How to create the perfect online presentation

How to create the perfect online presentation

First, leave PowerPoint closed. Start writing a script.

A proven approach is to write your answers to these imaginary customer questions.

1. Why is this different?
2. How do I know I can trust you?
3. How do I know this is real?
4. What’s in it for us?
5. What’s kept us from getting what we want?
6. How will this help us get what we want?
7. Why now?
8. How does it work?
9. What’s the risk of doing nothing?
10. What’s the next step?

Hint: you’re really convincing the audience that taking the next step with you is safe.

(Never done this before? See here)

1. Choose your CTA (that’s Call to Action). Your presentation will be stronger if you’re moving the audience toward a goal. Even something simple like joining a mailing list is good. But registering for a webinar, scheduling a call with you, or even making a purchase at the end of your webinar are all great options.
2. Make it stronger. Paste it into hemingwayapp.com and keep editing it until you get the reader grade level down to “5”. Put an “=” in front of every word you want to emphasize when you read the script during your live presentation.
3. Congratulations! You’re already ahead of 99% of everyone making a presentation today. Treat yourself a little (chocolate anyone?) then…
4. Open PowerPoint. Make simple slides that highlight your response to each question. If you want to put a lot on a slide, remember to “build up, don’t throw up”.
5. Review your script, with your slides, one more time, and add audience attention elements, like audio calls to screen; call forwards and call backs; and interstitial slides.
6. Rehearse it with someone. Note where you should speed up, or slow down. Where you should pause, or speak a little softer. Or where adding some energy to your voice would make something stand out to the audience.

(Never done this before? See here)

1. Make a little story for your pre-audience. These are the people who show up early. We don’t want them bored and checking their email while they wait. Keep them engaged with something related to your main topic — but isn’t needed to understand the rest of your presentation. Otherwise the people who show up on time will be confused.
2. Walk away. Seriously. Stop fiddling with the slides and let everything settle a little. Your brain will come up any real or useful improvements if it has a bit of distance from the presentation.
3. Lights! Camera! Action!