8 tips on how to present over Zoom like a pro
Today, Zoom is a central part of the remote workplace. It and other video conference platforms are widely used for meetings, job interviews, webinars, and presentations.
In-person presentations can be stressful enough, and having to conduct them virtually can seem even more daunting.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Our eight pro tips for presenting over Zoom may help you feel more prepared, comfortable, and confident. Read on to find out more.
1. Plan out your Zoom background/location ahead of time.
You can use a location in your home or a virtual Zoom background. If you select a place in your house, make sure it is uncluttered and clean. A plain wall or shelves with neatly arranged books provide a professional setting.
Consider lighting. Soft lighting placed in front of you illuminates you evenly; sitting in front of a window can cause glare and shadows.
Make sure your background doesn't distract from you and your presentation. You don't want your audience focusing on a family photo or the dishes in the sink.
2. Test your equipment before your presentation.
Your equipment can make or break your Zoom presentation.
To avoid surprises, check your internet connection, plug in your laptop, and ensure that your camera angle is correct and that the microphone works.
You can confirm your internet connection, audio, and visual with a Zoom test meeting . Using a hard-wired connection rather than wifi is the safer option. And closing any applications you won't need during the presentation can conserve bandwidth.
Taking precautions can avoid or minimize frozen screens, views of the top of your head, dead batteries, and sound problems.
3. Put notes in the right place on your screen(s).
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You need your notes where you can see them, but you don't want to keep looking down or off to the side during your presentation.
To combat this, you can use dual monitors . Position your presentation on one of them, visible to all, and your presenter's notes — plus the webcam you're using — on the other, visible only to you.
Or you can present your slide show in a window and put a private view of your notes in another window on the same screen. Zoom provides step-by-step instructions for single and dual screens.
4. Practice Zoom presenting as if it were the real thing.
Zoom allows you to practice in the precise environment where you will be presenting. Set up your background, lighting, and screens as you will on presentation day. You can schedule a webinar practice session on Zoom and run through your presentation exactly as you will on the day. You can invite a friend to join you and offer feedback.
Practicing can make the difference between a smooth presentation or an awkward one. Rehearse as often as you can, and visit our page of public speaking tips .
SEE: What tech jobs don't require public speaking?
5. Minimize clutter on your slides.
Slides are a key part of a virtual presentation and can help you and the audience stay on track.
Slides should be easy to read and navigate. Avoid brightly colored backgrounds, complicated fonts, and too many graphics.
Each slide should communicate one concept or idea. Avoid a long list of bullet points on a single slide.
While a slide with few words in readable, bolded font works fine, visuals like charts, maps, and illustrations or photos can be more effective and keep your audience engaged.
6. Use easy-to-understand visuals.
Visuals liven up your Zoom presentation in ways words don't. Instead of a long list of numbers explaining company statistics, try a graph or pie chart. Visuals aid understanding and keep your audience interested.
Explaining technical procedures with videos or illustrations rather than wordy descriptions alone enables you to show and tell. They also accommodate different learning styles within your audience.
Microsoft posts tutorials for incorporating visual elements into PowerPoint slides and inserting videos from the web or your computer .
7. Explain your agenda before you begin presenting.
Most people like to know what to expect when logging onto a meeting. Opening your presentation with a slide outlining your agenda sets the timeline for your meeting and reassures your audience. If you plan to allow audience interaction, make sure to highlight when and how in your agenda.
You can list the points you're going to cover in your presentation on your slide(s) and/or use graphics. You can pose a question on a slide, then show how you plan to answer it. Starting off with a funny (but work-appropriate) photograph or illustration can put you and your audience at ease.
8. If appropriate, encourage your audience to interact.
Unless you have a good reason not to, encourage your audience to interact during or after your presentation.
Some presenters ask participants to use Zoom's chat function for questions and pause the presentation periodically to answer them or wait until the end. Presenters can mute and unmute the audience and allow time for comments and questions that way. Zoom also allows for engagement through participant polls during the presentation
The size of your audience may dictate how you want to handle audience interaction.
Not allowing participant interaction risks losing your audience to their phones and other distractions.
In conclusion
The hardest part of presenting on Zoom may be the technology for some and the public speaking for others. We hope our tips help.
Online public speaking courses can help with anxiety and discomfort. Developing emotional intelligence skills can also benefit your Zoom presentations.
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13 Zoom Presentation Tips to Ace Your Next Online Meeting
Written by: Mahnoor Sheikh
Now that more people are working from home, online presentations using tools like Zoom have started to become the norm.
But giving a Zoom presentation is very different from presenting in person. The lack of physical presence and body language can make it difficult to engage and inspire your audience.
If you’re still getting used to presenting on Zoom, this article has some great tips to help you succeed and make an impact in your next meeting.
Preparing Your Zoom Presentation
Getting ready for your Zoom presentation is just as important as giving the actual presentation. There are tons of potential issues you can face, like a faulty microphone or your dog walking in right in the middle of an important slide.
By preparing well, you ensure your presentation is as smooth and error-free as possible. After all, you only get one chance to make a great first impression and get a great ROI .
Here are some tips to help you get ready to deliver a powerful Zoom presentation.
1 Design a Great Online Presentation
The first thing you need to do is make sure your presentation is designed to look its best on your audiences’ tiny computer screens.
Follow these three rules to create an effective Zoom presentation.
Keep it simple.
The best online presentations are simple and straightforward.
You don’t want your audience to be squinting at their screens trying to navigate through a tangled web of text, colors, graphs and other content.
You need them to look at a slide and get the point at a single glance.
Use a plain background for your slides, preferably white, and focus each slide on only one point or idea. Don’t stuff too many bullet points or text into your slides.
Also, make sure you center your text in case the edges of the slides are cut off for some of the participants.
Lastly, use a large and bold font that doesn’t require participants to strain their eyes, even if they’re viewing your slides on their phone.
Use relevant visuals.
Visuals make information much easier to digest and retain than plain text. And let’s face it—they keep things entertaining.
Here are some types of visuals you can use to make your Zoom presentation more engaging:
- Charts and graphs. Visualizing data can bring the most boring numbers and statistics to life. If you’re using research findings to show a trend or back up your point, consider presenting them in the form of a bar graph or pie chart. Not only will it add some color to your slides, it will make it easier for your audience to interpret the data.
- Maps. If you're presenting geographic data, you can easily visualize it in the form of maps. In Visme, you can add interactive maps for a single country or the world.
- Icons and illustrations. Adding creative graphics like icons and illustrations can break up walls of text, make your information look more visual and interesting, and help explain your point better.
- Videos. Adding videos into your slides is a great way to make your presentation more engaging. Videos can help you explain a point more clearly, show a product in action or give some background information on your subject. You can embed YouTube or Vimeo videos into your slides or upload them directly.
- Stock photos. If used intelligently, stock photos can add value to your slides by helping you set the tone, tell a story or visualize an idea. You can also use relevant stock photos in the background with text overlay to add some color to your slides.
- GIFs and Memes. Make your online presentations fun and engaging by adding relevant memes and GIFs into slides that would otherwise look quite dry. Be careful not to overdo it, and only use humor if appropriate. You don’t want to risk looking unprofessional.
