Preparing for Online Presentations

1. Challenges of Online Presentations

• Lack of audience feedback – People often keep cameras off, making engagement difficult.
• Distractions – Viewers may multitask, reducing attention.
• Technical issues – Network problems, unclear audio, and small screen sizes affect communication.

2. Best Practices for Effective Online Presentations

1. Control Audience Attention

• Start with your face visible for 30–40 seconds before showing slides.
• Use large fonts and minimal text to ensure readability on mobile screens.
• Slow down speech (100 words per minute) to improve clarity.

2. Manage Audience Interaction

• Keep participants on mute to avoid background noise.
• Use chat and reaction features to collect responses and feedback.
• Ask frequent check-in questions like “Are you with me?” to keep engagement high.

3. Optimize Slides for Online Viewing

• Reduce slide count (e.g., 2 slides online vs. 10 slides in person).
• Use bullet points and visuals instead of dense text.
• Ensure slides occupy the full screen when shared.

4. Prepare for Technical Issues

• Check all equipment (mic, camera, internet) before starting.
• Have a backup plan in case slides fail—be ready to explain verbally.
• Control distractions by muting disruptive participants.

3. Key Takeaways

• Online presentations require adapting content and delivery for a virtual medium.
• Focus on audience engagement using chat, reactions, and direct interactions.
• Minimize slides, simplify content, and speak clearly for better retention.
• Technical preparation is crucial—ensure smooth connectivity and audio clarity.

By applying these strategies, online presentations become more engaging, clear, and persuasive.