What are the common pitfalls and best practices of online presentations?

1 Know your audience

Before you start preparing your online presentation, you need to know who you are talking to and what they expect from you. Research your audience's background, interests, goals, and pain points. Tailor your content, tone, and style to match their needs and preferences. Avoid jargon, technical terms, or acronyms that they might not understand. Use relevant examples, stories, and data that resonate with them.

2 Plan your structure

A clear and logical structure is essential for any presentation, but especially for online ones. You need to capture your audience's attention, keep them engaged, and deliver your message effectively. Start with a catchy hook that introduces your topic and your main point. Then, outline the main points or arguments that support your point. Use transitions and signposts to guide your audience through your presentation. End with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main point and provides a call to action or a takeaway.

3 Design your slides

Your slides are not your script, but your visual aids. They should complement your verbal delivery, not distract from it. Use simple and consistent design principles, such as fonts, colors, and layouts. Use images, charts, graphs, or icons to illustrate your points, but avoid cluttering your slides with too much information or decoration. Use bullet points, keywords, or phrases, not full sentences or paragraphs. Make sure your slides are readable, clear, and aligned with your brand.

4 Practice your delivery

Your delivery is how you communicate your message with your voice, body language, and facial expressions. It can make or break your online presentation. Practice your delivery before you go live, preferably with a friend or a colleague who can give you feedback. Record yourself and watch your performance. Pay attention to your pace, tone, volume, and clarity. Avoid filler words, such as um, ah, or like. Use pauses, emphasis, and intonation to create interest and variety. Smile, look at the camera, and gesture naturally.

5 Engage your audience

One of the biggest challenges of online presentations is keeping your audience engaged and attentive. You need to interact with them and make them feel part of the conversation. Use polls, quizzes, questions, or chat features to solicit their input and feedback. Acknowledge their comments and address their concerns. Use humor, anecdotes, or examples to relate to them. Encourage them to share their thoughts or experiences. Show your enthusiasm and passion for your topic.