You’re preparing for a webinar presentation. What are the best public speaking tools to use?

Know your audience. While you might have a preference for one platform, if you know your audience is more engaged on a specific tool, then you have your answer!

Always consider your audience FIRST - who are they, and what interests them? Why did they invite you to talk? What topics are of most interest to them? All too often, I see speakers talking about themselves, their interests, and their achievements. If that is why you were invited to speak - great - you've met the brief. But always focus on the audience - what do they want to hear/see? Why are they listening, and what will keep them awake for the duration of your talk?

I host all my events on the Double-A Labs platform. Why? 1. It creates a unique environment - think about how differently you feel when you're in your office vs. a theatre. Zoom/Teams etc feel like you're in a cube. This feels like you're in a space. 2. It allows you to break out without leaving the room (unless, of course, you want to). I hate making people "leave" a room and then pulling them out. We wouldn't do that in person. The spatial audio tools on this platform allow me to let folks break out into groups or pairs to chat. 3. You have 7 seconds to garner attention and 47 seconds to keep it. I can put digital assets all over the walls for people to interact with. It's so much more interesting than a screen share or managed poll.

Before the pandemic it was seminars. After the pandemic it is webinars. -> Most of the online presentations or webinars are easy to conduct in Zoom calls because you can access chat, polls, Q&A, feedback and recording for lifetime access. -> Make a structured outline of your content before creating presentations. Check your slides before 30 minutes to start your presentation. Create an attention-grabbing hook followed by body and CTA. Use bullet and short sentences. Explain it more verbally. Stick to the scheduled time to finish it off. Having Q&A at the end can help more engaging and clearing doubts. -> Presentations should use eye-catching fonts and colours. Online graphic tools like Canva are more attractive than PowerPoint.

- Presentation software: Canva, or slides with clear visuals and concise text. Video conferencing: Zoom, GoToMeeting, or platforms with screen sharing and audience engagement features. - Teleprompter: Apps like PromptSmart or physical devices for smooth delivery. - Virtual whiteboard: Miro - Polls and Q&A: Tools within your platform or Slido for interactive sessions. - Recording and analytics: Features to capture your webinar and track engagement metrics. - Practice platform: Zoom rehearsal mode to simulate the real experience.

When preparing for a webinar presentation, effective planning of content and structure is essential. Utilize tools like MindMeister for visual mind mapping, aiding in the organization of ideas. Create a visual outline, mapping key points and the flow of your presentation. For example, you can use MindMeister to outline the main topics, subtopics, and key takeaways for each section. This visual guide improves organization, ensuring a well-structured and coherent delivery during the webinar. Integrating tools like MindMeister into your planning process contributes to a successful presentation by increasing clarity and organization.

One thing is for sure. No-one wants to listen to a speech where the speaker relies too much on his slides. There needs to be a nice balance of information on them but not too much where people are focusing on the slides rather than you. Planning your content in the right manner will help you engage with your audience ensuring that your points come across in the right way.

Craft a well-organized and engaging presentation. Develop a clear structure with an introduction, main points, and a compelling conclusion. Utilize visual aids effectively using tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides. Practice incorporating interactive elements within your content to maintain audience interest. Planning ensures a seamless flow, making your webinar impactful and memorable for the participants.

Before diving into specific tools, remember your content is king! Sketch a clear map for your webinar. Hook 'em with a relatable problem, guide them through your solution, and land them with a compelling call to action. Structure your key points like stepping stones, building momentum and solidifying knowledge. This pre-planning ensures every tool you choose enhances, not burdens, your message.

Planning your webinar content and structure is vital because it sets the foundation for a successful and engaging event. Having a clear goal, specific topic, and compelling title helps attract and resonate with your target audience. An outline of main points, introduction, conclusion, and call to action ensures a well-organized and coherent presentation. Relevant and informative content keeps attendees engaged and interested, while avoiding a salesy or boring tone. Following a structured formula helps maintain audience attention, guides them through the webinar, and reinforces key messages. By investing time and effort into planning your content and structure, you can deliver a webinar that effectively communicates your message.

