it easier for the audience to stay engaged.
• Use video, but not necessarily while you are sharing slides. If you will want your audience to use video too, do them the courtesy of letting them know in advance.
• If you move an event online, consider condensing some sessions, introduce breaks, and insert sessions specifically to make up for the lack of networking opportunities.
• Think seriously about your set-up and make sure all audience members can see and be seen and hear and be heard.

Hannah Harper

Principal consultant, related articles, why powerpoint crashes and how to prevent it.

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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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How to Give an Engaging Virtual Presentation

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.

The Rise of Virtual Presentations in a Post-COVID World

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.

7 Virtual Presentation Tips for Your Next Meeting

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.

1. Minimize Distractions

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.

2. Ask Listeners to Mute

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.

3. Test Your Equipment Beforehand

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.

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. 

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.

5. Make the Most of Online Tools

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.

6. Use Interactive Elements

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.

7. Abide by Virtual Etiquette

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.

3 Best Virtual Presentation Tools

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.

Ready to create your own presentation in minutes?

• Add your own text, images and more
• Customize colors, fonts and everything else
• Choose from hundreds of slide designs and templates
• Add interactive buttons and animations

Engaging Virtual Presentation Visuals: Visme

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.

Presentation Templates

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Video Conferencing for Virtual Presentations: Lifesize

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. 

Customized Animation: VideoScribe

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. 

Give an Amazing Virtual Presentation

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.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

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About the Author

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.

How To Ace Your Virtual Presentation: Our Top 10 Tips

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.

How Are Virtual Presentations Different From Regular Presentations?

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:

Audience Members – Is The Audience Engaged?

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.

Scalability & Flexibility

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.

Here's One We Did For SalesForce

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.

Why Are Virtual Presentations Important?

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.

How Do You Create A Virtual Presentation?

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.

1) Start with your content

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.

• What are the key takeaways you want everyone to leave with?
• What is the purpose of sharing this content?
• Is this content relevant?
• What questions might the audience have and do I know the answer to those 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.

2) Think about your slides

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.

3) Focus on your audience

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.

4) Be dynamic

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.

Get inspired with slide ideas from our portfolio

Our Top 10 Best Virtual Presentation Tips

Before you deliver your next virtual presentation , be sure to review these ten tips to help you prepare.

1) Proper Webcam & Lighting

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.

2) Familiarize Yourself With The Technology

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.

3) Check Internet Connection

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.

4) Talk To The Camera

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.

5) Present As You Would In-Person

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.

6) Use Body Language

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.

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.

8) Have A Moderator

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.

9) Use Evaluation Tools & Learn

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.

10) Be Yourself

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.

Are You In Need Of A Custom Presentation? We Can Help

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.

Author:  Ryan

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14 Virtual Presentation Tips to Help You Prepare and Deliver

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.

How Are Virtual Presentations Different?

As with anything, there are positive aspects as well as downsides when comparing virtual presentations to in-person ones.

Pros of Virtual Presentations

• They’re less intimidating. People who don’t feel comfortable presenting in person might be less daunted doing so remotely. Plus, on the other side of things, attendees can keep their cameras off and still participate in meaningful ways more easily.
• They’re accessible to people across geographical areas, which means you can address coworkers from different offices or bring in a diverse audience for a webinar.
• They give you an opportunity to dive deeper with the chat feature to read comments or answer questions that participants may not have felt comfortable asking in person—making them more inclusive.
• Features like polls and surveys are easy to administer during a virtual presentation, providing the opportunity for real-time feedback.

Cons of Virtual Presentations

• The lack of body language cues can make it hard to “read the room” or gauge people’s interest, engagement, confusion, and other reactions during your presentation.
• Quiet participants may be more easily overlooked or talked over, so you may not get all the input you’re looking for.
• It can be harder to generate organic conversations or connections.
• There’s always the risk of technical issues affecting the presentation.

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.

Before the Presentation

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.

2. Ask Questions in Advance

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.

3. Get Creative With Visual Content

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.

4. Remember Practice Makes Perfect

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.”

5. Consider Asking for Help

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.

During the Presentation

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 sure your lighting sources are coming from in front of you (not from behind). It prevents you from appearing as a shadowy silhouette and just plain looks better.
• If you can, invest in webcams and microphones to up your presentation quality; there’s no need to spend a ton of money, but do some research to see what options are available at your price point.
• Look around your space and try to anticipate any possible sound distractions and how you can minimize those.
• If possible, try to present in an area with limited hard surfaces—like a room with carpet—to boost your sound quality. Dickerson knows people who actually stuff comforters behind their computers in order to create a better sound experience while presenting.

