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How To WOW When Presenting Online: 12 Practical Tips For Researchers And Scientists
Struggling with the shift from in-person to virtual presenting? Struggle no more: we have twelve fantastic, practical tips for you that you can start using right now to make your online science and research presentations a success.
The shift to virtual presentations has made it essential for researchers to adapt their communication skills to the digital realm. For many, virtual presentations have become a staple for sharing findings, collaborating with colleagues, attending conferences, and reaching wider audiences.
Although some core principles and transferrable skills apply to both in-person and virtual presentations, virtual presentations need a few extra skills. Presenters need to share their research and ideas clearly, confidently and authentically AND they need to:
- Keep audiences engaged so that they aren’t multi-tasking in the background
- Manage the technology
- Use tools like chat, polls, and other tools that engage participants
- Work with a producer – or alone
- Deliver a presentation brilliantly, even if everyone has their screens turned off.
In short, the virtual format means that scientists and researchers need to pay extra attention to detail when presenting, and they also need to master the fine art of adaptability.
Twelve tips that will make a noticeable difference to your virtual presentations
With that in mind, we’ve put together 12 tips to help you make your next virtual presentation a success, all practical and many of which you are (hopefully) applying already.
Adapt and tailor:
Don’t assume that the 40-minute presentation you prepared for an in-person conference will work beautifully in the online world. Take the time to think about your audience and how to create an online experience that will keep distractions at bay.
Keep It Short and Sweet:
Your audience’s attention span is as short as one of the viral cat videos that always seem to be going around. Create your presentation using logical segments or chunks, and keep each under 10 minutes. If you have more content to cover, break it up with interactive elements like polls or Q&A sessions to maintain engagement.
Simple Slides are Beautiful Slides:
Your slides should be as concise as possible. Avoid cluttering them with too much text or complex graphics. Think of them as the visual garnish to your verbal main course, not the entire meal. People are there to read your slides. They are there to hear and see you present: take the “less is more” approach.
Speak To The Camera:
Research suggests that when presenters maintain good eye contact during a presentation, the audience perceive them as more intelligent, credible, and trustworthy. To do this online, you need to speak directly to your webcam, and keep an eye on its lens – this gives the impression that you are making eye contact with everyone in the audience and every person in your virtual “room” will feel as if you are talking directly to them.
Admittedly, it is hard to focus solely on the camera. First, it’s lifeless and doesn’t give you any feedback! Second, because you’re probably trying to read your presentation notes, manage the tech, and peak at yourself to make sure that you look okay, too! One way to keep your eye on the camera is to stick a photo of someone just above the camera and talk to them: this is what many voice actors do to help them come across as natural, conversational, and confident.
Pay attention to your environment:
Our visual sense is the dominant sense for many of us, and what we see helps us make sense of the world around us. Think about how you want to come across: professional? Cool? Serious? Credible? You choose. Then take time to look and sound that way: have decent lighting, dress up, invest in a decent microphone, and position your camera so that you look at it straight on (to avoid the dreaded double-chin and to prevent people from looking up your nose), and make sure that your background reinforces the impression you want to make.
Stand and Deliver:
Standing up while presenting helps project your voice and keeps your energy levels high. Plus, it prevents the “sitting slouch” so that you look more professional and engaged. If standing isn’t an option, sit up straight!
Tech Check, One-Two:
Nothing derails a presentation like technical issues. Test your equipment beforehand, including your microphone, camera, and internet connection. Have a backup plan, such as a hotspot, in case your Wi-Fi disappears unexpectedly.
It’s Better When You’re Together:
Having a co-host or assistant can be a lifesaver. They can handle technical issues, monitor the chat for questions, put people on mute when they start having an unrelated conversation with someone in the background, and give you a heads-up if your cat decides to make a cameo.
Be an Early-bird:
Show up early to check your tech and environment, and to greet organisers, fellow presenters and the support team. Encourage your audience to arrive five minutes early, too, so that you can break the ice before your presentation begins, and start (and end!) on time.
Give Your Audience a Roadmap:
Tell them how long you’ll speak, when you’ll take questions, whether you’ll be sending out a recording or post-session notes, and what they can expect from your presentation.
Direct Questions Like a Pro:
At the end of a presentation, most presenters ask, “So, does anyone have any questions?” But in the online world, you might want to be a bit more focused on keeping people focused and on topic. So you might ask, “Does anyone have any questions about our methodology?” or “Does anyone have any questions or comments about our proposed solution?”
Follow Up:
After your presentation, send out notes or articles, and include an invitation to connect: this is a fantastic opportunity to remind people what you spoke about and build your network.
And that’s a wrap! So what’s the bottom line?
Presenting scientific and research presentations virtually may have unique challenges, but with the proper preparation and approach, virtual presentations can be opportunities for connection and engagement. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll deliver more effective presentations that connect with your audience and enjoy the process more. After all, even in the virtual world, a little charm and a lot of preparation can go a long way.
Now, go forth and wow your audience from the comfort of your (home) office!
Want more than tips?
Tips are great, but practical, hands-on learning and practice are better. We offer interactive in-person workshops, engaging webinars, and 1-to-1 coaching to help scientists and researchers present better in the virtual world. Many of the skills we build are transferrable to live, in-person sessions, too.
Curious? Learn more or get in touch for a chat.
Curious? Want to know more?
Interested in learning more about our communication workshops, training and coaching for scientists and researchers? Take a look around, or get in touch – we’d love to help.
If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.
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