How to Excel at Presentation During a Virtual Event

You may think that presenting from behind the safety of a screen must be much easier than standing on a stage and looking out onto a crowd of expectant faces. However, having lost the advantage of that face to face interaction with an audience, the responsibility to create an engaging atmosphere and memorable presentation can be daunting and leave you wondering, “how am I going to deliver in a virtual world?” Here, we give practical tips for giving a strong, engaging presentation-even when it’s virtual.

Virtual meeting presenter tips

Pre-Event Preparation

We’ve all heard the saying ‘practice makes perfect’ and this remains an important factor when preparing for a virtual or hybrid event. Let’s start with a few basics to set the groundwork to delivering your message in a way that makes people want to listen:

• Rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse some more–there are no shortcuts here.
• Notecards are a useful tool to jot down the points you want to get across. Keep them handy to keep you on track.
• Practicing out loud will make the world of difference to your delivery style. Use inflection to fill in any gaps you may notice and to induce interest and enthusiasm to your message.
• Record yourself and review your performance–you might be able to bring awareness to certain areas to develop.

Learn the Pros of Pre-Recording Virtual Meeting Segments

Logistical Considerations

If presenting from home, you may be responsible for more than great content. You’ll need to also ensure a quality experience for the audience during your segment. Below are a few tips for logistics surrounding visual, sound and connection.

• Wear solid-colored clothing, as it is less distracting. Colors that look best on camera include navy blue, purples, dark creams and browns.
• If possible, set up your camera or laptop near a window to take advantage of natural light. Stand so that the natural light is at an angle (not directly behind you).
• Remember that attendees are able to adjust their own volume, therefore, speaking in a normal volume is perfectly fine for this medium.
• Test your internet connection with the Google Speed Test. If your Wi-Fi is unreliable, consider using a hardwire connection.

Be Engaging with Your Delivery

Whether you’re preparing to speak at a department meeting or give the keynote during a company-wide convention, there are a few key points that will make your delivery engaging.

• Emotion

You get back what you put in. An audience may be there to learn something new or improve current skills, but your message will fall flat if you don’t engage them with energy and enthusiasm.

• Confidence

A confident speaker instills confidence in an audience. Be sure to speak with authority and iron out those ‘ums’, ‘errrs’, ‘likes’ and ‘you knows’ for a strong message.

• Body language

Whether sitting at your home desk or standing in a studio, body language is critical when it comes to virtual presentations. Even when you can’t walk up and down a stage, you can still invite your audience in with open arms, steady eye contact, great posture, and a welcoming smile.

• Imagery

Photos can spark powerful memories, ignite wanderlust, create compassion, bring topics to the forefront, and much more. Visual cues help guide people through messaging. Choose images that add interest to and compliment what you’re saying.