5 Tips for Speaking to A Virtual Crowd
In light of the current situation with COVID-19, you can expect that many event organizers will follow the lead of many global events to go virtual and host the presentations online.
For speakers that are booked to present at these events, it's a whole new ball game. The good news is that you only have to dress up from the waist up - but you will need to think of upping your game on a new set of presentation skills.
Here's a few quick tips for speaking to a virtual crowd:
Get the right equipment: While the onboard camera and microphone in your laptop is likely sufficient for conference calls, for bigger ticket events it's time to think about getting a good quality webcam and microphone. Lighting is also important - make sure you have some form of fill lighting to knock down the shadows. Make sure you are situated in a quiet place for the presentation and maybe consider using a backdrop - a neutral drape or a virtual background if possible.
Talk to the lens: Nothing is more distracting than seeing a face on a screen that is looking in a different direction. Remember that you need to look at the camera directly to appear that you are looking straight at your audience. It's worth a few practice sessions to get it right.
Share your screen: If your presentation includes slideware, audio or video, make sure you are set up for successful screensharing and that your visuals queue correctly. It's likely that your face will still be visible so point #2 still applies. The event team might run the visuals for you - in this case point #4 is even more critical.
Learn the system: Be sure to familiarize yourself with the broadcast system that the event will be using. Book time in advance with the technical team to ensure that you can be seen and heard effectively. If they are in charge of the on-screen graphics, practice from start to finish to make sure your timing is right and the transitions are smooth.
Invite Engagement: Since you can't see your audience and you don't know if they are paying attention or not, keeping them engaged is the biggest challenge of virtual presenting. However, there are ways to engage such as inviting comments in the chat, asking for input, running a poll or asking people to vote.
Speaking to a large audience in a virtual forum takes some getting used to, but with a little preparation you can still make an impact and leave a favorable impression.
Have you ever been impacted by this situation? What are you doing to make it work?
If you need any assistance with your virtual presentation prep - just ask. I'd be happy to help.