Here's a presentation template from Visme with just the right balance of visuals and text to help you get started. Simply customize it to use for your next Zoom presentation.
Using visuals in your online presentation is great, but this doesn’t mean you should stuff all your slides with images. Make sure the visuals you’re using add value to your content and emphasize your point instead of taking attention away from it.
Make it interactive.
It can be tough to keep your audience engaged when you’re not interacting with them face-to-face.
So, why not do the next best thing? Make your slides interactive!
If you’re creating your presentation in Visme, you can access a bunch of interactivity tools to spice up your slides:
- Animation. Add beautiful slide transitions, or animate objects separately. A good tip is to animate bullet points to appear one at a time to draw focus to each one. You can also choose from pre-animated illustrations, icons and characters to make your Zoom presentation more engaging.
- Links. In Visme, you can link any text or graphic element to a web page, or a slide or object inside your presentation. Get creative with this tool to add interactive quizzes, slides and more to your Zoom presentation. For example, you can link two text boxes together so when you click on the question, the answer appears.
- Hover effects. If you’re linking one object in your slide to another, you can enable it to show up on either click or hover. If you’re creating a quiz, for example, you can link two text boxes together so when you hover on the question, the answer appears.
A healthy dose of interactivity can make your audience feel more involved with your Zoom presentation.
2 Tidy Up Your Background
If you want your audience to take you seriously, clean up any clutter behind you.
A messy background can make you look unprofessional and distract people from focusing on your presentation. Ideally, your background should be a plain wall.
If you can’t manage to find a clean, empty background, consider using a virtual Zoom background. There are tons of different styles out there, so make sure to pick one that looks realistic and professional.
3 Draw Attention to Your Face
An online presentation can quickly start to feel distant and impersonal, like watching a pre-recorded video.
To remind your audience that they’re interacting with a real human, you need to draw focus to your face and expressions as you present.
Make sure you’re presenting in a well-lit room, where the source of light is in front of you. If the light source is directly behind you, you might end up looking like a dark blob.
4 Check Your Equipment
Make sure you check all your technical equipment to see if everything is working properly. This will help minimize issues like awkward camera angles or a malfunctioning microphone.
Here are a few things you should take care of before your presentation:
- Check internet connection. No one wants to listen to a presenter with laggy audio and video. Use a reliable, high-speed internet connection to ensure a smooth Zoom presentation.
- Test audio and video. Check if your camera and microphone are working properly by joining a Zoom test meeting . You can also test out your equipment from inside the Zoom app by clicking on Settings → Audio or Settings → Video .
- Ensure your laptop is plugged in. Imagine if your laptop dies out in the middle of your presentation just because you didn’t plug it in properly. Don’t let that happen.
- Adjust your camera level. Make sure your audience is looking at your face instead of the top of your head. Decide whether you want to sit or stand during your presentation, and adjust the webcam so it’s at eye level.
Keep in mind that technical issues can arise unexpectedly, even if you do everything right. Doing tech prep beforehand, though, keeps the chances at a minimum.
5 Minimize Potential Interruptions
Whether you’re giving your Zoom presentation at home or in a nearby cafe, there are tons of potential interruptions that can disrupt your flow and make you look unprofessional.
During your prep, your goal should be to minimize these interruptions as much as possible.
Find a quiet area to begin with, and lock the door so no one comes in unexpectedly. It’s a good idea to inform your family members or roommates that you’re going to be busy prior to the presentation.
Another tip is to close all other open applications and windows on your computer. Notifications and sounds can interrupt your meeting and distract you. You can also use the “Do Not Disturb” mode on MacOS or “Focus Assist” on Windows 10 to mute notifications.
6 Stick Your Notes in the Right Place
Just like when you’re presenting in person, you’d likely want to keep notes or pointers nearby in case you forget something important.
During a Zoom presentation, though, you need to be careful about where you place your notes. It can look very unprofessional and awkward if your eyes keep moving away from the camera when everyone is staring at your face.
Avoid keeping a notepad next to you or pasting them on the side of your monitor. A better alternative is to stick a post-it right below or next to your webcam. So, even if you take a peek, you will still be looking somewhat directly at your audience.
If you’re using Visme to create your Zoom presentation, you can simply use the presenter notes feature and skip all the hassle of keeping physical notes.
While you’re presenting, your presenter notes will open up in another window, so you can look at them while presenting without even letting your audience know.
7 Ditch the Pajamas
We get it. Nobody wants to get dressed when they’re at home.
But really, if you’re giving a professional presentation, it’s a good idea to ditch your PJs and wear something presentable .
Even if everyone knows you’re at home, you don’t want to look sloppy while sharing important information. This can prevent your audience from taking you seriously.
Plus, dressing up can help you feel more confident and motivated. Wear something that not only looks smart, but also makes you feel good about yourself.
8 Rehearse Before the Presentation
Never walk into a presentation unprepared. This is especially important for Zoom presentations, as it can be even more difficult to wing it when you’re not interacting in person.
Plus, rehearsing is a good idea if you want to overcome the fear of being on camera. Do a demo Zoom meeting with a friend or family member, or just practice alone before the presentation.
Delivering Your Zoom Presentation
Now that you’re all prepped up to give your Zoom presentation, here are some tips to help you make the most of your time while you’re presenting.
9 Start With a Bang
Did you know that people take as little as five seconds to judge how charismatic a speaker is?
Figuring out how to start your presentation is one of the most important parts of your Zoom presentation. It can either get your audience to sit up in their seats or prepare to doze off.
Here's an infographic on some tried-and-true ways to start a presentation that keeps your audience hooked . Keep reading for an explanation of all seven points below.
- Reveal a shocking statistic. A relevant and powerful statistic can set the tone for your presentation and show your audience the importance of your message.
- Tell a relevant joke. Humor is a great way to break the ice and keep your audience engaged. A boring presentation can quickly cause the listener to zone out.
- Ask a question. Get your audience involved by asking them a question relevant to your presentation topic. The more you interact with them, the more likely they’ll be to listen to what you’re saying.
- Quote an influential person. A powerful quote can often motivate or inspire your audience to sit up and listen to what you have to say.
- Tell a short story. Stories are personal and can evoke emotions. Telling a relatable story that also gets the audience curious to know more is a great way to start your presentation.
- Use an interesting prop. Using a prop can break the monotony of your presentation. Using motion and a visual object can also help attract your audience’s gaze.
- Show a captivating visual. Pictures speak louder than words, which is why using a powerful image that tells a story or shows the importance of your topic is an effective way to start your presentation.
Along with starting impressively, you should also try to end your presentation in a way that it drives your audience to take action or think about your message. A good idea is to end with a powerful statement or a thought-provoking question.
10 Make Eye Contact With the Audience
While you’re speaking, it’s just as important to make eye contact with your audience as it is during a face-to-face presentation.
The problem with Zoom presentations, though, is that you often end up looking at your own video or at the video of your audience.
