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For most of recorded history, whenever people referred to making a presentation, they were referring to standing up in front of a room full of people – dozens or hundreds of pairs of eyes staring up at you – to communicate an important message of some kind. However, because of the explosion of new Internet technologies over the past few years, more and more presentations are being conducted over the Web using a web-based presentation interface. The beauty of these meeting tools – the platform developed by WebEx is my favorite -- is that they allow the presenter to share documents, video, product demos, etc., with multiple customers or meeting participants from anywhere in the world, as long as everyone has access to a telephone and a high-speed Internet connection.
These interfaces allow all participants to view whatever is on the presenter’s computer and discuss everything in real-time phone conversations; it is even possible for participants to use embedded tools to make changes to the documents, highlight specific portions for follow up, and do practically anything that can be done in a face-to-face meeting. These powerful applications can also enable live video conferencing, so that all participants with web cams can see each other, further enhancing that live, face-to-face meeting effect.
While these interfaces are fairly simple to use, it does take training and practice to implement them seamlessly. Because there is little margin for error when making a presentation, even under the best of conditions, it is critical that the presenter practice just as hard to master the art of using this technology as he or she would practice any other aspect of their sales technique. In addition to reviewing the tutorials offered by WebEx, it is equally important to set up, load, and thoroughly practice every aspect of a specific presentation well in advance of the scheduled time for the meeting.
Here are some quick tips for conducting online presentations:
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Be aware that your video is on at all times – the rest of the participants can see everything you do! Avoid ALL distract motions and annoying habits. Be sure your demeanor and body language is thoroughly professional.?
Be dressed to mirror or exceed your prospect’s dress code – this meeting is just like meeting the customer in their office.?
Fix your hair and any other visual aesthetics prior to getting on camera - once you are on camera, it is too late.?
Avoid any unnecessary fidgeting or unflattering body movements while the web cam is on – this is very distracting and looks unprofessional.?
Exit all unnecessary programs such as: Instant Messenger, Outlook, Video Chat, etc. – not only does this slow down your high speed connection, but having all those message alarms going off is distracting to both you and the audience.?
Be hardwired into a cable modem or a DSL connection if possible -- low bandwidth is your enemy because it will slow down the responsiveness of your system. Wireless laptop connect cards tapped into cell phone towers can become unstable with no warning.?
Have your meeting up and running 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time – this gives you time to test every aspect of the presentation and make sure everything is loaded and running. If you encounter problems, you still have time to make adjustments before the meeting starts.?
Make sure you have prepared and loaded all necessary documents.?
Have your WebEx One-Click Meeting configured?
Make sure you have provided clear, step-be-step instructions to every meeting participant. Many participants are still unfamiliar with conducting sophisticated meetings via a web-based interface. Help put them at ease by spelling everything out for them, including the URL to log on to the meeting, the toll-free number to dial into the meeting, and specific instructions regarding how to load and use the meeting software and activate their web cam.Remote meeting web-based platforms can be a very powerful. With travel budgets shrinking and everyone pressed for time these days, web-based meetings are a great way to communicate important information to a widely scattered audience. The efficiencies and cost saving afforded by these tools provide tremendous leverage to help you deliver more information to more people without ever leaving the office or the comfort of your own home. Don’t squander this advantage by being unprepared or unprofessional.
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Presentation Tip of the Month – The 10-20-30 Rule
One of the biggest challenges faced by any presenter is the need to make your point in a clear, powerful way, and do it without losing the interest of your audience in the process. Noted presentation guru Guy Kawasaki recommends strict adherence to the 10-20-30 rule, which says you should have no more than 10 slides in your PowerPoint deck, keep the presentation under 20 minutes, and make sure all fonts on your slides are at least 30 points in size. Following these simple rules will force you to think through your presentation, isolate your most important points, and make them stand out clearly. Add to this a short, compelling opening – a good joke or a startling statistic, and a short compelling closing – a moving story or a thoughtful challenge, and you will create greater impact in less time. Everyone will thank you for it.
