How can you use audience engagement tools to make your virtual presentations interactive?

Encuestas y Votaciones en Tiempo Real. Son útiles herramientas como Poll Everywhere, Mentimeter o Kahoot, para crear encuestas y votaciones. Sesión de preguntas y respuestas. Herramientas como Slido o Zoom permiten a los participantes enviar sus preguntas, que luego pueden ser votadas por otros para priorizar las más populares. Herramientas de colaboración online. Plataformas como Google Docs, Miro, o Padlet permiten a los participantes colaborar en tiempo real, compartiendo ideas o trabajando en conjunto para un proyecto concreto. Uso de Chat en Directo. Los participantes pueden usar la función de chat en plataformas como Zoom, Microsoft Teams o Webex para hacer comentarios, compartir ideas o hacer preguntas durante la presentación.

Audience engagement is a very beneficial tool for all sides. You can use in-meeting surveys, polls, raising of hands, to ask your audience for in-the-moment feedback. You could also ask them to answer a question or if they relate to something you say. Sometimes you can have them interact physically by having them stand, stretch, take deep breaths, dance, etc. You can ask them permission to be vulnerable, or to talk about sensitive topics. That makes them stay engage and feel they have some control of the situation. Repeating questions from the audience makes them feel heard. If you have a small crowd, having people introduce themselves is a form of audience engagement. No matter what you choose, audience engagement is an important.

Here are some other things to consider. How will your audience attend, mobile or laptop? This could make their experience completely different using the different tools, because of the interface. Whatever tool you use, make sure that you test it on a mobile phone and a laptop. You have to experience it, not some team member. Also, if people are mostly on mobiles, chances are they are very disengaged and how will you handle that?

Select the ideal platform: The choice of platform significantly influences the interactivity of your virtual presentations. Platforms differ in features, offering varying degrees of engagement like polls, quizzes, chat, Q&A, breakout rooms, and emojis. Prior to selecting a platform, conduct thorough research, comparing available options. Factor in your presentation goals, audience size, content format, and budget. Opt for a platform aligning with your requirements, enabling diverse interaction methods to keep your audience engaged during virtual presentations.

Die Vielfalt der verfügbaren Plattformen für virtuelle Präsentationen bietet unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten des Publikumsengagements. Es ist entscheidend, die richtige Plattform basierend auf Ihren Zielen, der Publikumsgröße, dem Inhaltsformat und Ihrem Budget auszuwählen. Eine sorgfältige Recherche und der Vergleich der verfügbaren Optionen stellen sicher, dass Sie eine Plattform wählen, die Ihren Bedürfnissen entspricht und Ihnen ermöglicht, auf vielfältige Weise mit Ihrem Publikum zu interagieren.

Don’t go with the flow. Create the flow. Have a clear plan of when you’ll share a poll, ask questions that the audience answers in the chat, and q & a. Allow these to lead to the next section, theme, research, or point you’re going to share. Pro tip: Be prepared. Many platforms have delays so you may not see responses in real-time for you.

I incorporate live question and answer segments, allowing participants to ask questions directly, and I provide real-time responses.

Start with low interaction and build on it. It can start with them typing in the chat where they are from and then progressing to, raising their hands, completing a poll and speaking to you. But do not go into a cold room and ask them to unmute themselves and talk to you.

Incorporating interactive elements like polls or Q&A sessions during virtual presentations can enhance engagement. For instance, asking participants to share a moment of gratitude or a positive mindset shift they've experienced recently fosters connection and makes the session more impactful. And forget the traditional way, keep it simple, like having a conversation. No one likes to be lectured, however a conversation is great for all.

This method works like magic! At the start of my virtual presentation, I will ask participants to do this: “Pls type in the chat “PPP” which represents clapping sound to thank XXX for organising today’s session”. You will see “PPP” flooding the chat room and you have a great start to an engaging and interactive session.

