5 VIRTUAL EVENT TIPS FOR ONLINE SPEAKERS | VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
If you’ve been invited to speak at a virtual event or virtual conference we’re here to help! As virtual event experts, we know how exciting yet daunting being an online speaker can be. Unlike public speaking where your conversation can naturally flow and you can use members of the audience as focal points, and to provide instant feedback as you speak, virtual events can make this more challenging.
You often won’t be able to see everyone on the virtual event, and this can throw some people off and make online speaking a nerve-wracking experience. But whether you’re representing a brand, your own business, or providing input as an expert within your industry, don’t panic! We’ve put together 5 top tips for online speakers. From filling those awkward moments of silence to using digital background for an office aesthetic illusion, get ready to ooze confidence, professionalism, and passion as an online speaker.
01.
Props for Online Speakers
If you’ve been invited to speak at a virtual event or virtual conference we’re here to help! As virtual event experts, we know how exciting yet daunting being an online speaker can be. Unlike public speaking where your conversation can naturally flow and you can use members of the audience as focal points, and to provide instant feedback as you speak, virtual events can make this more challenging. You often won’t be able to see everyone on the virtual event, and this can throw some people off and make online speaking a nerve-wracking experience. But whether you’re representing a brand, your own business, or providing input as an expert within your industry, don’t panic! We’ve put together 5 top tips for online speakers. From filling those awkward moments of silence to using digital background for an office aesthetic illusion, get ready to ooze confidence, professionalism, and passion as an online speaker.
02.
Remember to Breath
Having a glass of water, coffee, or notepad to hand as an online speaker will help fill awkward moments of silence. These gaps within a conversation can feel more intense during a virtual event but there are simple ways to fill up these moments and give yourself time to think and consider a new conversation starter, or another point you’d like to make. As you take a sip of your drink or look as though you are making some notes, this gives a visual cue to other people on the call to talk or perhaps as you a question. If no-one speaks, that’s OK, you can just say a one-liner such as ‘one moment, let me just have a quick sip of my coffee’ and take a moment to yourself to relax and calm your nerves.
03.
Use Virtual Backgrounds
If you, unfortunately, don’t have an aesthetically pleasing home office or room at home that you’d like to show-off while speaking at a virtual conference, you can use a faux background instead. Virtual backgrounds provide a digital illusion and conceal anything you’d prefer your virtual conference or event viewers not to see. From general clutter to family life going on in the background, add a professional, minimalist office background to your presentation or talk. Backdrops can also be branded which is ideal if you want to maximize this opportunity to increase your brand awareness.
04.
Let There Be Light
Lighting can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your live video stream. If you’re presenting as an online speaker at a virtual event, you might want to invest in LEDs to add warmth to your room. A simple string of warm light LEDs can make your video feed look more inviting, or you can get creative with colored lights. Take this a step further by choosing LEDs in your brand colors to really promote your business during a virtual conference. Carefully placed lights can also draw attention to certain things in the background of your room such as branded pop-up banners, a whiteboard for presenting and writing down ideas, or perhaps awards that you have on display.
05.
Prepare Your Voice to Speak
Whether you’re public speaking or you’re going to be an online speaker at a virtual conference, preparing your voice is key. Apart from having the right equipment to speak online such as a microphone, camera, and lighting, you’ll also need to make sure your voice is ready to present. Warming up your voice a couple of minutes before going live will prevent any squeaky high-pitched notes. A great warm-up method for online speakers is to hum a song, taking steady breaths as you go, and changing from a ‘hmmmm’ to an ‘ahhhhh’ sound halfway through. You should also rehearse your introduction and greeting so that you start strong and with high energy. Remember to speak passionately about your points, and ask for input from others. By engaging your online audience you can give yourself opportunities to catch your breath, relax and then start talking once again.