To make eye contact online, however, you need to look directly at your camera. To make things easier, you can place the video boxes of your audience at the top of your screen, directly under your webcam.
11 Regularly Pause to Engage
Online presentations can get monotonous really quickly, and it’s common for people to zone out in the middle of it.
If you want to ensure your message hits home, take regular breaks throughout your Zoom presentation and engage your audience in conversation.
You could pause to ask them questions, or simply ask what they think about a certain topic. You could also try switching up the pace of your presentation, show a short video clip or tell an interesting or humorous story that helps bring wandering minds back.
12 Use the Chat Feature to Your Benefit
Zoom’s chat feature is a great way to get your audience involved without disrupting the flow of your presentation.
You can use Zoom chat to your advantage in several different ways:
- Questions. Ask your audience questions and let them answer through chat, or get them to ask you questions in the chat.
- Feedback. Let your audience know beforehand that they can leave their feedback and comments related to your presentation or topic in the chat. For example, if someone comments that they can’t hear you properly you can try fixing your mic or raising your voice.
Get creative with your use of the chat feature to keep your audience engaged. Ask them to send a hand emoji if they can relate to something, or ask what they want to see first in your presentation.
13 Record Your Presentation
The best way to improve your Zoom presentation skills is to learn from your past mistakes. Thankfully, Zoom lets you record your presentations so you can revisit them later and analyze your performance.
Are you using too many hand gestures? Are you walking around too much? Are you speaking at a reasonable pace? Understanding how you did can help you do even better in the future.
You can also send your Zoom presentation recordings to a friend or family member so they can review it for you. It always helps to get the opinion of someone you trust.
How to Share Your Visme Presentation on Zoom
Thinking of creating your Zoom presentation in Visme? Great choice!
The best part is that you can easily share your Visme slides with your audience without needing to download the presentation on your computer.
Of course, you can still download your presentation in PowerPoint or PDF format if you need to.
Follow the steps below to share your Visme presentation on Zoom without downloading anything.
Step 1: Publish your presentation.
When you’re finished designing your presentation in Visme, navigate over to the top right corner of your screen, and click on “Share”.
Next, click on “Publish for Web” on your left, type in a title and description for your presentation, and click on “Publish and get my link”.
Step 2: Click on the Present button.
Once you’ve published your presentation, you can go back and click on the “Present” button at the top right of your screen. This will open up the Presenter view.
If you want to access your presenter notes, click on the video camera icon at the bottom right corner of your screen, and your notes will appear in a new window.
Step 3: Share your screen on Zoom.
From your Zoom meeting window, click on “Share Screen” and select the window with the Presenter view of your presentation.
That’s it! You’ll now be able to look at the presenter notes on your screen while your audience views the slide open in your Presenter view window.
Alternatively, you can also download your presentation as a PowerPoint or PDF file, and share your screen in Zoom to present your slides.
Ready to Give a Memorable Zoom Presentation?
If you’re still getting used to the idea of presenting on Zoom, this article will help you prepare well and deliver an impactful presentation that people won’t be able to forget any time soon.
Remember, while Zoom presentations are different from presenting in person, you still need to be just as confident, dress to impress and make eye contact.
The only difference is that you need to put more effort into engaging your audience and keep them from dozing off in front of their computers.
Design a beautiful Zoom presentation and present online using Visme’s presentation maker. Sign up now for free and take it for a test drive!
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About the Author
Mahnoor Sheikh is the content marketing manager at Visme. She has years of experience in content strategy and execution, SEO copywriting and graphic design. She is also the founder of MASH Content and is passionate about tea, kittens and traveling with her husband. Get in touch with her on LinkedIn .
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Zoom presentation tips to bring human connection into virtual meetings
Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.
Līva Luriņa November 01, 2021
Gartner has acknowledged Zoom as a leader in meeting solutions for the sixth year in a row. That’s well deserved, as it’s pretty challenging to find a person in the digital world who’s never joined a Zoom meeting.
In a sea of countless Zoom presentations , it’s crucial to stand out in order to succeed. But what’s the best way to tell your story, engage your audience, and avoid virtual meeting fatigue ? Through personal connection.
Read on to learn the nine best Zoom presentation tips to help you build a human connection in the era of virtual meetings and discover 11 handy Zoom hacks to advance your Zoom presentation skills.
1. Do your homework
The most important Zoom presentation tip is to think about your audience before thinking about the slides. You need to understand their expectations to bring value and build a real connection.
Consider things about your audience such as:
- What do they need or want from your Zoom presentation?
- Challenges or fears they face
- Tone of voice or vocabulary that is the most appropriate to use
- Examples or stories can they relate to
Once you’ve answered these questions, you can design your presentation accordingly. It’s a good idea to modify your presentation each time you face a new group of people.
2. Tell a story
There’s no better way to create an emotional connection with the audience than telling a story. Including storytelling in presentations will also help them better understand and remember information that’s important both in business and education.
But how do you actually include a story in your presentation? To really unlock all the potential, the storyline has to be connected to your main goal and, following the best Zoom presentation tips, carried throughout the whole presentation.
First, clarify what emotion you want to evoke, whether it’s surprise, joy, desire, anger, or anything else. Think of relatable examples, statistics, jokes, or experiences that will resonate with your audience. When you see people nodding their heads, that’s usually a sign that you’re nailing the presentation, and you’ve made an emotional connection with your audience (or they’re practicing active listening skills :)).
Elena Valentine, CEO of Skillscout, uses Prezi Video to show the importance of storytelling in presentation and shares some tips to help you hone in on using story as the ultimate attention grabber. Learn all about it in here video.
3. Visual vs. textual information
Zoom presentations with visual aids are 43% more persuasive than those without. The human brain loves visuals – they make it easier to quickly process the message compared to slides with text. Also, ideas presented graphically are easier to comprehend and remember than those presented through text alone.
To bring the human connection to your Zoom presentation, you need all eyes on you. If your audience is focused on reading lines or bulleted lists on the screen, they are more likely not paying attention to what you’re saying.
That’s why it’s important to include visual information in your slides. Here are some Zoom presentation tips about types of visuals for your slides:
- Data visualizations. Charts and graphs are your best friends if you want to communicate data and numbers. Prezi’s data visualization tools can help you with that – easily create designs to support your story and make your presentation more delicious.
- Maps . Turn geographical data and insights into interactive maps for cities, regions, or even whole continents – our brains love the data associated with reality.
- Images and videos. These visual assets are a must-have in presentations to explain how things work, emphasize the idea, or draw attention to your message. Your choice of images will impact the emotional connection with the audience, so choose them wisely.
- Graphic elements. Flowcharts, diagrams, icon blocks, notes, and other features are excellent ways to communicate processes, plans, or ongoing situations. Combine your story with these elements, and you can be sure your message will be apparent to everyone.
- GIFs and stickers. Sometimes one GIF can express more than words could say. They are super helpful if you want to create an exact image in the audience’s head. For example, imagine a presentation about monthly sales performance and this GIF on the first slide:
This celebratory GIF is a great way to kick things off and get your team excited to hear the rest of your presentation.
