Online Presentation Tips: Six Keys to Dynamic Webinars or Webcasts
A webinar is a seminar that people listen to and watch on the web, through their computer, while a teleseminar involves just listening, through the phone or computer. A webinar is also sometimes called a webcast. When multiple presenters are participating in the same program, a web conference can be called instead of a webinar or webcast. Many cost nothing to attend as they are designed to funnel potential customers into a sales process. Others are purely educational events, with attendance fees.
Whatever you call it, whether it’s free or paid, this is a multimedia format that involves watching and listening simultaneously. Because images typically need to be created ahead of time and arranged in order, it requires more preparation than a teleseminar. Add more prep time due to the need to get familiar with the technology.
However, on the bright side, it has the potential to engage and inform listeners not only with words but also with pictures. So, let’s see how to make the most of the strengths of this communication medium. What can you do to keep participants engaged from the beginning to the end of your webinar program?
Six keys to more animated web presentations
1. Interactivity. Get the most out of the webinar interface by planning at least two audience surveys during your talk. Have an accomplice check in the survey numbers for you and announce them to you and the group. This maintains two-way communication, up to a point, and the atmosphere is spontaneous rather than canned.
2. Enough slides to keep things moving. A good rule of thumb is one slide per minute. If you have a series of points to make on a topic, present slides that represent one point at a time rather than holding a slide that contains all the points for many minutes.
3. Minimum bullet points. A lecture that is a succession of vignettes takes on a dull and predictable rhythm. Rather than filling slide after slide with bullets, consider questions, charts, graphs, photos, or images that encapsulate your topic or suggest your point without fully summarizing it.
4. Suspense. Since people attend webinars on their computer, participants are always tempted to multitask or walk away completely during their presentation. At least once during your talk, bring up something engaging that you’ll talk about later to help them stay tuned.
5. Questions in reserve. Participants appreciate when you give them the opportunity to ask questions. But they don’t always intervene when invited. Keep several questions in reserve, to avoid long silences and to help shy people gather the courage to speak up. Present your fictitious questions by saying (sincerely) “I’m often asked about …” or “Here’s a question …”
6. Unexpected start, strong ending. Start with a bold statement, a surprising statistic, a revealing incident, or something else with impact. When time is up, don’t get left behind, but end with a forceful summary of your advice or bold statement. Plan your ending to follow the question and answer period.
If you use these tips to create an animated online presentation, your webinar has a much better chance of achieving your goals – participants have either learned as planned, or have come close to becoming your paying customers.