Captivating your Audience
Captivating your audience.
It's more than just a powerful message. Yes, that's important - of course it is. But there are so many other details to be considered to ensure an impactful presentation. Here are five things to consider:
1) A/V
This seems like a no-brainer, but this is the biggest area of improvement with most events. This is not a place to try and "save" when it comes to your budget. To be frank, this is the MOST important place you can spend money if your event involves a presentation of any kind. Depending on your type of event, if this flops - the whole thing flops. This doesn't mean you need to blow the budget on A/V, but it should be one of the first things you flesh out in your budget (after the venue and date are locked in).
2) Room Set up
This is so important, and an easy "box" to check. Consider the layout of your event. Is it conducive to people hearing and engaging in your message? The best format will depend on the goals and needs of your event. If you need participants to interact, you need them to be close to the stage - consider a room that is wider versus deeper. If you have a big band coming through your sales rally to get people excited - consider 3-4 wide aisles in the middle of your seating for a really impactful moment.
3) Visuals/Graphics
Ensure you have clear, crisp images and photos and high-quality video. The visuals should be supportive to your presentation, not the full presentation word-for-word. Graphics that are pixelated or too busy or chaotic will distract your audience, and if attendees are trying to quickly write down all the words on the screen, they aren't truly engaging in your message.
4) Presentation
This is an extension of #3, in a way. Your presentation is SO important - it's why people are there, right? And it's more than just good graphics and impactful video - what is your message? What are you trying to relay? Is there a takeaway or action item for attendees after joining? Are there materials for them to use during the presentation? This isn't where you want to wing it. Rehearsals, practice, test runs - making sure the technology works, making sure you are familiar with the stage, and have walked through the talk. We are all human, and mistakes happen. But audiences are only so forgiving and if there are technical issues and the speaker is fumbling and materials are missing (and on and on), you'll find your attendees getting antsy and they have probably disengaged.
5) Overall Timeline
Once you've tackled the above, your last thing to consider is the overall timeline for the event. From arrival and registration to the last session and happy hour networking - the overall timeline is important when it comes to attendee retention and attention. Ensuring there are enough breaks throughout the day, adding in buffer time around meals for more networking and conversations, making sure the sessions aren't too long or too short - you want enough time to explore the session topic but not too much time that folks get bored or lose interest.
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What else have you considered when planning your presentations?
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