by Gilda Bonanno LLC www.gildabonanno.com
Webinars
are becoming increasingly common in today’s interconnected business world. Participants log into the webinar application
from their computer to view the presentation or document you’re sharing and hear
you speak through their computer speakers or through a phone connection. In a webinar, even more so than in an
in-person presentation, it’s crucial for you to capture and keep your audience’s
attention; otherwise they will quickly move on to another task or start
checking email. It will be easier for your audience to pay attention and follow you if you have a clear message. Eliminate any unnecessary material that could clutter your message and confuse your audience. Have a clear organizing principle and share your high-level agenda early in your presentation.
2. Avoid text-heavy slides
People can read to themselves faster than you can read out loud, so they will finish reading the words before you and wonder when you’re going to move on. If you do have longer text on the slide, such as a quotation, leave that slide up for longer so people have time to read and absorb it.
3. A
picture really is worth a thousand words
Interesting,
relevant visuals (rather than bulleted lists) are a great way to communicate
your message. For maximum impact, fill
the whole slide with the visual by dragging the corners of the photo to fill
the slide, rather than leaving a big border around it. I highly recommend Presentation Zen, a wonderful book by Garr Reynolds which is my “go-to”
resource for creating visual PowerPoint slides.
4. Use
high-quality photos
Real
photos are often more appealing and memorable than cheesy clip art. You can find some free photos in PowerPoint or
online (be careful with copyrighted images) and purchase photos from stock photo
websites. I use my own photos, too. For example, I use a photo I took of a
peacock at a zoo. It’s on a slide with
only the words, "be confident, not cocky,” in Gills Sans MT font, 40 point
size.
5. Plan
ahead
Have
an answer to the inevitable question, "will we get a copy of your
slides?" While I usually provide a follow-up summary of key points, I don’t
share a copy of my slides since they do not make much sense without my
voiceover (after all, they are ONLY the visual aid - I am the presentation). Also decide if, when and how you will handle questions
from the audience.
6. Use
more slides than usual
Having
more slides than you usually would use in an in-person presentation will allow
you to change slides quickly and keep people’s attention. They will be discouraged from disengaging
from the webinar to multitask since they might miss something.
7. Your
voice matters
Unless
you are also using video, your voice is the only element of body language that
your audience has. Speak loudly and
clearly enough so you can be heard and understood easily. Vary your volume, rate, pitch, etc. so you
can communicate your meaning. Keep your
voice hydrated. Standing up and smiling
will make your voice sound more energized.
8. Have
a technical host
You
want to focus on your presentation and not any technical issues. Have someone available (ideally co-located
with you) to handle the technical aspects – such as participants having trouble
logging in, finding the phone dial-in number, etc. He or she can also monitor the chat screen,
moderate questions and help if something goes wrong.
9. Do
a dress rehearsal
Test
out your presentation and internet connection using the webinar software and
ask others to log in so you can see how your slides look and find out if there
is a delay as you advance the slides. This
is especially necessary if your presentation includes many slides with photos,
since it can be a big file and require more bandwidth.
The next time you have to present a webinar, follow these
9 tips to help you deliver a clear, effective
presentation that engages your virtual audience and communicates your
message.
Gilda Bonanno's blog www.gildabonanno.blogspot.com