Delivering an immaculate business presentation no matter the circumstance is an essential skill. But COVID has drastically changed the world. Whether you’re trying pitch new creative ideas to your partners or hoping to land more investors, your abilities as a presenter are more vital than ever to your business.
Executing your pitch has become a completely different ball game. The pandemic has forced many businesses to start working remotely, essentially erasing any chance of having face-to-face meetings. The “normal” pitch setting these days has moved from boardrooms into living rooms. It’s a circumstance we have little control over but must adapt to in order to keep things running smoothly.
While the situation may be challenging, there are ways to keeping your pitch as effective as ever… even as you deliver it virtually. In this article, we’ll tackle some of the best methods of delivering presentations from your home.
Appear Worthy of Your Business Presentation
Appearances go a long way in pitches. But just because you’re working form home, it does not mean you can take your looks lightly. When it comes time for the big pitch, pick an outfit that you’d wear as if you were delivering the presentation in person. This speaks volumes about your sense of professionalism.
The next step, however, is something plenty of people still overlook. In video call settings, remember to always tidy up your background. It does not necessarily need to be a blank space behind you, it just needs to look clean and professional. Find a good spot in your home that looks simple and uncluttered. The last thing you want is your audience being distracted by whatever is going on behind you, whether it be a fancy looking painting or children’s toys sprawled all over the floor.
Looking for a game changer in making your video pop? Good lighting makes your video crisp, naturally attracting more attention. Even if you are not onscreen very long, making good first and last impressions are essential to delivering a successful pitch.
Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
Preparations are more important than ever in virtual settings. While many apps and services have adapted to make your online business presentation easier, there are still a lot variables that can go wrong at any moment. Whether its your mic going on the fritz or your internet connection getting spotty, be prepared for everything that could possibly go wrong. Test your set up several times beforehand to make sure everything is works as it should be.
On top of all that tech prep work, there’s still the act of delivering the presentation that you need to prepare for. Keep in mind, your voice comes off differently through a mic. Use your tests to see if your delivery comes off clearly given the equipment you have to work with. Much like delivering pitches in person, making these run throughs will help you iron out all the kinks beforehand.
Engage Your Audience DURING the Business Presentation
Audience attention span is your biggest enemy in online presentations. You may be able to control everything within your environment, but you can do very little about what your audience has around them. Success rests on engaging your audience throughout the presentation. Actively raise questions for your audience throughout the presentation. This will strike a more conversational tone to your pitch and keep your audience focused on the discussion.
Picking up on your audience’s body language is much harder online. Be on the lookout for different cues. Take note if their attention is drifting off screen. That is a cue to pull them into conversation. This will help you keep things on track while also assisting your audience in properly internalizing everything that’s been talked about so far.
SlideGenius is Your Presentation Expert
As a start-up presentation design company since 2012, we’ve created almost every kind of presentation you can imagine. We’re a worldwide team, with four difference offices spread across the US and Philippines. Meaning, we’re also experts on working “remotely” for close to a decade now. These barriers have become normal for us, but we’ve always learned to adapt and overcome. What pulls us together is our shared passion for helping our clients succeed. From our artists, writers, web developers, animators, and project managers, we utilize our expertise in presentation design to spark invaluable growth.
At SlideGenius, we are eager to be a valuable partner to all who needs our services during this challenging time. Contact us today for all your presentation needs!
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