HOW TO GIVE A GOOD REMOTE PRESENTATION

As we all adapt to remote working, our homes have now become an office, nursery, school, virtual meeting room and conference facility! As we change to the appropriate situation, it is important to ensure that we have the correct technology and set up. Presenting digitally is now, for many, a daily routine in their work environment but, for others, the dread of technology going wrong can be one of many anxieties.

How do you make sure you have the right set up and are fully prepared for presenting online?

We probably all wish we had the latest state of the art technology, lighting, sound, mics and green screen, but as this is not possible for everyone, we have outlined some tips to giving a good remote presentation.

• Prepare your tech! Make sure your equipment is charged or plugged in, shut down any unnecessary programs and mute any notifications and distractions, for example, email, Teams and your mobile phone.
• Check your presentation space – have a look at your background and what is behind you, make sure nothing is visible that is distracting or unprofessional.
• Use a mic or headphones – headsets are important to standardise sound and to remove echo and noises. A cost-effective USB headset can be used and is ideal for online presentations such as webinars.
• Always do a test run and ask a colleague to join you to check for any issues.
• Do you like to stand up when presenting? Standing can put you in the right frame of mind for speaking and give you confidence. Adjust your camera angle to suit, too.
• If you’re uncomfortable talking on your own to an audience, think about whether the presentation could be hosted jointly with a colleague, such as a Q&A session or a conversation.
• Remember your audience – try and connect with the audience instead of just talking at them and help to get them engaged to ask questions. It might, however, be worth keeping Q&A sessions until the end so you are not side-tracked during your presentation.
• Watch the clock – keep an eye on time and do not go over the specified timeframe.
• You don’t have to go live all the time! A pre-recorded version that can be shared via social media can have a huge impact and it also means mistakes, technical hitches, barking darks and screaming kids can be edited.
• If you are sharing your video on social media, don’t forget to add captions – stand out captions immediately let content consumers know what the video is about. Refer to our blog on how to add captions.

With remote speaking, many of the same rules apply as with face to face events:

• Try to speak naturally from prompts or bullet points, rather than reading off your slides.
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Be mindful of your body language on screen – do you talk with your hands? Too many hand gestures might be distracting on a small screen.
• Just because you are at home, does not mean you should present in your casuals!

With all the preparation in the world, sometimes things can go wrong – try not to panic. Have a backup plan such as a pre-recorded version of your presentation, slides you could email, or a new rerun date lined up. If you need help to get your online presentations underway, get in touch and we can help to make this happen. In this current climate, it has never been more important to stay connected with your audience. Cal Partners is an award-winning digital marketing agency, experienced in managing online recordings, presentations, and webinars for clients.