Public speaking tips for webinars.

• Author: Fripp, Patricia

Webinars have become a tool for CPA firms to reach out to current and prospective clients. In the following article, the author, an executive speech coach and sales presentation trainer, offers guidance on how to add impact when you present at webinars.

No matter what your level of public speaking experience, whenever you open your mouth, whether you're talking to one person or a thousand, you usually want to get a specific message across. Anyone who sets out to present, persuade and propel with the spoken word faces pitfalls. And as technology and travel budgets play a more important part in our lives, you have yet another challenge: What do you do when you are communicating through a webinar? What is different about a webinar presentation? How do you catch and keep your audience? Here are some tips.

Before You Start, Use Looping Slides

Once your audience tunes in, how do you make sure they are entertained and feel involved even before the event starts? The best way is with a series of looping slides. Looping slides are an effective way to convey important information and to keep attendees entertained while they wait for your presentation to begin.

These slides need to communicate the following:

* When the session will begin

* The conference dial-in number

* A photo, name and title of the presenter

* What the audience is going to learn

* What to do in case of problems

You may also have quotations about the content they will be learning.

Be More Visual in Your Presentation

Be creative. Think Hollywood! Tell stories and give examples as you go through your program the same way you would in person. However, your webinar needs more visuals to help engage the audience. Use more slides than with an inperson presentation. Add bullet points one at a time as you "build." Don't present a list of all your points before you discuss them. Stay focused on each bullet point as you bring it up.

Keep it simple, keep it moving, and interact often.

Plan Your Structure

Outline your presentation on paper or a flip chart and then build the PowerPoint slides. You have to get "messy" before you get tidy! It is better to have fewer points that you can illustrate well.

Be sure to

* introduce your objective.

* sell the benefits.

* explain the agenda and timing of your session.

* add any logistics and describe how you and the audience will interact.

Open With a "Grabber" Slide and Comment

After presenting your grabber slide, engage your audience immediately with a...