Presenting a Webcast:  Best Practices

Acknowledge your web audience

• Make eye contact with the camera to connect with people who will be viewing your presentation over the internet
• Try not to use spacial references ("over here", or "right there") and instead use reference relative to the content you are presenting ("as you can see below the image of the heart" or "on the second line of the slide")
  

Look your best

• Wear solid colours, pastels, medium shades or off-white shirts and blouses
• Don't wear busy patterns or very dark suits
• Don't wear shiny, loud, noisy or distracting jewelry, lanyards or scarves

Let the camera see you

• Using a podium or table is encouraged
• Walking around is fine as long as long as you stay in lit area where the camera can see you
• Avoid excessive movement like swaying
• Be conscious of your body language and behave as if you can always be seen

Using the microphone

• Before the presentation, technicians may ask you to speak into the microphone so they can set audio levels. Make sure you speak the same way that you would while giving your presentation
• Do not tap or blow on the microphone
• Make sure you enunciate clearly
• Place lapel microphones on your lapel or tie, or on the outside of your clothing away from jewelry
• Keep hand-held microphones directly under your mouth
• Remember to turn on or un-mute your microphone before the start of the presentation
• Do not make "non-presentation" comments until the technician informs you that the recording has finished

Audience questions

• It is best to save questions for the end of your presentation
• Ask the live audience to use a mircophone or clearly repeat the question yourself so that the web audience can hear them

Take a deep breath and relax. Your audience wants to hear what you have to say!