Presenter | Tips & Tricks

We recommend limiting the size of your slideshow to no more than 1 slide per minute, and preferably less if the information in your slides is difficult to understand at first glance.

Keep your slides clean and legible. Remember that videos are generally watched in smaller windows, or even on a phone or tablet. Thus, small fonts or screenshots may not be legible when displayed at this size. Focus on presenting key findings in bullet points instead.

Make sure to start your presentation with a title slide. This will have the title of your paper/presentation and include all contributing authors, with the presenting author highlighted. This should also serve as the thumbnail for your video (what virtual delegates see before they hit play on a video).

To help you achieve a seamless recording, we strongly recommend that you practise your presentation two or three times before recording.

It is also helpful to prepare a detailed script so that you can ensure that all key points and facts are delivered during your recording. This will allow you to articulate your message clearly, as well as cut down on errors and hesitations (umms and ahhs) whilst recording.

If you are using PowerPoint, there is the ability to use Presenter Coach to rehearse your presentation. Click here for more information.

If you choose to include a recording of yourself as part of your presentation, remember to look towards the camera and not down at your notes. Place your notes directly below the camera so that you can read them during your presentation whilst continuing to direct your gaze at the camera.

Those who are presenting live via the virtual platform will also need to be conscious of this. Delegates are more likely to be engaged for the full duration of your presentation if they feel they are being spoken to directly, rather than watching someone who is reading a script robotically and not looking at the camera.

Before you begin recording your final video, we recommend conducting a test recording to ensure that your audio is clear, with no echo or background noise. Audio is always clearer when using a microphone, whether that is through headphones with an inbuilt microphone or an external microphone.

Choose your recording space based on the amount of background noise there is. Avoid areas where you can hear traffic, the heating and cooling system, or voices from another room. While these may not seem loud to your ears, they can be very distracting in recordings.

Speaking in a clear, bright voice goes a long way in producing audio. Try to enunciate each word, but do not overthink, as it can make you sound robotic. You may even want to try smiling while recording, as this can make your voice sound a little more approachable. Additionally, be mindful of your pacing. Keep things steady without rushing or crawling at a snail’s pace.

Live presenters are also strongly encouraged to use a microphone and to test their audio prior to their presentation time. Practicing your presentation with family, friends or colleagues is a great way to get familiarise yourself with presenting live and to get feedback on your audio settings. Free accounts on Zoom allow users up to 40 minutes’ worth of call time.

It essential that people see you clearly.

• Make sure you have good front-facing lighting.
• Avoid windows in the background, if unavoidable close the curtains.
• Whilst natural light is often the best choice, if your filming/presenting location doesn’t have natural light, consider moving lamps around or purchasing supplemental lighting to enhance your image.

Choose a background that enhances your professional image and is aligned with your message.

Avoid a cluttered background or anything that can be distracting such as people walking around or moving images. Avoid virtual backgrounds as they can be distracting, instead try a more professional cleaner look such as a bookcase.

If using a virtual background, be sure to test it out first!

A TEST RUN is essential so that you are comfortable with the platform and its features.

Consider having a co-host or helper assist to you with the technology so you can focus on your presentation.

Practice with the same technical set-up (computer, internet connection, audio and video equipment) that you will use when you deliver or record the presentation.

You will use your own device for your presentation. It is essential that you use a laptop or desktop computer, rather than a mobile device for your presentation.

While delegates may forgive a less than perfect video, if they cannot clearly hear you, they will likely leave your presentation early. Audio is always clearer when using a microphone, whether that is through headphones with an inbuilt microphone or an external microphone. Choose your recording space based on the amount of background noise there is. Avoid areas where you can hear traffic, the heating and cooling system, or voices from another room. Practising your presentation with family, friends or colleagues is a great way to get familiarise yourself with presenting live and to get feedback on your audio settings. You should practice with the same technical configurations and location that you will use for your presentation.