🖥️🎨 Slide creation for webinars? Think of it as your canvas for storytelling. The key is KISS: Keep It Simple, Speaker. Your slides are the Robin to your Batman; they support, not overshadow. First, channel your inner Picasso but with a corporate twist. Use your brand colors and fonts to make your slides look like they belong in your company’s gallery. Less is more: use minimal text, because let’s face it, no one wants to read an eBook on a slide. Next, bring in the heavy hitters: charts, graphs, and diagrams. These are your data storytellers, turning numbers into narratives. But remember, too many animations are like too many cooks in the kitchen – chaotic! Use them like salt: just enough to enhance, not overpower.

When preparing for a webinar presentation and focusing on creating compelling slides and visuals, consider Canva. Canva offers a user-friendly platform with templates, graphics, and design elements for visually appealing slides. For example, design professional-looking slides by choosing templates, customizing layouts, and adding high-quality visuals using the drag-and-drop interface. Canva ensures a polished and engaging visual presentation, and its collaborative features facilitate teamwork for multiple presenters. Leveraging Canva enhances the aesthetic appeal and effectiveness of your webinar slides, making them impactful and memorable for your audience.

Preparing slides and visuals before the webinar is essential because it allows you to deliver a polished and professional presentation. By creating clear, simple, and attractive slides that are consistent with your brand and theme, you enhance the visual appeal and readability of your content. Planning and organizing your slides in advance enables you to effectively convey your message and support your main points. Using appropriate fonts, colors, and images helps to engage your audience and make your content more visually appealing. Preparing slides also gives you the opportunity to incorporate charts, graphs, and diagrams to illustrate data and concepts.

When using something like Canva for your presentation, try not to get caught up in all the great things you can do. There are times when people do too many things on their slides and it takes the audience's attention away from what they are saying. Visuals are key, but not too many.

Don't just create slides, curate an experience. Think beyond bullet points and stock photos. Weave engaging visuals like data-driven infographics, eye-catching animations, and even short video clips – all tailored to your audience's attention span. Remember, it's not just slides, it's a visual conversation that reinforces your message and keeps viewers on the edge of their (digital) seats.

Testing your equipment and internet connection before a webinar is of utmost importance. It ensures that you are well-prepared and minimizes the chances of technical issues disrupting your presentation. By ensuring that all your equipment is functioning properly, you can deliver clear quality to your audience. Checking the stability and speed of your internet connection helps prevent lagging or interruptions during the webinar. Compatibility and updates of your platform, slides, and visuals ensure a seamless and professional experience for your attendees. Planning for a backup and conducting a rehearsal allow you to address any potential problems in advance, increasing your confidence and readiness.

You never want the first words you say to be "can you hear me? Can you see me?" This is just a sign that you haven't tested everything properly. Before going online, be sure to: 1. Restart your device 2. Test your internet speed 3. Create an online test recording of your main camera, slides, and any other media you will share. This means you can check how your audience will experience your event BEFORE you go online.

Using tools for testing your equipment and internet connection is crucial when preparing for a webinar presentation to ensure a seamless experience. One effective tool is Speedtest by Ookla. Speedtest allows you to check the speed and stability of your internet connection, ensuring that it meets the requirements for hosting a webinar. For example, run a Speedtest to measure your upload and download speeds, helping you identify any potential issues & allowing you to address them before the actual presentation. By utilizing tools like Speedtest, you can proactively test & optimize your equipment and internet connection, minimizing the risk of technical glitches during the webinar and ensuring a smooth and reliable presentation.

Test, test, and retest. On different days and particularly with your slides. And remember to always have the means to jump to a new network - toggle your phone - if the network crashes. obviously relevant if you are presenting on line

One of the easiest ways to get "minus points" and get people to roll their eyes is to not test your webinar software and other tools beforehand and start doing it during the webinar. I've taken part in soooo many webinars where the "stumbles" of the presenter would've been easily avoidable if they had previously run a quick test of how everything works. If you want people to take you seriously and as an authority, gift them a smooth and hiccup-less experience :)

If you’re someone who needs to type a script for yourself, don’t just keep reading it repeatedly to memorize it. I recommend recording yourself reading it and then playing it back and reciting along with it until you have it memorized (the same way you learn the lyrics to a song you like). In my experience, you’ll sound less rehearsed and less like you’re reading it off a teleprompter.

