It’s clear that things have shifted beyond the world of events, impacting the way we communicate and operate daily. Friends, family members, instructors, students, colleagues, and entire companies now rely on virtual communication. So, how does one excel in this area? We are here to provide you with a few tips to improve your presence online to better engage a virtual audience.
Tip 1: Plan Ahead
Whether you are casually visiting with friends, or addressing an audience for a keynote presentation, preparation is key. Consider the lighting for the time of day, so you may prepare additional sources as needed (a great, affordable option we love is the ring light tripod!). Wear something that is comfortable, compliments the background, and gives you the most confident, camera-ready look possible.
Prepare your devices by charging them beforehand and securing back up options as needed. Guests will lose interest very fast if they are forced to watch the host troubleshoot during the event.
Additionally, once it is time to begin the event, we recommend having a run of show, or notes near by so you don’t forget to address any important topics. Even if you are planning a casual virtual birthday party, having a few talking points for guests is helpful if there’s a lull. Finally, it is helpful to have a glass of water nearby so you don’t have to exit the screen once the virtual audience joins.
Tip 2: Update and Test Your Equipment
Before you begin, it’s always a good idea to make sure all your hardware is working properly. If your budget doesn’t allow for hiring a professional production team, consider purchasing a microphone and webcam to achieve higher quality audiovisuals. The most popular solution for clear audio is a USB microphone, which connects directly to your computer and produces a fairly decent sound quality for the price. The Razer Kiyo is a great webcam solution that includes a professional-like LED ring and a high quality camera, for a little over $100.
Tip 3: Communicate Clearly
Clear communication is key to manage expectations, and keep the audience engaged.
On the invitation, you’ll want to include the specific time you want guests to join as well as any details they may need beforehand. Does the software being used need to be downloaded and tested? Do users need to create an account to join? Are there a specific number of spots you are holding? All of this information should be included in the initial invitation so guests can plan accordingly. We’d also recommend including an end time so guests may plan to stay through the duration of the event.
Once you are live with your virtual audience, it’s important to annunciate and speak clearly. You will quickly lose your audience if they can not hear you well or the sound is muffled.
Tip 4: Make Eye Contact with the Camera when Speaking
It can be challenging to engage someone when you can’t read their emotional response or body language first hand. However, by treating the camera as the eyes of whom you are addressing, you will create a connection that can be otherwise hard to translate into the digital space. Feel free to periodically look away, similar to how you would in an in-person conversation, in order to keep things natural. A pro tip for smaller attendee events, is to have the guest list near the camera so it visible to you as you are speaking to keep those personal connections as a priority.
Tip 5: Ask Questions & Prepare Activities
This tip is especially crucial if you are hosting a large scale virtual event. Having prompts, tasks, and actions guests can take while they are attending the event, encourages attendees to engage without feeling disruptive.
Regularly check the chat screen in case guests have questions or comments throughout the event. Addressing individuals to the entire audience allows guests to feel seen, heard, and important.
Tip 6: Be Yourself
Regardless of your previous experience, the audience is there because they believe you can add value to their life through an online event. If you typically talk with your hands when you are passionate, allow that to come through online. It’s easy to feel the pressure of being on screen, but genuine people are much easier to engage with online and in real life.
Finally, remember that people connect with stories; if you have personal insight you can share to relate to the content, it’s likely to make a bigger impact than sharing facts and data alone.
We hope this helps you feel more confident to improve your presence online to better engage a virtual audience. If you do need additional guidance for an upcoming event, virtual or otherwise, we are here to help.
