Digital presentations and keynotes are here to stay. So how do you get started or up your game when it comes to delivering a speech online? Below, I’ll share my first three tips on how to deliver a speech online.
As I write this, I’m preparing to deliver a speech to a company’s 25,000 employees online via Zoom. So, I thought I would share my tips and tricks.
My first tip is to remember that it’s still a speech. As the axiom goes, “Information tells, emotion sells.” People will remember how you made them feel more than what you told them. Interweave stories that evoke emotion to help keep your audience engaged and to help them retain the information you are giving them.
After the event, you can always ask the most important thing they learned and the part they liked the most. This will give you an idea of what your audience is retaining. Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, ask them to comment in the chat on what they learned and liked at three different points in your speech.
There are plenty of tips online for looking good on a webcam for a presentation. They don’t always tell you that online audiences respond better to improvements in audio over improvements in the video. If you’re serious about being a professional online presenter, make your first investment in a good microphone. See what streamers on Twitch and YouTube are using for the latest trends. Bring it as close to your mouth as you can without being distracting, taking up a large portion of the frame, or blocking your face and lips. Consider adding a pop filter (those round things you’ll often see floating in front of a microphone).
Make sure your surroundings are quiet. Most online platforms will have audio filtering options; Zoom has four different levels, for example. Try to adjust the filtering to the lowest level possible, so your audience hears your voice clearly, but they can’t hear the sound of your computer fan or your mouse clicks. And make sure to wear headphones so the mic doesn’t pick up on the sound coming from your computer speakers.
It can be really tempting to watch your audience on the monitor or watch yourself to see how you’re doing while you speak. Don’t! A glance here and there is okay, but you should direct your eyes to the camera. Your audience should feel like you are speaking to them, and your eyes will give them that sensation when you look directly at the camera.
There are some great products out there that put the camera lens right in the middle of your monitor. An easy option is to get a small tripod and set it with your webcam in front of your monitor. If the camera is set in the middle from your point of view, then a quick glance at your audience or yourself won’t be as noticeable.
I have more tips for digital presenters coming soon. I’m writing these tips for professional speakers who have transitioned into the digital space and want to improve their presentations. We can make this space our own and drive up the quality of our presentations with only a few minor changes. If you’re not a professional speaker, I hope this will help you too. Let me know with a comment what you learned and liked!
I’m Jessica Cox, and I’ve delivered professional motivational speeches for over 15 years. Since the shutdowns due to Covid, I’ve been providing digital addresses to companies worldwide to keep their employees motivated and overcome challenges. If you’re looking for a professional digital keynote speech, I invite you to contact me.
