Amidst the backdrop of chaos and COVID-19, the speaking industry (as other industries) is struggling with how to effectively and safely conduct meetings and conferences and expos. Some organizations and event organizers have simply canceled pending events, others have delayed them into the future, yet others are attempting to transition to online virtual events.
Transitioning to a virtual event can be overwhelming and frightening not just for the event organizers, but for the speakers themselves. Giving a presentation in a virtual environment can be quite challenging for those used to the live audience – the energy, the non-verbal cues from the participants, the applause, laughter – it’s just not the same when you’re speaking into a web cam. That’s not even touching on the possible technical complications … technology is a wonderful thing, until it’s not working the way it’s supposed to, that’s when the stress really kicks in.
Here are 7 technical tips to ensure you shine and your speaking topic message is just as impactful at a virtual event:
- Make sure you have sufficient bandwidth – any virtual meeting tends to be a bandwidth hog, so make sure you are able to output the highest possible video streaming speed and have a secure connection.
- Practice with the platform – spend some time before the event familiarizing yourself with the software platform that’s being used for the event (Zoom, Facebook Live, Skype, YouTube, LiveWebinar, GoToWebinar, etc). You don’t want to suffer through last-minute panic because something isn’t working and you’re not familiar enough with the program to troubleshoot.
- Camera, angles, and background – it helps to have a high quality camera. You’ll need to make sure your camera is centered on you and angled to your eye level so it looks like you’re speaking directly to the viewer. Backgrounds also matter – it should be pleasant, simple, and not too distracting to the viewer. If you’re using a green-screen, ensure the image you’re putting behind you is relevant and not too busy.
- Audio – video is important but your audio is the key, after all the whole point is for people to hear your message. Make sure you have a high quality, noise canceling microphone (noise canceling for that unexpected plane flying overhead or your neighbor suddenly deciding to mow their lawn).
- Lighting – make sure you are facing your light source and try to have as much natural light as possible. For a professional look, three light sources are recommended; one to each side and one directly in front of you.
- Minimize distractions – we’ve already mentioned the unexpected distractions from outside (lawn mower, garbage truck, airplane, sirens, etc.) but you also need to make sure to minimize the chances of indoor distractions. As adorable as your children or pets are, try and schedule a sitter or some other entertainment for them so they are not as likely to inadvertently find themselves on screen in the middle of your speech.
- Dress – wear something that you feel comfortable and confident wearing, something that relates to the expected clothing of your target demographic. Avoid colors or patterns that might not translate well to video, especially if you are using a green-screen.
While you might be losing out on the energy and audience feedback you would get from an in-person event, there are also some unique positives to giving an online keynote. You can give more presentations because your setup is minimal once you’ve got it all in place, plus you don’t have to travel – book hotels and flights and cars – which will allow you more flexibility in accepting additional speaking opportunities, and best of all once your speech is done you can go grab your kids or pets from the sitter and celebrate together.
Now that you have all the technical items in place, all that’s left is to keep your energy high, speak with passion, and impart your message to the world – you’ve got this!
Until next time …
Paige Francis
Create 2 Sell