Make sure your connection speed is 2 Mbps upload, 4 Mbps download or better. You can test your Internet connection speed at SpeedTest.net. If possible, plug your computer directly into your modem using an Ethernet cable. This will give you the strongest signal and most stable internet connection. The last thing you want to happen during your presentation is to have a weak or unstable internet connection.

When presenting live don’t get side-tracked by the chats during your presentation. You will be shocked at how distracting it can be to your train of thought if you attempt to read the chats whilst speaking. Your session will have a Session Chair and/or Moderator who will be checking the Live Q&A and Discussion Forums. All questions from the live Q&A’s will be sent to presenters after the conference.

We ask that you please  provide a pre-recorded version of your presentation to Conference Design prior to presenting at the conference, as a backup. More information on how to provide your presentation will be emailed closer to the conference date.

When you share your screen during your presentation, attendees will see exactly what you see. This means you will not be able to use the presenter view setting in PowerPoint, unless you have multiple monitors and can manage the screen sharing settings easily. For ease, we recommend you have your notes printed or a separate device.

If you are using slides, make them visually appealing. Use high-quality graphics and limit the amount of text on each slide. It’s your job as a presenter to deliver the content. The slides are meant to enhance your spoken words, not replace them, so try switching between slides and your camera.

Please ensure your PowerPoint presentations are in 16:9 aspect as 4:3 aspect (square) presentations will not fill screens.

When preparing notes for your presentation, keep them concise use dot points to jog your memory. Avoid writing out a full script, reading word for word can be distracting and obvious to viewers.

Check your presentation and/or slides for confidential or sensitive information. Although delegates are asked to acknowledge and agree to the virtual conference Terms & Conditions (which includes no unauthorized photography or recording of conference material). The reality is that we cannot enforce this rule in an online environment. You should assume attendees could take photographs, screen shots, audio, or video recordings.

Try not to have your camera too far above or below you. A camera too high can make it difficult to maintain eye contact, as you may find your gaze dropping as you speak.

When presenting look directly at the camera, avoid looking at yourself or other presenters.

If you are part of a panel or team of presenters, make sure you are aware of when your camera is on. If you are not speaking but your camera is on, make sure you look like you are paying attention.

You want the camera to frame your face, neck, and shoulders. People are drawn to faces, so you do not want to lose that connection by being too far away. You also don’t want your face to take over the whole screen. Practice your positioning and distance.

Perhaps consider placing some tape on the floor during your rehearsal so you know where to stand or sit during your live presentation.

Just like in a live presentation, you want to present with energy and animation. Being too slow or too monotone in your voice makes it easy for delegates to disengage and tune out. Speaking in a clear, bright voice goes a long way. Try to enunciate each word, but do not overthink, as it can make you sound robotic. You may even want to try smiling while presenting, as this can make your voice sound a little more approachable. Keeping people connected virtually requires you to be engaging with your presentation.

Unlike presenting in front of a real-time audience, getting the pacing right can be difficult. Keep things steady without rushing or crawling at a snail’s pace. If you tend to be a fast talker in real life, practice slowing down just a bit. If you are a slow talker, you may want to speed up just a bit. Use family, friends or colleagues to practice speaking to, ask them if they think you are talking too slow or fast.

Learn to recognise your use of filler words such as ‘umm’ and ‘ahh’, which in turn will help decrease the use.

Just as if you were doing an in-person presentation, craft your presentation to engage the audience. Incorporate chats, questions, etc. Try not to speak for more than ten minutes without some sort of audience engagement.

While we do not expect virtual presenters to be in three-piece suits or high heels and pearls, business casual or smart casual attire is recommended. Also, consider how the colours or patterns of your clothes will look on a small screen. Small patterns and sometimes even stripes can be distracting through a digital screen. If you have chosen to use a virtual background you will need to test out what clothes interfere; green and some dark colours can pick up the virtual background.

Again, just like in face-to-face presentations, audiences connect to authenticity, so be yourself! Let your personality shine through. Have fun. If you look like you’re enjoying the presentation so will others. Research shows that happy people retain information better than those who are bored or disinterested.