Present More Effectively in Virtual Meetings

Engaging your audience is your priority

Whether it’s offline or online, engaging your audience is always a priority. Without being physically present, it’s much easier for people to get distracted by yet another browser tab, or perhaps their smartphones.

The traditional techniques that we all used throughout time may not be that useful in virtual meetings, techniques such as the use of the stage the room, body language and eye contact. However, we can capture their attention but the right usage of our voice tone, this affects the whole virtual environment, begin the session with an upbeat tone and pace your self to keep the same energy level throughout the online presentation.

There are a lot of add-ons that we can use to make the online presentation even more engaging:

  • Q&As
  • Polls
  • Surveys
  • Contests
  • Animations
  • Videos
  • Gamification

Investing in Basic Equipment for Presenting Online is Essential

Just like in a photoshoot you’ll need the right light for the photo to pop, a good quality audio equipment is also essential when presenting virtually. Though some equipment is expensive, you don’t actually need to spend a lot. A simple light with an inexpensive USB microphone is a good place to start, anything is better than the built-in mic.

Make sure to test your equipment ahead of the meeting, making sure to maintain a proper distance from the mic, so the sound of your breathing wouldn’t be distracting

Pace Yourself

Since it can be even more difficult to keep the attention of your audience in a virtual setting, it always helps to keep your virtual presentations as brief as possible. Try to limit the stories to a short 45-60 seconds time-frame in order to keep the program swiftly moving forward.

Customise your content to make it easily digestible, even if it requires stripping down some of the slides to just a couple of key points and using more visuals instead of text. In short, avoid talking for too long, and check that your pacing is neither too slow nor too fast.

Prepare Well In Time and Ensure That Your Setup is Flawless

It’s never a good idea to wait until the last minute to prepare for your presentation. In the case of virtual presentations, here are just some of the additional things you will need to ensure before you deliver your next virtual presentation:

  • The internet connection
  • The backdrop (plain, or branded if possible)
  • A quiet spot (which will remain quiet during the presentation)
  • The lighting/microphone is working and that your audio is clear
  • Clear video quality
  • Your set of notes arranged in the correct order (We recommend them being in a paper form as well as digitally just in case of technical difficulties)
  • Proper timing and time-management
  • Links to the Q&As, surveys, or poll questions, etc.

Bonus Tip: Get professional help

Who said you have to go it all alone? Having someone to help you set things up behind the scenes and have your back while you are presenting can go a long way in ensuring your presentation is a success. A good optimized presentation means there won’t be any hiccups, it also means you are focused on what’s important – your message. Leaving the visuals done by a professional and exactly the way you want it.

Final Thoughts

Virtual meetings are essential for getting things done for most project managers today, however, it’s also crucial to make them less frustrating and more effective for everyone involved, with just a little preparation and planning. Even though many business professionals will inevitably make the mistake of reading out the slides robotically during a virtual presentation, those who truly put in the effort to master the art of presenting online will clearly distinguish themselves from the rest.

Get in touch today and optimize your presentation for your next virtual meeting