How to Deliver an Engaging Remote Presentation: Top 5 Best Practices and Strategies

You have been asked to present at a conference, but you cant attend in person. What are the best practices for giving a really engaging remote presentation?

What your audience will see

If you are presenting to a live audience in-person you wouldn't rock up to the podium in pyjama bottoms and your favourite band Tee shirt. Resting your laptop on your knees is almost the standard for a quick video meeting with colleagues, (lets face it, we have all become oddly accepting of the 'up nostril' camera angle).

But when presenting to an audience of strangers, you need to step up your game.

Camera angle

Your camera needs to be positioned as close to eye level as you can get. If you are using a laptop, get a stand (or a pile of books if one isn't available) to raise the camera so you are looking straight into it.

If you are going to read from a script on your screen keep the latest text at the top, so as you read, your eyeline is still the same as the camera.

Lighting

Of course you can invest in one of those Vloggers ring lights if you really want to, but just making sure you are not sat in front of a window will avoid you becoming a silhouette . If you don't have a choice, then at least draw the curtains.

In general, the more light you can get in the room the better, with as much of it in front of your face as possible. Modern cameras can work in most light conditions. A desk lamp turned on, next to your screen will usually be enough. Don't point it straight at your face though, it will create harsh shadows. Better to use reflective light by pointing the lamp at the ceiling or a wall.

Background

The virtual backgrounds in Zoom or background effects in MS teams are cool pieces of AI tech, however they always lead to the question 'what are they hiding?'

A much better solution if you can manage it is to sit in front of a backdrop with your brand identity on it. Make sure everything is tidy, and perhaps add a couple of objects of interest: Maybe a plant, an award or two, or a small pile of books. Nothing too cluttered or busy, and certainly nothing that will distract from you and your message. Check that its all in shot before you join the call, and you will project a far better image than the blurred out hellscape created artificially by your software.

What your audience will hear

Research indicates that 67% of conference attendees consider audio quality as a vital factor for engagement. Make sure you are transmitting clear audio. If you sound like you are sat in a bathroom, then see if you can move to somewhere with soft furnishings to soak up some of the reverb.

Even closing the curtains can help (assuming you have soft textile drapes rather than hard plastic blinds).

Choose somewhere quiet with little or no background noise and where you wont be interrupted. That might sound obvious, but I have seen more than one remote presenter trying to sound authoritative from a noisy coffee shop, and it never works.

Test call

It is another obvious essential, but prior to the event you must have checked your meeting link and done a test.

It is normal practice to organise a test call with the event technical team. This is often done a day or two prior, but there is one thing that you really must adhere to.

Use exactly the same set up for the test as you are intending to use on the day.

There is literally no point testing on a well set up desktop system from your office, if on the day, you will be dialling in on your iPad from an airport lounge. I have had that sort of thing happen on several occasions, and its embarrassing for everyone.

Joining Protocol

On the day of the event, you will be given a time to dial in, normally about half an hour before your arranged time slot on stage. This gives everyone time to resolve any issues, and also to make allowances for any slight changes in timing. This is a live event you are joining after all.

You will be calling the technical team first. They can check the audio works both ways, and that you can see the cameras in the room, and that you can be seen clearly on video.

This must be done whilst you are still 'backstage' with no one watching, and not when your face is live on a huge screen in full view of the live audience.

Once everyone is happy you will often be allowed to sit and listen to the presentation that is on before you.

You should mute your microphone, but don't turn your camera off whilst you wait, it gives the video technican a heart attack, as the first instinct is that the call has dropped and they have just lost their next presenter.

Then, at the given cue, the technical team will switch your video onto the big screen, make your microphone live on the PA system, and off you go.

Stage Management

Of course, one thing that needs careful consideration is what exactly is that given cue mentioned above? And precisely how will you be introduced at the start of your presentation.

You should expect to have this confirmed to you by the technician when you dial in, but these details should have been discussed at the test call with the event organiser well before the day of the event.

The most common approach is to have a compare or host on stage to make a formal introduction, followed up by a 'can you hear me?' style interaction, with a short 'to and fro' chat, with perhaps a pre arranged question or two to get the session warmed up.

You should also check how they intend to handle any live questions from the audience. The host would normally manage this live from the stage. Someone has to choose who gets to ask the next question, and then make sure that the wireless microphone gets passed to the audience member asking the question. This is something that is impossible to achieve if left to you as the remote presenter.

If you are to join a panel of live guests on stage, how will that interaction go.

All of these things should have been considered long before the event begins, but changes do get made on site, so you as the remote guest need to be updated on the latest plan when you join the call prior to going live.

Slide support

Many presenters use slides to support their message, and some consideration has to made as to whether the remote presenter is going to share their content over the chosen video platform - with the possible reduction in quality and lack of control over screen layout that comes with that approach.

If its bold and simple messaging then it may well be absolutely fine on a screen share - but the alternative is for the slide deck to played back locally in the room to maintain the image quality.

The obvious challenge of advancing slides remotely can be overcome by the presenter saying 'next slide please' and someone locally hitting the button on PowerPoint for them. There are some more technical ways of remotely moving slides on. https://internetclicker.com/ is one such option.

To Sum Up

Preparation is the key.

Make sue you are in a good space, with a good internet connection, good lighting, an uncluttered background and no external noise.
Get your camera in the right place, and make a test call prior to the event.
Check the arrangements for introducing you onto the stage, and the best way you are going to do any content sharing.
Dial in on time, double check how your going to get introduced and then wait for your cue.

Then its all up to you.

for more information how we can support your virtual, hybrid or in person event, get in touch. hello@confidence-digital.com