4. Let your audience hear and see you
Another Zoom presentation tip regards what your audience can see and hear. It’s best to come off as professional as possible.
Good lighting conditions don’t mean spotlights all around you. Natural light is the best tool to look good in a virtual presentation . Make sure you sit near the window but avoid having it behind your back as it will create a shadow. If the natural lighting isn’t an option, play around with your lamps – even a cheap ring light can make a huge difference. Watch this video to learn how to create the best video lighting and more.
Now, when your audience can see you, make sure they can hear you as well. There’s nothing worse than watching a Zoom presentation when the speaker has disruptive noise in the background or a squeaky mic.
In the video below, we explain the best ways to make a crisp and clear sound when you’re presenting. Even more, Zoom has several ways you can improve your audio – look for more Zoom presentation tips and hacks at the end of this article.
5. Make sure your Zoom presentation flows
This Zoom presentation tip works well with storytelling. Everything you say and show should have a good segue – both your story and your presentation slides.
Rather than transitioning through slides linearly, use Prezi’s presentation templates to have a more conversational presentation. You can create various flows and zoom in on a topic to go deeper. Or, let the conversation guide you and jump straight into the most relevant topics that your audience is interested in.
In his video, Brian Fanzo, Digital Futurist and keynote speaker, covers how to avoid coming off as scripted in an online presentation. Watch his video here for more:
6. Body language is worth a thousand words
Body language has an enormous impact on how your audience perceives your Zoom presentation. Jessica Chen, Founder and CEO of Soulcast Media in her Prezi video explains that body language determines up to 60% of how we receive the information presented, whereas the choice of words makes only 7% and tone of voice only 33%.
There are many ways you can mindfully use your body language during presentations. One of the top Zoom presentation tips is to stick something eye-catching next to your laptop camera so you can hold eye contact with the audience. To look confident and persuasive, move slowly, fluidly, create space between your shoulders and ears, and keep your head straight. And most importantly – use your hands, especially at the start of your video call. It will create a warm and safe place both for you and your audience.
7. Don’t hide behind the slides
It’s hard to make your presentation personal if you’re just a small rectangle in the corner of the Zoom window. All your audience can see on their screen is a giant slide with information and data.
Using your body language is a key Zoom presentation tip, that’s why you should forget about sharing your screen and display your content right next to you. This makes a more memorable experience and impactful presentation. Prezi Video is the right tool for that – easily drag and drop the content you’d like to show or use our templates to build presentations that will amaze your audience.
8. Activate your audience
Another great Zoom presentation tip to keep your audience engaged is through conversational presenting with interactions. Once in a while, stop presenting to talk with your audience and allow them to ask questions or clarify something. Encourage them to use the Zoom chat or respond to a poll .
Zoom breakout rooms are an excellent choice for online workshops or training sessions. Participants can discuss the topics from your presentation in greater detail and express their ideas, enabling collaborative learning and knowledge sharing.
However, not everyone feels comfortable speaking up. Using Prezi Video during online meetings allows your audience to share instant reactions – images, GIFs , text, or stickers. By organizing that kind of interactivity in your Zoom meeting, everyone can participate and raise the level of energy in the meeting.
For more tips on activating your audience on Zoom, watch this Prezi video by Rich Mulholland, founder of the presentation company Missing Link:
9. Create, rehearse, present
You can agree on or not with Malcolm’s Gladwell “ 10,000-hour rule “, but one thing is clear – the more you present, the better you become at it.
Once you’ve created your presentation content, rehearse it. You can use Prezi Video to record yourself before going live to Zoom so that you can see yourself in action. Practice where you’ll add pauses, ask the audience a question, or make a joke. Think about what tone of voice you should use to keep the audience focused and what your body language is saying.
You can even record your presentation and review it later to gauge how you can improve it. Practice makes perfect.
Selling on video expert, Julie Hansen, shares Zoom presentation tips for more effective sales meetings in her video here:
11 Zoom presentation hacks for even better meetings
Add prezi virtual camera.
Download Prezi Video desktop app and connect Prezi Virtual Camera with your Zoom . After that, you can instantly share your content and ideas with you on screen, making everything from internal updates, trainings, and sales pitches more interesting.
Change your Zoom virtual background
To jazz up your Zoom presentation, you can create and upload your own virtual background image . Surprise coworkers with your office’s picture in the background, join a meeting from a sunny beach in Spain, or create a professional-looking background as your business card. Use one of our virtual background templates to get started.
Test the sound
It’s always a good idea to test your mic before joining a Zoom meeting. Go Zoom Settings > Audio and test both your microphone and speakers. This way, you can avoid that awkward “Can you hear me?” moment at the start of your meeting.
Spacebar to mute/unmute
Forget about those awkward moments when you’re trying to find the mic to unmute yourself and say something quickly. One nifty Zoom presentation tip: hit the spacebar and hold it to unmute yourself as you speak.
Turn off video and audio by default
Avoid that “first look tension” when joining a Zoom meeting. Go to Settings > Audio and mute your mic when joining a meeting to control the first sound. Under the Settings > Video settings, check the “ Stop my video when joining the meeting ” so that you can always greet your team with a smile and a wave.
Hide non-video participants
During large team meetings or all-hands, it’s nice to see other coworkers in your Zoom window. To avoid a cluttered screen with static images and videos, you can hide meeting participants without video from the gallery view. Go to Settings > Video and click Hide non-video participants . Now you can enjoy live reactions and people around you all meeting long.
Hide your self-view during Zoom presentations
In Zoom meetings, we tend to pay too much attention to how we look. It can be a real distraction and steal the focus of the presenter. To avoid that, press the three dots button on your video and choose Hide Self View . This will create a more natural feeling, as you most likely wouldn’t look in the mirror during a face-to-face meeting.
Share your screen with confidence
Eliminate notifications like messages or ads popping out when you’re sharing your screen. If you’re using a Mac, we recommend turning on Do Not Disturb mode , and for Windows users, use Focus Assist to avoid unnecessary pop-ups.
Mute all participants
It’s common for someone to have their mic on by accident, which can cause unwelcome distractions like background conversations, traffic sounds, or a barking dog. Skip these moments and mute everyone: hit Command+Control+M on Mac or Alt+M on PC.
Ensure the best visual quality
To ensure the best presentation quality, always go on Fullscreen mode . It’s especially important when presenting data during a meeting or explaining complicated graphs with small text.
Use reactions to interact
Small things matter, especially when you want your virtual presentation to have more human connection. Though Zoom allows you to use reactions like applause, love, thumbs up, and others, you can unlock even more interactivity with Prezi Video. Encourage your audience to share comments, GIFs, or any image during your presentation, allowing them to react and give feedback without unmuting or affecting meeting time.
Put these Zoom presentation tips into action
With more presentations happening online than ever before, it’s important to understand the basics of Zoom and how it affects your presentations. Learn more Zoom presentation tips when you visit the Prezi Video Gallery or get started by creating your first Zoom presentation today.
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11 Essential Tips for Presenting on Zoom
Jan 24, 2022 - dom barnard.
