Presenting online doesn't have to be a drama. Using these tools you'll be an online presentation star! Even after some kind of normality returns after COVID, we know that it will take a long time before face to face meetings will be as prolific as in the past. Working from home and using cost-effective video conferencing will be attractive to companies eager to keep costs down. (Need more comprehensive help now? Check the online course HERE.) So how do we manage? The tools are new, we have to present without seeing the audience, and its hard to keep the energy up. Here are a few quick solutions to some of the biggest problems people face in online presenting. Biggest tech issues to address Yes, do a tech check, test your audio and video, and make sure the screenshare works. But perhaps more important is the setup of what they will see and the message you want to convey. 1. Camera position. Lift your computer or webcam up to eye level, so that you can look directly at the camera, not down on it. This gives a more equal feeling for the audience, and connects them more comfortably with you. 2. Background. What is the message you want to communicate: Homely? Professional? Chaotic? Then let your background match that message. Remove the old boxes, the ironing board and the Ben Elton novels, and make conscious decisions of what you want people to see. 3. Avoid backlight. Presenting in front of a window or any kind of bright background will mean your audience can't see your facial expression, and that means you lose a lot of the communication tools available. Content, Content, [...]