How to prepare for a virtual conference as a speaker
The most important rule is to prioritize the safety of your audience and team. At the end of the day, it’s important that no attendee is compromised personally online by joining the conference. Guarantee their safety and only give conference ID and/or passwords to each one of them in the most private manner possible, and not on a public platform like social Media.
Okay, okay, let’s finally get to how you can do your preparations.
Before
• Do your research, thoroughly. Imagine being asked a question and hesitating to answer because you don’t have your facts straight? Now that would be a bummer! So make sure that you’re prepared for any and everything.
• Create ways to add value for the attendees. Nobody wants to sit through a conference thinking about what it has to do with them. In short, stop them from wandering off or daydreaming about washing their dogs.
During
Lead with your heart. Be generous with the jokes. Okay, if you’re that uptight, make sure you’re at least enthusiastic about what you’re discussing. Who wants to be looking at a speaker that looks like they just had their mother scold at them for whatever reason? Smile! It doesn’t hurt.
• Be present and don’t go off-topic. In other words, don’t blabber about things that have nothing to do with the conference, to begin with. Yes, have fun with it, but have your limits.
• Voice projection. Make sure everyone can hear what you are saying. Be audible to avoid having your attendees stretching their ears desperately trying to hear what you are saying.
After
• Express your gratitude to the attendees for taking their time to attend. A little thank you goes a long way.
• Follow up on whoever has questions or comments. Strongly encourage engagement in terms of discussions on whichever point was raised.
Incorporating designed networking breaks allows attendees to take a breather between longer sessions to chat, take polls, and network with other attendees, so keep that in mind the next time you have a virtual conference.
Now, with all that being said, you’re just going to have to worry about what you’re going to wear. Unfortunately, that’s not our department, but you are more than welcome to ask for suggestions. Sheryl Sandberg couldn’t have said it better, "Life is never perfect. We all live some form of Option B."
A one-sided conversation is boring.
Leave us a comment. (We will be waiting for those requests for suggestions on your outfit as well)
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