A boss unwittingly disguised as a potato during Zoom meetings, cries of "you're on mute!" and guest appearances by kids and pets, are among the hilarious anecdotes attached to this hugely popular app.
However, it becomes serious when you need to make a good impression in a virtual meeting, job interview or presentation.
Zoom became a massively popular communications tool for business, education and social meetings during the Pandemic. In 2020, there were 485 million Zoom downloads , which is 30 times more than the year before!
Of course, some of the top Zoom presentations tips apply equally well to in-person or online delivery. Such as establishing your end goals, preparing a flowing framework and strong content, then practising your speech more than once. However, there are particular advantages and disadvantages to Zoom, to get the right results for presenting online.
These Zoom presentation tips will help grow your competence, confidence and success.
1. Put some trousers on!
One of the great things about Zoom presentations is there is a degree of informality and comfort.
You can dress just your top half smartly, have a hot beverage just off-screen, and do your best public speaking in familiar surroundings.
One of the worst things about Zoom presentations is …there is a degree of informality and comfort!
You can find yourself easily distracted, lacking in focus and slower in your responses.
The best way to present well on Zoom – when the stakes are high - is to create a wholly business-like environment and attitude. Use a space in your home or field location that's as bland and clinical as possible, with no potential noise disturbance. Dress smartly from head to toe to create the best mindset.
Site your technology in front of you and imagine it's a lectern and a set of multi-media tools in a meeting room or lecture theatre.
2. Use the superpower of data
While you're using technology to communicate or collaborate, it's common sense to optimise ways to enhance your presentations.
As part of your extensive preparation for important Zoom meetings, consider what documents, images and graphics to share, to add credibility and professionalism to your pitch. Or, simply to hold the attention of a Zoom audience from start to finish.
Familiarise yourself with the Share Screen option on Zoom, and the best ways of displaying videos during a Zoom call, including advanced share methods for online presentations.
There are good Zoom share screen tips here, including how to add a video to presentations on Zoom.
Zoom presentations with visual content are 43% more persuasive . Also, 90% of the information we process comes from visual input. So your Zoom presentation materials could be what gets you that job, funding or agreement.
3. Non-verbal communications tips for Zoom
Don't assume that online presentations release you from many of the body language pitfalls and best practices. The opposite is true, as you need to focus on non-verbal cues even more.
If you deliver your Zoom presentation in a rigid, static and clinical way, you are missing out on some of the best ways to be successful in communications.
People respond to people. Effective communication requires warmth, authenticity and establishing a strong personal connection with your audience. Being robotic when presenting online won't help you to succeed.
If this is an intense online meeting, then showing empathy can also increase the engagement and openness you achieve.
How do you communicate non-verbally on Zoom?
Without going over the top, be purposeful and slightly exaggerated in your body language. Sit straight and lean subtly towards the screen. Never away from it and certainly no slumping, crossed arms or chin/elbow leaning!
Smile, nod and keep strong eye contact, including showing your attention passing from person to person across a split-screen. Use hand gestures and show subtle movement in your upper body to add emphasis to key points.
4. Verbal communications skills
Zoom presentations also make it too easy to slip into a monotone voice or race through a presentation. You may even find the process of talking to technology – not live people – causes you to ramble, or get lost in your ad-libs or Q&A responses.
Make sure you articulate clearly, add emphasis when needed, and generally modify your tone regularly but logically.
Don't be afraid to leave small pauses to drive a point home, or to take a deep breath while you construct your next point. If you look directly at the screen and hold eye contact, this 'white space' is perfectly acceptable.
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5. Is everyone listening?
One of the most important presentation skills, in general, is reading the room. Is your potential boss or buyer looking bored? Are the panel of decision-makers getting confused? In contentious presentations, being able to spot your biggest dissenter from their non-verbal communication can help you shift your focus to winning them over.
It's challenging to gain that sort of body language intel from online meetings. So, the best Zoom presentations compensate for that.
It can be as simple as adding more direct questions to your content and literally pausing regularly to ask your audience about queries or concerns. Make your questions open-ended, not a yes or no response.
"Let's take a minute. What else do you need to know about that part of my presentation?"
Also, keep Zoom presentations succinct, flowing and animated. Your audience will drift away subconsciously if your delivery is pedestrian or you talk for too long without involving them.
Remember, attention spans are even shorter on technology!
6. Opening Zoom presentations with pizazz
No, this doesn't refer to grabbing your audience's attention with a juggling trick or wearing your most colourful or glamourous finery.
How you start a Zoom presentation sets the tone. If you instantly engage their interest with a compelling opening, the attention and engagement last.
This should primarily be 100% clarity on the purpose of your presentation and the desired outcome. As well as establishing your credibility and methods to achieve the end goal.
Vague introductions and slowly revealing your key points drains your time and your audience's attention.
What makes a good opening for Zoom presentations?
7. Icebreakers
You can't shake their hand, but you can issue a quick, warm greeting and a short, relevant fact about yourself that helps them to warm to you.
8. Storytelling techniques
These work for a myriad of business communication tasks. Give a short (that word again) anecdote or illustration, to give context to your Zoom presentation. That could be about you, your product or the outcome you are requesting, for example.
9. Meaningful quotes in presentations
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." - George Bernard Shaw.
Good quotes can work!
10. High impact fact
Another great opening for Zoom presentations is a little known fact or 'behind the scenes' secret that grabs attention. Did you know, one-third of adults still sleep with a 'comforter' like a soft toy or blanket? (Not relevant to many presentations but it's a memorable statistic that caught OUR attention.)
Wake your audience up with something they want to remember – and share with others – and they will be alert and ready to listen.
11. End Zoom presentations correctly
One last piece of advice on Zoom presentations. Don't get so relieved when you get to the end, that you forget your call to action.
All communication should include an invitation of some kind, in clear language. What would you like your audience to do, now your Zoom time is over? Tell them that and thank them for your attention, with one last warm smile.
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Using Powerpoint Presentation Mode with Zoom
If you are in the habit of accessing your notes from the Powerpoint presenter view, you may find it hard to do while Zooming because you end up displaying your notes along with the slideshow. Here’s how to do that in Zoom. Note that these instructions are for folks wih just one screen.
Zooming in Presenter View
To view in Presenter View while presenting in Zoom, you will need to:
- Click on Presenter View in the menu ribbon at the top of the screen.
The presentation will look like this:
The notes appear in a pane on the right. The text wraps automatically, and a vertical scroll bar appears if necessary. You can change the size of the text in the Notes pane by using the two buttons at the lower left corner of the Notes pane:
You can adjust the size of the current slide, and notes and next slide panels, by using your mouse to grab and drag the vertical line that separates the two panels.
Then, when you share screen in Zoom, go to the Advanced tab:
Here you can choose to share a Portion of Screen. When you choose this option, you can draw a rectangle around the part of the screen you want to share. Switch back to PowerPoint. Position the rectangle over the presentation and drag the corners to resize to fit completely. It will look like this:
The green box is what's being shared. You can see your notes, the next slide, and what you look like on Zoom if your webcam is on.
Use zoom for PowerPoint to bring your presentation to life
If you would like to make your presentations more dynamic and exciting, try using zoom for PowerPoint .
