Tips for Hybrid Presentations

As the world opens back up again, hybrid presentations are becoming more popular. It’s a great way to give people the option of being able to participate in-person or online. However, with this format, it means the presenter has to be even more prepared in order to make a positive impact. Here are three tips to keep in mind:

1. Put your headshot on your title slide
Since most in-person events require masks, this means that people online and in-person never get to see your face. That’s why I recommend putting your headshot on your title slide. That way, even though your face is covered, people can still imagine what you look like. Then, when people look you up online after your talk, or see you outside after an event, they can recognize and connect with you.

2. Face your audiences
With hybrid presentations, your audience is in two places, one in front of you and one behind the camera. This can be an odd adjustment for many presenters since their tendency is to look behind them at the screen where their slides are being projected. However, when speakers do this, they often turn their backs to the camera. That means the entire virtual audience can’t see you anymore. Therefore it’s important to face out so your physical and virtual audiences can see you at all times.

3. Repeat questions
After your talk, your audience will probably ask you some questions. However, since you have two different audiences, this means the virtual audience can’t hear what’s happening in the room and the physical audience can’t read the chat box. Therefore as a speaker, get into the habit of always repeating the question before you answer it. That way, the virtual audience can hear what someone asked before you launch into an answer and the physical audience doesn’t get confused when you are answering a question online. By repeating the questions, both audiences feel included and can easily follow your answers.

If you add your headshot to your title slide, make sure you are facing your audiences, and repeat questions so everyone can follow what’s happening, you can easily elevate your talks for hybrid presentations.