Introduction
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, more and more events are being organized virtually (here's how to host one ). Virtual events usually create several challenges for event speakers who are used to speaking impactfully at in-person events. They now have to change their approach, body language, method of delivery, and so much more.
If you are an event speaker who wants to make this much-needed shift, you need to stick to certain best practices and follow a few tips that will help you keep the audience engaged. Here we have mentioned 10 best practices and tips for virtual event speakers to become as popular during virtual events as they were during in-person or live events.
Focus on the Basic Details
One of the most useful tips for virtual event speakers that will help boost their self-confidence is to focus on the basic details. Make sure that you dress in business casuals with solid colors. Pick a neutral background and test the lighting to ensure that you are not presenting from the shadows. Set your webcam at eye level and ensure there are no background noises. Also, focus on your body language. Do not fidget, swivel in the chair, or show any signs of nervousness. Be confident and have a pleasant smile on your face. While presenting, make sure your voice is clear, pause to highlight key points and maintain eye contact with the audience. Don't just strive for perfection. Instead, strive for continuous improvement!
Get Two Monitors
If a presentation is a part of your session, you need to get two monitors for the virtual event. You can keep the slides on one screen and look at them when talking about it. Use the second monitor to see the faces of the audience so that you can judge audience engagement and answer the questions thrown at you by the audience. If the event is small and you want to be a great virtual event speaker, you need to have the audience face your laptop screen so that you can look at all of them while talking.
Don't Over Depend on Words
When you hope to become a successful presenter at a virtual event, ensure that you don't depend on words too much. Make use of visuals to make your content more engaging. Infographics, GIFs, and other creative methods are highly recommended. Also, try sitting up, showing your hands when you speak, sitting a bit away from the webcam, and emoting are the ways to ensure the audience knows that you are there to help them learn something good.
Test and Add Videos
One of the tried and tested best practices for virtual event speakers is the use of video elements. People get tired of looking at blocks of texts all the time. So, you can make your session interesting as a speaker by adding video elements. For example, you can use short video clips after doing a dry run. Also, ensure that you enable the audio system before sharing the screen, as it will help optimize the sound quality.
Focus on the Camera
Most professional public speakers are aware that it becomes impossible to maintain contact with every member of the audience in a virtual event. A smart move in such a case would be to imagine that you are talking to one person, and that person is looking right at you via your device's camera. So, try to focus on making a connection with your camera. It will make each member of the audience feel that you are looking at them. Hence, you will achieve the goal of boosting the audience's engagement.