Tap into your resources
This entry consists of advice for web presentation success based on my experience with events at Infinite Conferencing, our best practices whitepaper, and the myriad of presentation resources I've consulted over the years. One thing that all presentation advice has in common is the emphasis on preparation. If you spend the time with your presentation before the actual presentation, you will avoid the pitfalls of winging it.
To begin your preparation, tap into your Infinite Conferencing resources. We are experts in all areas of virtual conferences. Use your Account Manager as a major source for consultation to develop your strategic conferencing plan. Make sure to schedule a product training with your Account Manager early in the game to become acquainted with the web conferencing platform.
Before your event day, perform the system check (located on the login page) to ensure the computer, from which you will be presenting, has optimized settings. Have your PowerPoint presentation ready and published on your account. To gauge your audience's understanding during the event, you will want to prepare focused polling questions that complement your presentation. Schedule a dry-run of your event with your Account Manager to rehearse the actual call format you will use. Also, don't forget to confirm date, time and access information with your Account Manager.
It's show-time! First, hit the start button and go live with your presentation 10-15 minutes before your actual start-time so that early birds are not turned away. At the start, introduce yourself and go over housekeeping items to clarify the format of the call before moving into the presentation.
A typical presentation format is comprised as follows:
•Introduction
•Housekeeping
•Agenda
•Conclusion
•Questions & Answers
Advice about technique: a simple organized approach is usually the best one. Develop an outline to rehearse your talk. One of the biggest mistakes that new presenters make is to recite or read every line of their note section. It's more important to put yourself into the presentation by drawing connections through the use of personal examples and stories. A personal touch is certain to make your time together interesting and memorable.
Keep in mind that the online presentation will not communicate body language cues the way it would face-to-face. You can compensate for this by using the interactive features of the technology. Encourage the audience to ask questions and make free use of hand-raising and text messaging tools.
If you've tapped into your resources and rehearsed ahead of time, the actual presentation will be a snap! A wealth of reference materials on presentation techniques and PowerPoint techniques is available on the web and beyond. I've found that the best presentations keep-it-simple with PowerPoint design that favors organization and substantial content. While no one wants to sit through a boring presentation, you don't want to go overboard with fluffy extras. Focus on the importance of your material and communicate your content with clarity.
Notes:
A few sites with a lot of presentation advice:
A downloadable resource guide featuring an extensive list on every topic regarding PowerPoint and presentations is available here:
http://connectingdots.typepad.com/ppt/
BNET features many free and pertinent business whitepapers including tips on public speaking and presentations:
http://www.bnet.com/
Regardless of how you feel about Bill Gates' bullet points, I think you will appreciate the less-is-more professional presentation design at Garr Reynolds' site:
http://www.presentationzen.com/
Stephanie Morehead, Event Coordinator at Infinite Conferencing
To begin your preparation, tap into your Infinite Conferencing resources. We are experts in all areas of virtual conferences. Use your Account Manager as a major source for consultation to develop your strategic conferencing plan. Make sure to schedule a product training with your Account Manager early in the game to become acquainted with the web conferencing platform.
Before your event day, perform the system check (located on the login page) to ensure the computer, from which you will be presenting, has optimized settings. Have your PowerPoint presentation ready and published on your account. To gauge your audience's understanding during the event, you will want to prepare focused polling questions that complement your presentation. Schedule a dry-run of your event with your Account Manager to rehearse the actual call format you will use. Also, don't forget to confirm date, time and access information with your Account Manager.
It's show-time! First, hit the start button and go live with your presentation 10-15 minutes before your actual start-time so that early birds are not turned away. At the start, introduce yourself and go over housekeeping items to clarify the format of the call before moving into the presentation.
A typical presentation format is comprised as follows:
•Introduction
•Housekeeping
•Agenda
•Conclusion
•Questions & Answers
Advice about technique: a simple organized approach is usually the best one. Develop an outline to rehearse your talk. One of the biggest mistakes that new presenters make is to recite or read every line of their note section. It's more important to put yourself into the presentation by drawing connections through the use of personal examples and stories. A personal touch is certain to make your time together interesting and memorable.
Keep in mind that the online presentation will not communicate body language cues the way it would face-to-face. You can compensate for this by using the interactive features of the technology. Encourage the audience to ask questions and make free use of hand-raising and text messaging tools.
If you've tapped into your resources and rehearsed ahead of time, the actual presentation will be a snap! A wealth of reference materials on presentation techniques and PowerPoint techniques is available on the web and beyond. I've found that the best presentations keep-it-simple with PowerPoint design that favors organization and substantial content. While no one wants to sit through a boring presentation, you don't want to go overboard with fluffy extras. Focus on the importance of your material and communicate your content with clarity.
Notes:
A few sites with a lot of presentation advice:
A downloadable resource guide featuring an extensive list on every topic regarding PowerPoint and presentations is available here:
http://connectingdots.typepad.com/ppt/
BNET features many free and pertinent business whitepapers including tips on public speaking and presentations:
http://www.bnet.com/
Regardless of how you feel about Bill Gates' bullet points, I think you will appreciate the less-is-more professional presentation design at Garr Reynolds' site:
http://www.presentationzen.com/
Stephanie Morehead, Event Coordinator at Infinite Conferencing
Labels: Advice, Online Presentations
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