7. 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.”

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.

8. Remember You May Have to Bring More Energy Than Usual

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.”

9. Consider Hiding Self-View

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.

10. Know When to Mute Yourself

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.

11. Encourage Participation

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.

12. Be Yourself

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!”

After the Presentation

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.

14. Reflect and Iterate for Next Time

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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Tips for Virtual Presenting, with Video Examples

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.

1. Dial-in before the meeting starts

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.

2. Prepare your technology

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:

• Test your webcam and position
• Test your microphone

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.

3. Dress appropriately

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:

• What to wear for video conferences
• What to wear for a presentation: 10 tips
• What to wear (and avoid) when presenting on camera

4. Professional surroundings and background

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.

• How to use Zoom backgrounds
• Custom backgrounds in Microsoft Teams
• Virtual background for Google Meet / Hangouts
• 4 tips for choosing the best virtual backgrounds

Practice Online Presentations

Perfect your virtual presentation skills by practicing them in a realistic online exercise that mimics Zoom, Webex, and Microsoft Teams. Learn More

5. Manage your audience

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.

6. Eye contact with the camera

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.

7. Know your slides

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:

• Envato Elements

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.

8. Practice your virtual presentation

Practice your presentation with a virtual presentation simulator, so that you’re better prepared.

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 necessary. Beyond this, you can use videos, infographics and even host quizzes, polls or surveys.

• 18 Ways to Make Your Presentation More Interactive
• How to run a Zoom quiz: Tips for quizzing success
• Start a Poll in Cisco Webex Meetings
• Create a poll in Microsoft Teams

10. Be enthusiastic

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.

11. Body language

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.

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10 Tips For Giving Effective Virtual Presentations

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.

1. Be Brief

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).

2. Be Simple

Keep slides simple — avoid too many words, graphics and animation features. Less is definitely more!

Light yourself well | Illustration by Tricia Seibold

3. Be a TV Personality

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.

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. 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.

6. Be Assisted

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.

7. Be Specific

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

8. Be Synchronized

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.

9. Be Connected

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.

10. Be Early

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 .

Explore More

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.

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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 . 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.

Criteria for Success

A successful virtual presentation…

• Has a clear purpose that is tailored to the type of audience.
• Sets expectations at the beginning of the presentation about what you will talk about and what kind of feedback you want from your audience.
• Only includes visual and verbal information that supports the major point of each slide and the overall objective of the presentation.
• Is extremely well-rehearsed, as the energy of your presentation will come from how you deliver key points.
• Uses the available technology to engage the audience.

Identify Your Purpose

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:

• Purpose: Share work that you have accomplished with a wider audience. You want others to be informed about the progress on and benefits of your research without necessarily teaching them how to perform the work themselves.
• Purpose: Help your audience learn and practice skills or tools that they can apply outside of the workshop, but don’t expect mastery. They can further explore the content later.
• Purpose: Teach students new skills; help them master the material.

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.

Analyze your audience

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.

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 your slides to support the overall message of your presentation

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:

• Clear presentation structure, declared at the beginning in an overview slide.
• Consistent visual format among slides.
• Simple text and figures.
• Each slide introduces one new point, which is stated by the slide title.

Practice is even more important for virtual presentations

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.

Technological set-up can greatly improve the audience experience

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):

Make a plan for engaging the 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.

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Blog Marketing How to Adapt Your In-Person Presentation Into a Virtual Presentation

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 . 

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, 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. 

Use short, punchy text on your presentation slides

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. 

Vary your slide layouts

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.

Don’t count on reading the room

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.

Don’t count on audience interaction

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:

• Tighten the spots that are more interactive
• Think about using platform tools like upvotes and polls
• Practice a delivery that is more vocal than physical (and remember to pause and breathe!)
• Replace some of your physical cues with more illustrative and impactful slide design
• Prep your close and Q&A

You got this!

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How to Create a Powerful Virtual Presentation

Match your message to the medium, master the optics, and create a path for progress..

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.

Before the presentation: Match the message to the medium.

