In graduate school, I remember a professor telling the class that if we ever had a chance to pitch our ideas to the boss, we needed presentations that were informative, engaging and to-the-point. "Your boss doesn't have time to hear you talk about nothing for over an hour," he said.
I never forgot that very valuable lesson. I apply that wisdom to every presentation I make, regardless of who I'm presenting to. Everyone's time is valuable. I don't want to waste it.
My grad school cohort worked hard on things like body language, finding a friendly face in the crowd to focus on whenever you were nervous, talking with your hands so you don't cross your arms while you're talking and taking a short pause when you've lost your thought.
Since I finished graduate school in 2005, this was before the popularity of online presentations. Here's what I've learned since then about perfecting the art of online presentations.
#1. Use the right tools. You decided to meet with your virtual team, but each team member has a different technology skill level. Use online meeting tools that are the easiest for all team members to use. Choose a collaboration tool that is very intuitive and very simple to setup. Join.me allows presenters to monitor who's attending a meeting and makes sure everyone in attendance is communicating about the same slide.
![2016-01-24-1453670177-9011608-joinme.jpg]()
#2. Know your audience. Are you presenting to entry level marketing associates or executive level professionals? Is your audience B2C or B2B? Why did your attendees register for your session? What are their expectations? Once you know the answer to these questions, you can then create your presentation keeping your audience in mind.
![2016-01-24-1453670524-3984490-audience_huffpo.jpg]()
#3. Do your research. No. You can't just whip out an old presentation your co-worker created last year and wing it when the presentation starts. (And you know who you are!) Your audience is even harder to keep focused online than in person. Facebook, email, a quick coffee break, and a full Amazon shopping cart are all things that can have their attention and you would never know it. Do your research. Know your sh*t.
#4. Know what problem you are fixing. Online presentations are much like any other presentation. You are helping your audience fix a problem. This seems really simple, right? But, do you know how many presentations I've attended that sounded more like a sales pitch than a real solution to a problem? I left those presentations knowing even less than I knew before I got there.
![2016-01-24-1453670718-3992383-whatstheproblem.jpg]()
#5. Skip the fluff. Every great presenter can tell a good story. And that's always a good way to introduce your presentation. But, once you're into the nuts and bolts of your presentation, skip the fluff. Remember, everyone's time is valuable. You don't want to waste it. Once you've developed your presentation, go through it and remove anything you feel is just filler material.
#6. Use simple and engaging visuals. Avoid using lots of charts and graphs because they are confusing and exhausting. Information on graphs and charts is usually harder to remember than information on simpler and more engaging graphics like infographics.
![2016-01-24-1453670980-2945090-infographics_huffpo.jpg]()
#7. Practice. If you are using a new collaboration tool for your online presentation, or it's a tool you haven't used in a few months, practice before your presentation. This gives you the chance to determine beforehand what kind of experience your attendees will have. Give yourself time to make alternate arrangements if you feel the tool you have chosen isn't a good fit for your team.
Your turn. What advice can you give others about delivering great online presentations. Please share those tips in the comments.
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I never forgot that very valuable lesson. I apply that wisdom to every presentation I make, regardless of who I'm presenting to. Everyone's time is valuable. I don't want to waste it.
My grad school cohort worked hard on things like body language, finding a friendly face in the crowd to focus on whenever you were nervous, talking with your hands so you don't cross your arms while you're talking and taking a short pause when you've lost your thought.
Since I finished graduate school in 2005, this was before the popularity of online presentations. Here's what I've learned since then about perfecting the art of online presentations.
#1. Use the right tools. You decided to meet with your virtual team, but each team member has a different technology skill level. Use online meeting tools that are the easiest for all team members to use. Choose a collaboration tool that is very intuitive and very simple to setup. Join.me allows presenters to monitor who's attending a meeting and makes sure everyone in attendance is communicating about the same slide.
#2. Know your audience. Are you presenting to entry level marketing associates or executive level professionals? Is your audience B2C or B2B? Why did your attendees register for your session? What are their expectations? Once you know the answer to these questions, you can then create your presentation keeping your audience in mind.
#3. Do your research. No. You can't just whip out an old presentation your co-worker created last year and wing it when the presentation starts. (And you know who you are!) Your audience is even harder to keep focused online than in person. Facebook, email, a quick coffee break, and a full Amazon shopping cart are all things that can have their attention and you would never know it. Do your research. Know your sh*t.
#4. Know what problem you are fixing. Online presentations are much like any other presentation. You are helping your audience fix a problem. This seems really simple, right? But, do you know how many presentations I've attended that sounded more like a sales pitch than a real solution to a problem? I left those presentations knowing even less than I knew before I got there.
#5. Skip the fluff. Every great presenter can tell a good story. And that's always a good way to introduce your presentation. But, once you're into the nuts and bolts of your presentation, skip the fluff. Remember, everyone's time is valuable. You don't want to waste it. Once you've developed your presentation, go through it and remove anything you feel is just filler material.
#6. Use simple and engaging visuals. Avoid using lots of charts and graphs because they are confusing and exhausting. Information on graphs and charts is usually harder to remember than information on simpler and more engaging graphics like infographics.
#7. Practice. If you are using a new collaboration tool for your online presentation, or it's a tool you haven't used in a few months, practice before your presentation. This gives you the chance to determine beforehand what kind of experience your attendees will have. Give yourself time to make alternate arrangements if you feel the tool you have chosen isn't a good fit for your team.
Your turn. What advice can you give others about delivering great online presentations. Please share those tips in the comments.
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