Engaging an Audience Online

Presenting.

This article looks at what happens when you are presenting online — where the audience is a series of little boxes on a screen.

Online presenting — does that feel better or worse than live presenting?

Hang on.

Let’s not start with that question.

Let’s start with this question.

What makes presenting more enjoyable?

I believe the answer is this:

Presenting either online or to a live audience is more enjoyable when your audience are engaged.

So the next question is:

What does an ‘engaged’ audience look and feel like?

• They look focused — displaying a ‘listening body language’.

They might not be making eye contact constantly — but that is because they are making notes. You can spot the difference between making notes on what you are presenting and making notes on some other project or ‘to do’ list!

How can you tell?

They regularly look up and are physically reacting to what you are saying.

• You feel as if you are in a conversation. There is an energy between you and those little squares!

There are questions or follow up communications.

So what do you need to do to encourage this engagement?

You could try some kind of hypnosis through the screen — or set up electric shocks through their keyboards — triggered every time a lack of engagement is detected….

but …

… you can’t force an audience to engage!

And remember — you are not responsible for their pre-existing mood, anxieties or baggage-influenced judgments! You are not responsible for the row they had with their boss, partner or kid. You are not responsible for their bad back following an unwise trampoline competition.

With this in mind — and without hypnosis — I recommend these core ingredients of ‘engaging an audience online.’

Preparation.

You wouldn’t promise a scrumptious cake for tea if you hadn’t checked that you had the right ingredients, allowed the right time to make and cook it, and, had an oven!

So why would you expect to give an engaging presentation without preparing?

For online presentations, this involves a few extra — or different — steps:

• Tech stuff! Know your tech — rehearse! Be prepared for ‘gremlins’ — plan B (and C). This applies when presenting live of course — just more tech reliance when online!
• Build in ways of inviting the audience to feel part of things:- chat room/hands up/set time for questions etc. Set this expectation up front.

Content clarity.

You need to be clear on the point of the presentation — the audience’s expectations, knowledge levels etc. (This always applies).

You need to connect with your content. If you don’t feel connected to your content — they won’t. (This always applies too.)

You need to work on pace, tone, variety, visuals… all the more crucial online as there needs to be a turned up energy and accommodation for audience ‘distraction’.

Authentic delivery.

You knew I would add this ingredient!

So you have seen numerous online presentations, been an attendee at loads… and somewhere along the way you have picked up a ‘should be’ internal script!

‘Oh — that’s how to do it’ — ‘it needs to be like ‘this’.

STOP!

Those presenters are not you. By all means observe and pick up on what engages you and what doesn’t — that is a brilliant exercise to do.

BUT — now make sure you don’t become a different person when you put your ‘presenter hat’ on.

Use your natural style (with a slight energy up-tweak)

• Your appearance style (but beware jazzy patterns or too much make up — or sweaty face issues on screen! Preparation again!)
• Your backdrop — make it aligned with ‘you’. It can be a virtual one if you wish — but this can be a barrier if too ‘artificial’ or ‘salesy’. Nothing wrong with your office, kitchen or sitting room — doesn’t need to be perfect — but check it out for odd stuff first!
• Your verbal and non-verbal language — make it ‘you’! Don’t flood the audio waves with buzzwords or swear words — if they are not YOU!
• When things go wrong (tech) — be real! Talk about what is going wrong — don’t pretend all is well! You might even address this possibility before any problems arise — just in case. You are not in charge of Virgin!

Does this help?

I will simply round up by saying — this really can be enjoyable! It does not need to be a chore or scary. Step by step. Take lessons from every time you do this. If your audience don’t appear to be engaged — do the forensics — and get back on the horse!

Let me know in the comments below. Give me your online presenting stories — good and bad please!