To add a zoom, go to Insert > Zoom .
To summarize the entire presentation on one slide, choose Summary Zoom
To show selected slides only, choose Slide Zoom
To show a single section only, choose Section Zoom
When you create a zoom in PowerPoint, you can jump to and from specific slides, sections, and portions of your presentation in an order you decide while you're presenting.
Note: See the Requirements table below regarding which versions of PowerPoint support the features described in this article.
Summary zoom
A summary zoom is like a landing page where you can see the pieces of your presentation all at once. When you're presenting, you can use the zoom to go from one place in your presentation to another in any order you like. You can get creative, skip ahead, or revisit pieces of your slide show without interrupting the flow of your presentation.
Create a summary zoom
Go to Insert > Zoom .
Select Summary Zoom .
The Insert Summary Zoom dialog box opens.
Select slides you want to include in your summary zoom. These become the first slides of your summary zoom sections . To learn more about using sections in PowerPoint, see Organize your PowerPoint slides into sections .
If you already have sections in your presentation, the first slide of each section is preselected by default. If you don't want to include certain sections in your zoom, deselect them. Then, if you want PowerPoint to get rid of any sections you didn't include in your summary zoom, clear the check box next to Keep unused sections in your presentation . Don't worry—the slides in the sections you're discarding will still be part of your presentation.
Once you've selected all the slides you want to use for your summary zoom, select Insert . Your summary zoom is created, and it appears as a new slide just before the first slide you included in your summary zoom.
Add or remove sections from your summary zoom
Once you've created a summary zoom, you might still want to add or remove sections of your presentation. If you've made changes since first making your summary zoom that you want to capture, you don't have to start from scratch—just update your summary zoom.
Select your zoom, and then select the Format tab on the ribbon.
Select Edit Summary , choose the sections you want to have in your summary zoom, and then select Update .
Note: You won't be able to add or remove sections from your presentation in this view, just from your summary zoom.
A slide zoom can help you make your presentation more dynamic, allowing you to navigate freely between slides in any order you choose without interrupting the flow of your presentation. They're a good option for shorter presentations without lots of sections, but you can use slide zooms for lots of different presentation scenarios.
Slide zooms help you drill down into multiple pieces of information while feeling as though you're staying on the same canvas.
Create a slide zoom
Select Slide Zoom .
The Slide Zoom dialog box opens. Select the slides you want to use in your slide zoom.
Once you've selected all the slides you want to use, select Insert . Your slide zoom is created.
Tip: If you want to, you can create a slide zoom quickly by simply selecting the slide you want from the thumbnail pane and dragging it onto the slide you'd like to have your slide zoom on. This way, you can create slide zooms and change them quickly, and arrange them however you like simply by clicking and dragging.
Change the preview image of your slide zoom
Your slide zoom by default will be a preview thumbnail image of the slide, but you can choose a new image from your PC or the web to represent the section or slide you'll be going to.
Select Change Image to choose a new picture from the web or your PC to use instead of the thumbnail.
Choose or search the web for the image you want. When you've selected the image you want, select Insert .
You can also choose various looks for your zooms from Zoom Styles —you can change the border, add visual effects, or pick from any of the border and effect combinations in the gallery.
Section zoom
A section zoom is a link to a section already in your presentation. You can use them to go back to sections you want to really emphasize, or to highlight how certain pieces of your presentation connect. To learn more about using sections in PowerPoint, see Organize your PowerPoint slides into sections .
Create a section zoom
Select Section Zoom .
Select the section you want to use as a section zoom.
Select Insert . Your section zoom will be created.
Tip: If you want to, you can create a section zoom quickly by simply selecting the section name you want in the thumbnail pane and dragging it onto the slide you'd like to have a section zoom on.
Change the preview image of your section zoom
Your section zoom by default will be a preview thumbnail image of the slide, but you can choose a new image from your PC or the web to represent the section or slide you'll be going to.
More zoom options
Zoom for PowerPoint truly lights up when you make it your own. Select the Format tab of the ribbon to get to the Zoom Tools , which you can choose to create just the look and feel you're going for when you present.
Choose to return to the home page or continue through your presentation
If you want to return to the zoom slide after viewing sections or slides in your summary, slide, or section zoom, make sure the Return to Zoom check box is selected. If you want to move on to the next slide after viewing part of your zoom, uncheck it.
(If you're working with a summary zoom or a section zoom, you'll return to the zoom slide by default when you're presenting after going to the section. If you're using a slide zoom, you'll move on to the next slide by default after viewing your slide zoom.)
Make the background of your zoom transparent
Another way you can change the look of your zoom is by choosing to adopt the background of the slide where your zoom lives to make the zoom almost indistinguishable from the main canvas while you present. Select Zoom Background to make your summary, section, or slide zooms blend in to their home slide.
In the Zoom Styles group, select Zoom Background . The zoom will adopt the background of the home slide.
Change the transition options of your zoom
By default, your zooms will use the zoom transition when you present, which is what helps make the zooms feel so lively. However, if you don't want to use the zoom transition, or if you want to change the duration of the transition, you can do so.
In the Zoom Options group, make sure the box next to Zoom Transition is checked if you want to use the zoom transition when presenting your zoom.
If you don't want to use the zoom transition when presenting, uncheck the box next to Zoom Transition .
To change the timing of the zoom transition, use the up and down arrows next to the Duration indicator to change how long the zoom transition lasts.
Requirements
See the following table for details on the minimum version numbers required in PowerPoint to create or play zoom links.
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15 Tips for Engaging, Stress-Free Zoom Presentations + Checklist
Your next Zoom presentation is just around the corner — a week away to be exact!
Preparing and planning for the presentation can be a daunting task.
What presentation software to use?
What if the other attendees can hear your neighbor’s loud music in the background?
What if they’ll find your presentation boring?
Don’t even mention the pre-presentation jitters as the day of your presentation draws near.
Relax and take a deep breath.
You don’t have to figure out the answers to these questions by yourself.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about planning and delivering engaging Zoom presentations without the stress and anxiety!
After reading this article, you’ll be brimming with confidence and competence on your next Zoom presentation.
Let’s dive in!
Table of contents :
The science behind your Zoom presentation anxiety
- Downloadable Zoom presentation checklist
Part 1: Tips on how to plan and prepare for your Zoom presentation
Part 2: tips during your zoom presentation.
- How to share your Piktochart slide deck on Zoom
- Present with ease on Zoom using Piktochart presentations
First off, you’re not alone. Anxiety over Zoom presentations is more common than you think .
For example, a 2021 paper on why students have difficulties learning during synchronous presentations over Zoom found that 80 percent of the students polled experienced anxiety and trouble focusing during their virtual classes.
The first step in dealing with your Zoom presentation anxiety is to understand why you’re experiencing the jitters in the first place. The team at the Department of Communications at Stanford University also wanted to find out. In a peer-reviewed article, Professor Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab , highlighted the results of their research and cited four primary reasons behind Zoom fatigue, stress, and anxiety:
- Your brain interprets excessive amounts of close-up eye contact during video chats as an “intense situation”.
