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Decktopus shared a survey in 2024 collecting data relevant to presentation trends from more than 300 people. According to that survey, 32 percent of participants create presentation slides for academic purposes, 21 percent for project updates, 12 percent for sales proposals, and another 12 percent for startup pitches.
It means that the majority of people in academic and professional fields need to deliver presentations no matter if they are in physical or virtual settings.
Educators and student bodies have to virtually present their topics and homework in the online courses. Freelancers and remote office members have to give presentations to their bosses for different purposes.
Decktopus survey also states most people create at least one presentation per week. But, these people find it difficult to capture the attention of their remote audience. It is because online presentations are a type of content art, and everyone needs to master it.
That's why making and delivering online presentations becomes overwhelming, especially if you are a beginner. However, you need not worry. This blog is going to help you in learning the art of online presentations.
Tips for Delivering Compelling Online Presentations
Well-Written Narrative
Your presentation should have a flow and momentum that will keep your audience hooked till the end. Make sure to write a compelling narrative that is divided into manageable chunks. It will help the audience remain active.
Moreover, your presentation should have a personal story. The human brain is wired in such a way that stories appeal to it. When you add any anecdote to your presentation, people will connect with you on a personal and emotional level. This aspect will make your presentation memorable for everyone.
In case you don't know how to write a compelling narrative, you can get help from ChatGPT. This AI tool can write your presentation. But make sure to revise it and add your personal touch to the AI-generated content to connect with your audience.
Know Your Audience
While planning your presentation, you should have your audience in mind. Ask these questions to yourself: Who is your audience? What are their demographics? What is their educational level? What are their interests?
These questions will help you in planning your online presentation content in a better way. You can play your presentation in a way that doesn't become confusing and overwhelming for your audience.
Develop the Connection
This is one of the crucial tips of the presentation. No matter if you are delivering a presentation online or offline, this tip is going to help you in every setting.
Decktopus survey proves that many people look at another screen, such as a desktop or mobile, constantly during the presentation. It is because they don't feel connected with the presenter.
That's why you need to focus on your voice and body language to develop a connection with your audience.
Different studies have proved that impactful presentations are 38 percent of your voice, 55 percent of your non-verbal communication, and 7 percent of your content.
So, while delivering the online presentation, make sure to look at the camera directly. It will give the illusion of eye contact to your audience. For this, the camera should be level with your face.
When you need to address your audience’s questions and feedback, try to address them with their name. This will develop your connection with your audience.
Be mindful of your body language. Use your hand movements naturally, sit straight, keep your shoulders relaxed, and put a small smile on your lips to give a friendly and confident vibe to your listeners.
The light should be in front of you rather than in your background. Moreover, try to reflect your personality with your background. Put flowers and aesthetic objects in your background to make a good impression about your personality.
Keep a glass of water nearby instead of a bottle, as drinking directly from a bottle can appear indecent.
Additionally, vary your voice throughout the presentation. Keep it professional or lively according to your message or content.
Leveraging Technology for Engagement
Gone are the days when simple PowerPoint Presentations were being used. Now, AI has introduced a wide variety of interactive elements for engaging presentations. These elements allow the presenter to keep their audience active and involved while they are presenting the information.
For example, Google Classroom allows students to send feedback or questions while the teacher is delivering the online class. Zoom has allowed an array of AI tools such as sending questions and reactions during the presentation. This will help you gauge the reaction of your audience and let them ask you questions whenever they desire.
Moreover, various AI platforms allow you to add live polls, breakout rooms, and MCQs while delivering the lecture.
Harness the Power of Visuals and Graphics
Decktopus Survey 2024 states that 100 percent of people want to see visuals in the presentation slides. They don't want to see text-heavy slides, but visuals in each one to better understand the concept. These visuals shouldn't revolve around aesthetics but focus on delivering the concept in the best way possible.
Your visuals should align with your concepts and opinions. So, try to add charts, research, and other relevant pictures.
If you don't know how to find these pictures or make them, you can get help from the AI presentation makers. Canva has AI tools that can create the visuals when you provide the prompt. Gamma is another tool that can turn text into motion graphics.
Here, you should make sure not to make a large number of slides. The survey shows that people prefer a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 14 slides in one presentation. You should keep your presentation within the 10 to 12 minutes range as it is the average attention span of people.
Mastering the Technical Aspects
The major problem in the online presentation is the glitches and internet-related problems. These glitches disrupt the whole flow of your presentation and can frustrate your audience. So, you need to master the technical aspects of the tools you are using.
Take your time in familiarizing yourself with the ins and outs of the technology you are using. No matter if it is Zoom, Canva, or PowerPoint, check their reviews and tutorials. It will help you to avoid any technical errors while delivering your content.
It is also essential to test your microphone, camera, and internet connection ahead of time. It will ensure everything is working flawlessly.
With all of this, ensure that there are no distractions in your background. The noise or messy background can divert the attention of your audience.
Conclusion
Delivering an effective online presentation is both; a science and an art. If we learn how to master it, we can take major benefits from virtual presentations. These presentations are helping us in reaching a wider audience. It enables us to polish our communication skills and helps us to expand our exposure.
Though it has some unique challenges, you can overcome them with the help of AI tools. Just learn how to use these tools wisely to effectively present your data to the remote audience.
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