I read somewhere that getting people to speak in the first few minutes is the key to keeping an audience engaged. In a workshop with 12 participants, I used Zoom’s breakout room feature to pair the participants for a 3 minute exercise 10 minutes into the session. When we returned, the pairs were encouraged to share one memorable thing from the 3 minute exercise. They were fully engaged for the rest of the one hour workshop. With larger groups I like to split into groups of three and hear from at least 3 people when we come back. Even in large groups these small breakouts are highly effective.

It's important that you have techniques for crowd control. Nobody wants to hear one person in the audience to go on and on and on. But neither do you want to cut someone off and have their contribution not valued. Don't be afraid to thank them or even applaud them even when they're not finished, wait for them to take a breath celebrate them and move on. Specifically do not say now we need to hear from someone else, it immediately devalues that person.

Using poll between sessions helps to keep participants attentive and feel engaged while also keep the presentation or training less one-way communication.

I love activities that encourage participation. Whether it's an individual or group game. Starting with low pressure activities and offering prizes is a really good way to get people involved. I wrap every prize and present it to the winner in front of everyone with a handshake and pictures taken as though the person won a Grammy. Their faces light up like Christmas. And it encourages the others to go all in during the next game so that they get a chance to win. It isn't about the winning. It's the experience, the feelings of accomplishment, pride and joy. Forced participation is a disaster waiting to happen. Once people feel comfortable and safe, and there's a good enough incentive, they'll participate willingly in your sessions.

In optimizing my motivational speaking engagements, it is essential to conduct thorough research into the demographic and interest profile of the audience. Personalizing the message through the integration of relatable examples and pertinent anecdotes ensures resonance with their experiences. Additionally, fostering active engagement by encouraging interaction and soliciting feedback during the session serves to address the specific needs of the audience in a dynamic manner.

Nobody likes to be lectured to - make it a conversation. Simon Sink achieves this as if he's talking directly to you and no one else is in the room. Drop the old performance - eye contact, strong voice - and have a conversation.

Adapt to audience needs: Flexibility is key especially when addressing diverse virtual audiences. Not every presentation will unfold exactly as planned, and audience responses will vary. Monitor engagement levels using platform tools like analytics, polls, or chat. This real-time feedback helps gauge audience sentiment and interests. Directly seek input by asking for feedback or suggestions to improve your presentation. Use the gathered information to adjust content, pace, tone, or style, aligning your delivery with audience preferences and expectations. Being adaptable ensures a more tailored and engaging virtual presentation experience.

Consider leveraging pre-event engagement strategies. Create anticipation through teaser content or interactive polls on social media platforms. Encourage participants to share expectations or questions before the presentation. This not only builds excitement but also tailors the content to address specific interests. Additionally, post-event engagement is crucial. Share highlights, key takeaways, or follow-up resources to prolong the interaction and foster a community around your virtual presentations. This holistic approach enhances the overall impact of your virtual engagement strategies.

I did the following with a group of 125 people once and the audience was (1) riveted, (2) felt as if they had attended the most powerful event in their lives. Because most Virtual Presentations are pre-planned and canned, they're boring. If you have some gumption and know your content well enough I recommend that before you launch into your slide deck that you ask exactly what the audience members would like to see/know. Do this using open-ended questions or close-ended 'survey' questions like "which of these x, y, z, are most important to you?" Type up the answers on the screen (do this as the answers come in). THEN let the audience compare/rank most to least important. Then pick the top 5 to 10 and present/answer the ranked ideas.

effectively use audience engagement tools. I implement features such as polls, surveys, and live Q&A sessions to actively involve you. Additionally, I utilize virtual hand-raising or reactions for instant feedback. By incorporating these tools, I can customize my content based on your responses, ensuring a more personalized and engaging virtual experience for you.

The key is to plan the emotional journey of your audience - when you want them to feel excited, when you want them to feel challenged, when you want them to feel united...the brain loves movement and people get bored and zone out very easily. A new emotion for a new point will keep them engaged.