- Like looking at the mirror, you become more critical of yourself as you see yourself on camera.
- Limited movements while you’re chained in your chair and table.
- Video chats require a higher cognitive load than face-to-face presentations.
“You’ve got to make sure that your head is framed within the center of the video. If you want to show someone that you agree with them, you have to do an exaggerated nod or put your thumbs up. That adds cognitive load as you’re using mental calories in order to communicate,” shares Bailenson.
Finally, you have to consider tech troubles and presentation software fiascos as well.
15 Zoom presentation tips and tricks to help you own the room like a pro
Now that you understand why you’re likely to feel nervous before and during a Zoom presentation, here are 15 actionable steps that you can do to calm your online presentation nerves and keep your participants engaged at the same time. You can also watch the YouTube link below if you’re in the mood for video learning.
Before we start, get your Zoom presentation checklist
Whether you’re presenting a report to your coworkers or pitching to a group of investors online, presentation anxiety stems from fear of the uncertain and unknowns. The good news is you can address this with a checklist!
The Zoom presentation checklist below is divided into two parts:
- Planning and preparing for your presentation
- During the presentation
The success of your Zoom presentation is the result of thoughtful planning and preparation.
Get ready for your online class, product webinar, or job interview on Zoom with the following pre-presentation tips:
1. Decide on the scope of your Zoom presentation
Before presenting on Zoom, ask yourself — what one particular idea or insight would you want your audience to learn from you?
“Defining the scope is the most critical step. What are the boundaries, what are the deliverables, what is the topic that you are covering?”, recommends Linda Parry Murphy , CEO of Product Launchers, Inc.
Talking about a lot of subjects and trying to cover everything will only make you too nervous.
Remember the Stanford study earlier about too much cognitive load as one of the reasons behind Zoom presentation anxiety?
Limiting the scope of your presentation can significantly reduce your cognitive load.
2. Plan for the structure of your presentation
It’s important to master the structure and the sequence of your presentation as part of your preparation.
When you plan for your presentation with a structure, it’s easier to go back to what you’re planning to say because you already have a framework as your guide.
As a result, you will feel less anxious because you know you can glance at your outline if you lose your train of thought while speaking in Zoom.
Matt Abrahams, a lecturer in Organizational Behavior and author of Speaking Up Without Freaking Out , recommends the following examples of presentation structures that you can use:
- Past-Present-Future – review a process or share a timeline
- Comparison-Contrast – show the benefits of a certain idea, insight, product, or service
- Cause-Effect – explain the rationale behind a decision
- Problem-Solution-Benefit – motivate or convince your audience
- What?-So What?-Now What? – convince people to do a specific action after your presentation
Another simple presentation structure you can work on is to start with an introduction, the meat of your presentation where you can highlight 3 points, and wrap up with the summary and call-to-action.
3. Prepare your presentation visuals
There is plenty of research and evidence to support the idea that using visuals in communication is more effective in getting your message across than written text or oral communications alone.
For instance, an image is three times more effective in conveying information than words alone. Moreover, people gain 75 percent of what they know visually, in contrast to only 13 percent through hearing and only 12 percent through smell.
If your goal is to convince your audience during your Zoom presentation, you’ll also be delighted to know that using visuals can help you become more persuasive.
A Wharton School of Business research found out that around a third of the audiences they polled felt that presenters who used visuals with their presentations were more persuasive.
When making visuals for your presentation, use these questions as your guide:
- Is there an icon, illustration, or image that could represent your point in a more meaningful way?
- Will a timeline, flowchart, arrows, graphs, or diagrams help get your point across to your audience?
- Who are my target audiences? When choosing visuals for my presentation, are there certain cultural taboos or inappropriate humor that I should be aware of?
Present with ease (and minus the stress!) with Piktochart.
You don’t have to worry about how your Zoom presentation will look like. Piktochart’s easy-to-edit templates will take care of the visual aspect for you.
4. Eliminate clutter in your surroundings
As mentioned earlier, staying in the same spot and restricting physical movements during a Zoom presentation is one of the reasons behind presentation anxiety.
For this reason, make an effort to eliminate clutter in your desk and the space behind you. Get rid of extra keyboards, unused notebooks, pens, food boxes, and books. In short, KonMari your way to a stress-free presentation!
Eliminating clutter gives your brain the impression that there’s more room for you to move around during your Zoom event.
5. Do a tech prep
Presenting in Zoom while you’re at home or traveling is a technological wonder in itself. But technology can be frustrating at times too.
Days before your presentation, double-check (or triple check!) the following:
- Make sure that your laptop, computer, lighting, headset, webcam, microphone, and internet connection are working. Have backup equipment if possible.
- Familiarize yourself with the Zoom app and other relevant software you’re going to use during the presentation.
- Close unnecessary browsers, applications, or software before the presentation. Turn off your laptop or desktop notifications.
- Prepare a PDF version of your presentation and have an extra copy of your presenter notes in case of technical mishaps with your slides. It also makes sense to have a short link to your presentation that you can share with the audience.
- Do a quick soundcheck and video check.
6. Rehearse your presentation
After taking care of your surroundings and equipment, the next step is to prepare yourself.
Practicing your Zoom presentation in advance can help boost your confidence. Here are some tips to help you rehearse well for your presentation:
- Screen record yourself. Afterward, check your recorded video for technical issues, your body language, and whether or not your voice is audible or not.
- Practice with a family member or friend who can give feedback.
- Rehearse in the same room where you’ll be presenting. Use the same lighting, computer setup, and everything.
- Practice speaking to the camera, not your computer screen.
It’s the day of your presentation! You already know the ins and outs of your presentation, and you’ve practiced a couple of times.
Take note of the following tips and hacks to make your Zoom presentation engaging and anxiety-free during your webinar or talk:
7. Dress the part
Wear clothes that are appropriate for your presentation and audience. It also helps to be more mindful of your accessories and hairstyle. The outfits and accessories you wear during your Zoom meeting will speak volumes about you as a person.
For example, if you’re presenting to your coworkers, wear work clothes. If you’re pitching to a group of angel investors, wearing a tie can help convey that you’re serious and trustworthy. However, this may not be a good idea if you’re presenting to a group that is more open to change and tends to be more relaxed when it comes to conventional standards.
Another benefit of dressing the part is what you wear actually impacts how you think. Wearing formal clothes can improve abstract thinking and give you a broader sense of perspective, which is influential in helping you make better decisions.
8. Ditch the chair
Standing up when presenting in Zoom rather than sitting down helps you become more confident because you’re not hunched down on your chair.
Standing straight with your shoulders back also enables you to breathe easily, making your voice sound more powerful and confident. Finally, it allows you to move more and make explanatory gestures which is a charisma boost.
The more confident you appear in your presentation, the more confident you’re likely to feel.
“When your mind starts to feel more confident and powerful — it starts to see those challenging situations not as threats but as opportunities,” shares Harvard psychologist professor Amy Cuddy.
If you can’t stand up during your presentation, make an effort to sit straight in your chair and back up your camera a little to show your body and not just your face.