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:

• "Chunk" your content.  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 visuals wisely.  Images should compel, not compete. Unlike in-person presentations, where images blend into the backdrop, visuals tend to have an outsize effect in virtual presentations (especially in Zoom or Skype, where they dwarf your video thumbnail). Your facial expressions, tone and cadence will convey just as much meaning as that slide you're dying to show. Words can make impressions, too.
• Make interaction a priority. With a small amount of effort,  you can turn virtual presentations into interactive experiences. In a recent online client workshop, I used  Zoom's "breakout rooms" feature to let participants solve a remote-work challenge in real-time. Zoom allows hosts to pre-assign participants to breakout rooms, which can be especially useful to owners and team leaders who want to use collaboration for strategic purposes. Integrating real-time polling with web-based tools like Slido or Poll Everywhere can bring the right amount of spontaneity when you need it. And assigning partners to discuss an issue through Zoom's private chat can provide a focused environment for collaboration.

During the presentation: Be your own A/V pro.

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. 

After the presentation: Share resources and reflections.

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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9 Important Virtual Presentation Tips For You

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.

The acronym I use to help be ready for Virtual Presentations is PACES:

P- Plan A- Audience C- Content E- Engagement S- Socialization

Plan – for your virtual presentation

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.

Socialization (very important especially for virtual presentations)

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.

—–

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.

More virtual presentation tips

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.

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.

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.

3. Eliminate Distractions

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 🙂

4. Have Fun

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.

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The keys to making a world-class virtual pitch or presentation.

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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. 

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Thursday, August 29th

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.

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Content Strategy Leader, Head of Content, Content Marketing

• by Christoph Trappe
• February 24, 2022 February 24, 2022

What are the different ways to present virtually?

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 .

Current state and virtual reality

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:

• The presentation can be watched in VR – that’s a step up from 2D for sure.
• At some point, wouldn’t it be cool to be able to watch in VR and you can even approach people sitting nearby and have a conversation

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?

Types of virtual presentations

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.

Split screen

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.

Presenter smaller, deck larger

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:

• Something else

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

PowerPoint only

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?

Presenter only

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.

Conversations

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.

Virtual presentation tips – Pick the right software and partners

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:

• Are they in love with PowerPoints?
• What do they expect from your presentation?

In addition, it’s good to understand how attendees will and can interact with you.

• Is there a chat?
• Who monitors it?

Also, consider who will run the PowerPoint and how that works. Do a test run!

Virtual presentation tips: Introduction and getting started

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

Here are some virtual presentation tips on making intros read by others better

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:

• Paragraph breaks are your friend
• Bold important words
• Bulleted lists!
• Keep it short
• Spell things out
• Phonetic spellings of hard to pronounce names and words
• Spell out numbers! Why are their numbers in your bio anyway?

So using my own bio as an example how might that look? Here’s an attempt for your guidance:

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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Presenting Virtually vs. In Person: What’s Different? What’s the Same?

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.

What is unchanged?

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.

What is different?

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.

What are some elements you can change?

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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7 Ways to Crush Your Next Virtual Presentation

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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.  

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1. Communicate your passion 

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.

2. Create an engaging slideshow

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: 

• Include one idea or concept per slide.
• Carefully consider your use of slides – if you don't need them, don't use them. Slides are often more of a distraction than an aid in a virtual setting. 
• Use images (particularly of people) and color to break up the text. Visuals applied in the right context can clearly illustrate your point and evoke emotional reactions from your audience. 
• Don't use too many slides, and don't linger on any one slide for too long. The former could see your audience struggling to keep up, while the latter will bore your audience into switching off.

3. Involve your audience to avoid the Ringelmann effect

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:

• Asking one or two people to step in as guest speakers. 
• Incorporating some form of interaction every few minutes, such as asking questions to the group.
• Calling out specific people within the group to ask for their input.
• Allowing time for Q & As at regular intervals during presentation or scheduling time at the end. 
• Polling your audience or including survey questions at the end of each section. Again, there are plenty of software options available for polling and surveys. 

4. Rehearse with someone in advance

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. 

5. Remove external distractions

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. 

6. Have some fun 

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:

7. Follow up 

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.

Over to you

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. 

If you're interested in becoming a better presenter, take our Public Speaking ,  Body Language ,  Keynote , and  PowerPoint  courses for a spin with a 7 day free trial today.

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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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Crush Your Next Virtual Presentation

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.

• GS Gia Storms is a leadership coach and member of The Boda Group. She facilitates team and executive coaching from Los Angeles.

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