Presentation Tips

When giving a presentation in person we can make eye contact with our audience and see the effect we are having by their reactions. Delivering a presentation by audio conference can be more difficult because it is far harder to sense the reactions of your audience.

Below are a couple of tips to help you put together a successful conference call:

Start Strong - Begin your conference call with an enthusiastic greeting. The initial impression you make in the first few seconds of your conference will determine how receptive and attentive your audience will be.

Keep it Structured - Create an agenda for the conference call. This helps participants know what's coming, and keeps them on track with the presenter.

Stay Focused - Keep on track with your agenda. It's a good idea to write the key points you want to cover as bullet points on a piece of paper, and place it where you can easily refer to it during the call. If a participant asks a question on a different matter suggest discussing it at the end of the meeting, and return to the subject at hand.

Keep it "Bite-Sized" - Try to structure your presentation into a list of separate, clear, concise points making the presentation easy to follow.

Watch the Clock - Keep an eye on the length of your conference call, and be considerate of others' time.

Be Interactive - Periodically ask participants for their opinion on the subject at hand. Ask specific individuals for their feedback rather than asking for general comments. This simple technique helps you gauge how well your message is getting across, and other participants will pay more attention if they know they might be asked a question!

In Closing. - Be clear when your presentation is ending. Recap the highlights of the meeting, clearly restate any goals or expectations you have for them, and formally end the meeting.

In addition, make a point to remind your call participants that there are some rules everyone should stick to for the success of the meeting:

Be on Time - Holding up any meeting is inconsiderate.

Mute Buttons - When callers are not speaking, request that they use the "Mute" button on their phones and pick up the handset when they do wish to speak. Background noise disrupts the meeting for everyone, and may prevent participants from hearing the information they need.

Don't Put Your Conference Call on Hold - If participants leave a call to answer another call, they will play their hold music or messages into the conference, preventing the meeting from continuing until they return.

Identify Yourself - Ask each participant to state their name when they begin speaking. Not all callers will be able to identify others by the sound of their voice, especially if they are using a speakerphone or mobile.

And the most important tip of all: BE PREPARED! - Have a clear idea of how you would like your conference call to proceed, and take the time to complete a written agenda. There's no substitute for good preparation!