9. Have a memorable introduction
National best-selling author and founder at Science of People Vanessa Van Edwards specifically recommends opening your presentation with IISSAAQQ to make it more memorable. IISSAAQQ stands for:
- I cebreaker
- I llustration
- S hort story
- S tatistic or surprising fact
- A nalogy or metaphor
10. Look your audience in the eye (or rather your webcam)
Looking your audience in the eye is easier during face-to presentations than Zoom presentations. It can be a little tricky during online meetings because we tend to look at people’s faces on the computer screen. Maintain eye contact by looking into your webcam.
“A good idea is to lower the monitor camera a little so that you don’t have to tilt your head back to gaze up at it. If you can’t help looking at someone’s face on the screen instead of their camera, it helps to move the Zoom window to the part of the screen nearest to the camera so at least you’re looking at approximately the right place when you’re looking at their face,” shares Carol Kinsey Goman , Ph.D., executive coach and international keynote speaker.
11. Think happy thoughts
Find ways to boost your mood before your presentation. Aside from helping you feel good (which in turn can boost your confidence), you’re also likely to smile often with happy thoughts.
When you smile at your audience, they will also likely “mirror” your action and think happy thoughts.
“Mirroring is relevant to our tendency to be empathetic. When I see you smiling, my mirror neurons for smiling fire up, and I get your state of mind right away. I feel it as you feel it. We need that mirroring in order to create a full empathic response to other people,” describes Marco Iacoboni , author of Mirroring People and UCLA professor.
12. Delegate the chatbox
Have someone else take care of chat or Zoom waiting room to keep you from being distracted. This person could be the meeting host, a colleague, or someone you trust who has your back during your presentation.
13. Engage with your audience
Make your presentation a two-way street. Here are some ways to encourage interaction and participation amongst your audience:
- Ask questions. For example, if you’re presenting a team productivity software in Zoom, ask your audience about their top productivity problems at work. You can also use this time as an opportunity to transition to your next presentation slide.
- If you have a small audience, remember each person’s name and address them using their first names.
- Use visuals like illustrations, infographics, or a short video clip in your slide show. Tool recommendation : Use Piktochart Video to transform a long video into short clips.
14. Talk like a human and avoid too much jargon
Alright, what does being a human mean in Zoom presentations?
For a start, avoid talking too much jargon and corporate speak. It makes you more relatable, and it also helps you stand out from other presenters.
Next, improve your visual storytelling skills . Your presentation will be more memorable if you briefly share a story and pair it with visuals. Sign up for our free visual storytelling course . Check out the teaser video below.
15. Slow down
When you’re anxious and not too confident about your Zoom presentation, you’ll tend to speak fast, which in turn will make you more nervous. It’s a vicious cycle.
When presenting in Zoom, be mindful of your pace. Slowing down will not only take the edge off your nerves but also make you appear more confident.
How to share your Piktochart slide deck on Zoom
Step 1 : On the Piktochart editor, click Share to get the link of your presentation.
By default, your presentation is not publicly visible.
Step 2 : Copy the link and paste it into the browser bar. From here, click the Show Presentation button. This will launch fullscreen presentation mode and now you’re ready to shine!.
Step 3: Click Share Screen on your Zoom account and choose the browser with the Piktochart link.
Watch the short tutorial below for detailed instructions.
Ready to deliver your presentation and own the Zoom?
You have a brilliant idea or insight to present, and you need to share them with your audience on your next Zoom presentation. It’s high time you nail it and own the Zoom with the virtual presentation tips we outlined in this guide.
Take Piktochart for a test drive today and create your next presentation slide minus the stress.
Kyjean Tomboc is an experienced content marketer for healthcare, design, and SaaS brands. She also manages content (like a digital librarian of sorts). She lives for mountain trips, lap swimming, books, and cats.
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Do you want to be part of these success stories, join more than 11 million who already use piktochart to craft visual stories that stick..
Presenting Via Zoom
What’s the same.
Many of the principles of good presentations will carry over to the online format. For example, excellent presentations should still:
- Provide relevant information
- Be well organized
- Keep your audience engaged
- Use visual aids that rely more on images than text
- Use visual aids that are a supplement, not a replacement for the verbal presentation.
Even with a mediated presentation, the way you present information is important along with the content you are presenting. Your verbal and nonverbal delivery matter.
What is Different?
Audiences can engage with speakers differently.
You can use chat windows and discussion spaces to get more instantaneous feedback from audiences. You can also more easily provide supplemental resources by giving links.
Organization becomes even more important
Because the audience is not physically present and they clearly have an electronic device in front of them, it’s easier than ever for them to get lost. Be extra deliberate in providing a roadmap for your organization and then referring back to that road map can help keep people on track.
Your environment is more adjustable
You have more control over the environment than you would in a classroom. Be sure your background is as professional and simple as possible to avoid distractions. Use adequate lighting. While the ideal is to have lighting from three sides (one above, two that are more to the front and side), being sure you can be seen and that there is not a light source (window or lamp) directly behind you will be sufficient. Light sources directly behind you tend to put you in shadows.
You also have more flexibility about how you are seen. Ideally, you will position your camera and yourself so that you are visible from approximately the waist up and take up the majority of the screen. If possible, stand up for the presentation as you would in class. If you cannot stand up for some reason, be sure you are in a stable chair that doesn’t roll or spin to reduce the chances you will make distracting movements.
Technology is vital
Even more so than a presentation that requires you to use PowerPoint, presenting via Zoom has the potential to expose problems with technology. Be sure to test all of your equipment before your presentation begins. (Here is more information on support and technology tips from LITS.)
More Zoom Resources
- Zoom Tool Videos
- Adding Virtual Backgrounds
- Teaching Via Zoom
- Zoom for Students
Office / Department Name
Oral Communication Center
Contact Name
Amy Gaffney
Oral Communication Center Director
The $400 million campaign to provide students with a life-altering education.
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COMMENTS
Single-monitor setup with slide show in full screen · Open the PowerPoint file you want to present. · Start or join a Zoom meeting. · Click Share
Zoom allows you to practice in the precise environment where you will be presenting. Set up your background, lighting, and screens as you will
Take your Zoom meetings and calls to the next level! One of the things we love about Zoom is that the platform is always growing and adding
From your Zoom meeting window, click on “Share Screen” and select the window with the Presenter view of your presentation. ... That's it! You'll
11 Zoom presentation hacks for even better meetings · Add Prezi Virtual camera · Change your Zoom virtual background · Test the sound · Spacebar to
Without going over the top, be purposeful and slightly exaggerated in your body language. Sit straight and lean subtly towards the screen. Never
To view in Presenter View while presenting in Zoom, you will need to: ... You can adjust the size of the current slide, and notes and next slide panels, by using
A summary zoom is like a landing page where you can see the pieces of your presentation all at once. When you're presenting, you can use the zoom to go from one
Before presenting on Zoom, ask yourself — what one particular idea or insight would you want your audience to learn from you? “Defining the
What's the same? · Provide relevant information · Be well organized · Keep your audience engaged · Use visual aids that rely more on images than text · Use visual