Here are some tips to boost your Zoom presentation and get enhanced engagement from the audience.

You are almost certainly familiar with the Chat Box or Comment Box, but how often do you see it used really well?

I see it used badly almost every day. I see it used really well around once a week.

The key to getting the Chat Box right in a Zoom presentation is to focus on the first time you use it. The first time you use it in any presentation, give really careful thought to how to do it – plan it in advance.

Most people make one of the three common errors: –

They ask something too long or complex – either the audience switches off or they take time to think things over.

Or they don’t explain how to use it – so instead of thinking about your request, they use their energy figuring out what to do.

Or also, they don’t give the audience long enough to respond – so you get an empty chat box.

If you can turn these three errors around, you can get significant engagement from your audience in a Zoom presentation.

Firstly, make sure your opening question is straightforward. Ask something that can be answered as a basic yes or no. This yes or no is a low-level commitment. Get a low-level commitment first before you try anything else.

Secondly, walk them through the steps – scroll down, type, click etc. Make it easy for them. Point downwards on your screen to give them a visual clue to scroll down.

Thirdly, hold your nerve and you will get responses. It takes a few seconds longer than you think and those seconds feel like minutes. I have spoken with so many audience members who say, ‘I was just about to respond but the speaker moved on so I deleted what I had typed.’

Clever use of the chat box in the early part of your Zoom presentation can get you off to a flying start.

While nothing in life can guarantee success, a flying start will beat a standing start every time. Plan your first use of the chat box carefully…and the second one.

If you want some more tips on Zoom presentations, click the link for our handy SketchNote https://www.speakwithimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Virtual-Presentation-Top-Tips.pdf