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Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, we’ve all spent a lot more time delivering presentations on Zoom and other online platforms, but many of us are still using the same slide decks they prepared for in-person events. The problem is that online presentations require a different approach—one that accounts for the unique experience of viewing on a small screen. To keep your audience engaged and prevent them from multitasking, design your slides from their perspective.
Prioritize The Visual Experience
In a physical presentation, the speaker is usually the main focus, but in a virtual environment, it’s your slides that dominate the screen. You, the speaker, are often relegated to a small box in the upper right corner. This shift means that your slides need to do more of the heavy lifting to keep the audience’s attention.
Tools like Prezi or mmhmm allow you to put yourself into the presentation, making the presentation feel more cohesive and immersive and keeping the focus on you. By integrating yourself into the visual content, you create a stronger, more emotional connection with your audience.
Banish The Bullets
Bullet points remain core to many presentations, but they don’t work well in virtual formats, and they are probably past their use-date date for in-person presentations too. In fact, bullets make your slides feel dull, dated, and deadly. Bullets encourage the use of text, which can be hard to read on smaller screens and can cause your audience members’ eyes to glaze over.
Replace bullet points with visual storytelling. Use images, infographics, and videos to communicate your message. By minimizing text and amping up visual elements, you’ll keep your audience focused on what matters most.
Be Pithy
Wordy slides are another common pitfall in online presentations. No one wants to squint at a screen full of text, especially on a smaller device like a laptop, tablet, or phone. Too many words can overwhelm your audience, and instead of absorbing your message, they might disengage.
Be concise with your slide content by limiting the amount of text. Instead of being verbose, aim for punchy headlines or phrases that capture the essence of your point. Supplement these brief statements with vibrant visuals to magnify your message.
Leverage Rich Media
Rich media—like images, videos, and animated GIFs—are powerful tools for enhancing your online presentations. According to Forrester Research, a one-minute video is worth 1.8 million words. With such a high impact, incorporating rich media into your slides boosts engagement.
After drafting the outline of your presentation, think about how you can incorporate dynamic content. Whether it’s a video clip that illustrates a key point, a provocative infographic, or a relevant animated GIF, use these elements break up the monotony and keep your audience engaged.
Involve Your Audience
Interactive slides are a great way to pull your audience into the presentation. Engagement tools like polls, quizzes, and live Q&A encourage participation and keep viewers focused. You can also create slides that prompt your audience to reflect or respond to a specific question, helping them stay mentally engaged.
For example, include a slide with a question and ask attendees to type their responses in the chat or use a polling feature to gather input in real time. By involving your audience, you create a more connective experience.
Manage Multitasking
Your biggest challenge in delivering online presentations is combating the temptation for your audience to multitask. After all, the same device that hosts your presentation also gives them access to email, social media, and countless other distractions. To dissuade multitasking, make your presentation riveting so they won’t look away.
Use visually dynamic slides, interactive elements, and storytelling to keep them glued throughout. If your slides are flat or text-heavy, you risk losing them to the distractions of their inbox or an online shopping tab. And once you’ve lost them, they’re gone.
Online presentations require a different approach than traditional, in-person ones. Take a look at the last few slide decks you created for presentations that you’re delivering online. Do they seem right for the small screen? It’s time to adopt a new approach so your virtual presentations are captivating. With the right approach, your online presentations will not only capture attention but also leave a lasting impact.
William Arruda is personal branding pioneer, keynote speaker, and expert in virtual communication. Watch his free recorded webinar to learn how to transform your online meetings and presentations into powerful, engaging experiences.