Increasingly over the past year and a half, we’ve found that people are watching presentations of all kinds online. As a presentation design agency, our customers come to us curious about what makes a great virtual presentation. It seems many people are catching themselves disengaging with online presentations moreso than in-person talks. This can especially be true for the folks working from home—surrounded by all kinds of distractions pining for their attention. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to have you presenting like a pro online in no time. Hopefully, this will give you an edge in the virtual space, helping your audience hang on to your every word, instead of falling prey to a multitude of distractions.
How Do You Reach Your Virtual Audience?
With the “mute” button stunting the spontaneous “oohs” and “ahhs” from our audiences, presentations online can feel pretty one-dimensional. Yes, you can see a few tiles at a time as you scroll through, but it’s definitely more difficult online to “feel” the energy of the room. Our fix is to put engagement back in your own hands by using some tools to allow your audience to unmute.
1. Poll your audience—You can either start with an icebreaker to get your audience talking in the chat or use something like PollEverywhere to ask questions throughout
2. Kick-start your Q&A– Choose a member of the audience (a friend or colleague) to ask a prepared question. This helps break the ice and allows your listeners to feel more comfortable asking their own questions
3. Talk Takeaways– Don’t be afraid to ask the audience what their biggest takeaways are at the end of the session. This helps you understand what points hit home, and helps them solidify the items others resonated with.
Should You Pre-record, or Go Live?
The truth is, both live sessions and pre-recorded sessions, if done correctly, can get your audience engaged. You just need to choose which one best suits your style, comfortability level, and platform.
A pre-recorded version gives you complete control over your virtual presentation. Through the editing process, you’ll be able to nail your script without blunder. You can also ensure your slides and transitions come up at the perfect time. On the other hand, if you take the time to make a pre-recorded session, but don’t invest time in editing, you run the risk of looking sloppy. We’ve found the best time investment for a pre-recorded session is around 15 minutes. After that, people’s attention begins to dwindle, since there is no option for interactivity in this format.
Virtual presentations that are presented live can be engaging with correct delivery. Try breaking up long soliloquies with opportunities for your audience to interact. After speaking for five-to-seven-minutes at a time, ask a direct question or pepper in a poll here and there. Remember, if you’re just going to talk at your audience, perhaps it’s better to pre-record so they can watch on their own time. This way, they will have the focus it takes to fully hear your message.
How Do You Eliminate Glitches?
Technical issues abound with virtual presentations. There’s nothing more frustrating as a listener or audience member than to feel like your time isn’t valued by the speaker. As a speaker, take a moment before your presentation to make sure everything is working properly. This could mean having a friend log on 10 minutes early with you, getting new updated equipment, or increasing your internet package for better connectivity. The truth is, your audience won’t necessarily remember if your virtual presentation goes smoothly from a technology standpoint, but they will definitely count the glitches. Don’t give them any reason to tune out and have a backup plan in case something goes awry. WiFi out? Use your phone’s hotspot. New wireless headphones not working? Bring along a pair of corded headphones just in case. Prepare for the unexpected as much as you can to deliver a seamless experience for your captive audience.
While we love an in-person presentation, we know virtual presentations are here to stay. We’ve found ways to love them just as much!! If you find yourself having a hard time connecting virtually, we’d love to help. Reach out today and we’ll custom-tailor our full suite of presentation services to your specific wants and needs.
