9 Tips for Virtual Presentations
Virtual communication is becoming more of the norm as time goes on. This means that online speech presentations will increase, and speakers will need to master the intricacies of public speaking in this format. Here are a few basic tips to keep in mind:
- Know your media platform. Become familiar with the various aspects of your chosen medium, such as Zoom, Teams, Skype, etc. Be familiar with the required tools, such as the mute and chat functions.
- Think of your computer camera as the eyes of your audience. Keep direct eye contact with the camera during the presentation. Set up the camera beforehand to capture the image you want your audience to see. Consider details such as how much of your image you want projected: just your eyes and head, your upper body, or a full-body image?
- Dress for the occasion. Even though you are not speaking to a live audience, take the same care with your attire as you would for a live presentation. People will be even more attentive to detail when viewing a virtual speech.
- Take special care to monitor the mute and video buttons. It is easy to forget whether they are on or off. Unintentionally leaving them in the wrong position can lead to an embarrassing situation.
- Focus on the environment around you. Your audience will notice every slight nuance in the background that you are speaking in front of, and they will make assumptions based on this background. A clean, professional environment is essential. Provide good lighting for your presentation, utilizing natural lighting or strategically placed lamps. Also, be cautious about using a virtual, computer-generated background; they can be distracting and give an artificial feel.
