When you’re presenting for a webinar or session at a virtual event, there are a few things that can help make the presentation more effective. While it’s similar to presenting to an audience, there are certainly differences. It’s been described as a more “one-way” presentation – where a live audience can feed energy into your presentation, you’ll want to provide that energy, feedback, and clarification on points you make.
QUICK CONTENT TIPS
Less is more – on your slides and notes, try to keep to the 6 x 6 rule or less. No more than 6 bullets, no more than 6 words each. Many will say that it should be more like a 3 x 3 rule. Avoid reading slides to your audience – use your slides to punctuate your points and to drive the flow of your presentation, not to provide detailed takeaway points.
Speak to the camera (or even just the microphone) in a normal, measured voice. You don’t have to project, just speak normally, check your microphone levels a couple of times prior to recording your actual session. It will seem more natural to the listener.
As you present, imagine you’re presenting to a single person: Your best friend. You’re having a friendly conversation about the topic at hand and you’re sharing with them. Keeping the presentation conversational, interesting, relatable, and relaxed will help your audience get the most from it. Remember, it’s likely they’re all alone in their office or location watching your presentation – just the two of you.
Encourage people to interact, talk about chat options, ways to contact you, what they can expect.
Don’t be afraid of humor, but do be aware of your audience, their tastes, and preferences, and always stick to appropriate humor and language in your presentation.
ON-CAMERA TIPS
When you’re on-camera, there are a few different tips to keep in mind: