Here are a few tips from the Pitch Avatar team to help you leverage the advantages and opportunities of modern online presentations when engaging with an in-person audience.
These recommendations are not limited to presentations alone; they are also applicable to various live performances such as lessons, lectures, meetings with readers, and public speaking engagements. Essentially, any scenario involving the presentation of ideas, concepts, or theories can benefit from these insights.
Many still view the well-known Kawasaki formula – 20 minutes and 10 slides – as the gold standard for classic presentations. While it was once considered optimal for online presentations, technological advances and the rapid pace of modern life have significantly limited its application. Today, sellers and marketers promoting products and services online have largely moved to more dynamic and engaging formats. According to our observations, the Kawasaki formula is now primarily used for academic purposes, employee training, and disseminating new information within companies and large teams.
Offline presentations tend to be more conservative in this regard. This is not surprising, as they rely heavily on the presenter’s communication skills, with slides serving as a supplementary tool. However, even the most charismatic live presenter can achieve greater impact by adapting their speech to leverage modern presentation techniques. For those who experience uncertainty or fear about public speaking, contemporary presentation methods offer a valuable solution.
5 tips for a live presentation from the Pitch Avatar team:
Use a single business card slide
Forget static illustrations. For a modern presentation, use a single slide that acts as both the opening and closing screen. Keep it simple: include only the presentation topic and your contact details. Ensure that links to your website, social networks, and messaging platforms are active. This way, the slide can double as a business card, which can be attached to event invitations or follow-up emails.
Use video and animation
Moving images are more memorable than static ones. Therefore, we recommend moving away from static slides, not just in online presentations but also in offline events. Modern tools, including AI-based generation and editing tools, make it possible to create video and animation without needing specialized professional equipment. This means you can now fill an entire presentation with engaging video illustrations in the same amount of time it used to take to create just ten slides a few years ago.
Make your presentation as interactive as possible
Being ready to answer questions after the presentation doesn’t make it interactive. Similarly, merely being present in the same room as the audience doesn’t ensure engagement. True interactivity involves actively involving your audience in the presentation process. Just as with online events, incorporate elements such as multiple Q&A segments, quick games, competitions, and even extended reality features to engage your audience throughout.
Engage viewers’ smartphones, tablets, and laptops
The previous tip will be most effective if you incorporate ways for viewers to use their computers and mobile devices to participate in the presentation. Most of the interactive elements should engage these devices, with the exception of the questions and answers section. Additionally, consider broadcasting your presentation to the audience’s devices as well as the main screen. This approach not only enhances interaction but also helps keep the audience focused by minimizing distractions.
Conduct presentations with AI assistants
The rise of artificial intelligence has introduced advanced virtual presenters for online use.
These virtual assistants, which can be based on real images or entirely fictional characters, are designed to deliver content with appropriate intonation and expressions. They can also perform various functions, such as answering viewer questions, ensuring constant content availability, maintaining audience engagement, and saving significant time.
In online presentations, AI assistants ensure 24/7 content availability, maintain constant audience engagement, and save valuable time. But why not extend their use to offline meetings as well? They don’t have to replace human presenters; instead, they can act as co-hosts.
This approach offers numerous advantages without drawbacks. For instance, AI assistants can handle complex sections of a presentation – where the risk of errors due to dense data or technical jargon is high. They also allow the human presenter a break and add variety to the presentation, keeping the audience’s attention fresh.
Consider using Pitch Avatar for this purpose – you won’t regret it.
Good luck with your presentations and may you achieve great success!
