6 Tips for Giving Better Online Presentations

Perhaps you never thought that you would feel anxious about an online presentation coming up. Yet, you have got one just a day from now, and you can feel the treacherous feeling of fear creeping in.

Giving an online presentation is very different from giving an in-person one. It is a good idea to consider these differences in your approach and employ some tips, such as:

• Show your face — a lot of presenters don’t feel confident to show their face online, which is a big mistake. Humans relate to others with visual cues, which are often reinforced when the speaker’s face is visible. So, you will get a bump in the likeability factor by making the effort to install a camera and angle it properly. The fact that so many video conferencing programs allow you to share your screen and still retain your face is a big plus. Just make sure you don’t stand too close to the camera. One guideline to follow is to have your hands visible.
• Stand up, don’t sit — standing while you are presenting takes away a lot of opportunities. The idea is that standing allows you to use breathing techniques and vocal methods, which would otherwise be impossible while sitting. By standing, you also convey a more powerful posture, by keeping your back straight and chest up. What you can do is use a standing desk. If that is not something you have, then place your device on a kitchen countertop or another higher location.
• Gift your gifts early — if your online presentation features some sort of tip, or a gift, or just good advice, you should give it out in the early stages of it. The idea is that you give your audience a little boost in interest, increasing their interest early on. You also keep them motivated to watch till the end.
• Use visuals to your advantage — you need visual aids, to engage other people and make it easier for them to remember the information. Visuals are a way to simplify more complex ideas, and also make your presentation more interesting. So what visuals can you use? There are plenty of options to choose from: stock photos, pie graphs, bar charts, YouTube videos, memes, GIFs, pictures, etc. Sometimes adding even a simple picture can change the way you deliver information. It is important to pick the right kind of visuals and implement them seamlessly into your presentation, to achieve the best effect. Videos should not be in excess, pictures should not be too distracting and they all need to be appropriate for the type of audience you are presenting to.
• Add some sort of interaction — one of the major challenges in online presentations is engaging with your audience. One way to overcome is to use physical props. They make for a great way to explain difficult concepts, introduce humour and demonstrate a point. They need to support your presentation. You can also do a poll, a Q&A session.
• Record yourself in preparation — to really nail your online presentation, you should prepare for it by recording yourself. Watch out for technical issues, such as whether you are too quiet, or there is a problem with the camera. Pay attention to how you are using your hand gestures and voice. This can be a good opportunity to spot a mistake before you give the presentation.

All of these tips aim to make your online presentations a little better and more engaging. Make sure you use them for maximum effect.

© Presence Training