The first time I spoke at a public event I read and read and read my talking points. It didn't go so well. And that's because reading and speaking aloud are different. What sounds good on paper won't necessarily translate to speech. Rehearsing is a must. Even better if you can record yourself to watch back. You will instantly see where you need to change your body language, add more inflection to your tone, include a personal story, and more. Just don't be so hard on yourself as you watch it back- we are always our own worst critics!

I'll share two tips that I've found VERY helpful: one strategic and one tactical. 1. Strategic: As Jeffrey Shaw, a fantastic business coach told me, "Just tell a story and teach what you know". This took such immense pressure of me and my desire to deliver my cherished scripted words perfectly. I worried less about trying memorize something and more about taking people on a journey. Also remember that no one attending knows what you're going to say, so don't stress if don't follow your outline exactly. 2. Tactical. I recently discovered the Rehearse Coach tool in PowerPoint. It's great on giving you feedback on your pace, tone, word choice, clarity, etc. Give it a try!

Keep the technical content half of what you started with. Instead, add stories to land the key message home. Use story telling as a means to demonstrate real life examples from your life around the subject to make your ideas hit home. People will likely remember your story and therefore, the idea that you associated with it

In order to properly prepare for a webinar presentation and refine your delivery and communication skills, consider using OBS Studio. This open-source software allows effective practice and recording of presentations. Set up a virtual scene, share slides, and record yourself presenting. With features like scene transitions and audio controls, OBS Studio simulates a live environment for practice. Review recorded sessions to identify areas for improvement in delivery and body language. Utilizing tools like OBS Studio amplifies your ability to practice, analyze, and elevate your presentation skills in a virtual setting, ensuring a confident and effective performance during the actual webinar.

Preparing for a webinar is multifaceted. It goes beyond selecting the right tools; it’s about acknowledging and honoring the expertise and perspectives of other participants. As facilitators, it is not essential to have ALL the answers. We can draw upon the collective experience in the room. Additionally, welcoming varied viewpoints from attendees and fellow panelist can charge and enrich the discussion.

YOU are the presentation. Something that I see time and time again in the virtual space is a reliance on lengthy slide decks. In all honesty, if you are presenting a 50-slide presentation that is very word-heavy, those who have brought you into the call could have saved the hassle and just asked you to send over your slides so they could cover the content themselves in the next team meeting. YOU are the presentation so give attendees something they can't google. Share your personal experiences and stories in a way that allows them to connect with you. From this, your message will be a lot more digestible and internalised, amounting to a much more authentic and memorable virtual presentation. YOU are the presentation.

Engaging Presentation Software: - Utilize engaging presentation software to enhance your webinar. Platforms like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or specialized webinar tools offer features for creating visually appealing slides, incorporating multimedia elements, and keeping the audience actively involved. Interactive Audience Engagement Tools: - Incorporate interactive audience engagement tools to make your webinar more dynamic. Polls, Q&A sessions, and chat features keep participants engaged and allow for real-time interaction. Platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or webinar-specific tools offer these engagement features, fostering a more interactive and participatory webinar experience.

Don't forget to add some flavor to your webinar. Use a tool like the Streamdeck to add in music, sound effects and other interactive elements. This will keep the audience engaged and looking for more. In addition, you can emphasize certain important points for the webinar by using music, sound effects, and special graphics. Remember that people learn in different ways - visual, auditory, etc.

Top tip for webinar: Look at the camera rather the screen, it’ll make the participants feel like you’re looking at them. As it’s really easy for anyone to disengage from an online presentation, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage by “looking away”, it will be a lot harder to connect with your audience.