Presenting online is not simply a matter of taking your presentation from a stage and putting it in front of a webcam.
The environment is different.
Your audience may be sitting at home, checking another screen, dealing with distractions, or joining from a completely different time zone. You have fewer physical signals to work with, and it can be harder to create the same energy you would have in a room together.
But when done well, digital presentations can be incredibly powerful.
I have spent years working with leaders, executives, and teams on communication and presentation skills. One lesson I keep coming back to is this:
The better you understand the medium, the better you can adapt your message to it.
Here are 33 practical tips to help you deliver more engaging and effective online presentations.
Before Your Digital Presentation
1. Know Your Audience
Before preparing your slides, understand who will be watching.
What do they already know?
What do they need?
What challenges are they facing?
Your presentation should be designed for the audience, not for you.
2. Define One Clear Purpose
Ask yourself:
What should my audience know, feel, or do after this presentation?
If you cannot answer that clearly, your presentation may be trying to do too much.
3. Keep Your Message Simple
Online audiences have limited attention.
Choose a few important ideas and communicate them clearly rather than overwhelming people with information.
4. Structure Your Presentation
Give people a clear journey.
A simple structure works well:
Opening → Key points → Examples → Conclusion → Call to action
5. Prepare Your Stories
Facts can inform people.
Stories help people remember.
Prepare examples, experiences, or short stories that make your message easier to understand.
6. Rehearse Out Loud
Reading your slides silently is not enough.
Practice speaking your presentation out loud so you can identify awkward wording, unnecessary sections, and timing problems.
7. Time Yourself
Know how long your presentation actually takes.
If you have been given 30 minutes, do not prepare 30 minutes of content with no room for questions or interaction.
8. Prepare for Questions
Think about what your audience may ask.
Preparing possible answers will make you more confident during the session.
Set Up Your Technology
9. Test Your Internet Connection
A great presentation becomes difficult to follow when your connection keeps dropping.
Test your connection before the event and, when possible, have a backup option.
10. Use a Good Microphone
Poor audio can ruin an otherwise excellent presentation.
Your audience can forgive average video quality much more easily than difficult-to-understand sound.
11. Check Your Camera
Position the camera at approximately eye level.
Avoid looking down at a laptop sitting far below you.
12. Pay Attention to Lighting
Make sure your face is clearly visible.
Natural light can work well, but avoid having a bright window directly behind you.
13. Clean Up Your Background
Your background should support your message rather than compete with it.
Keep it simple and professional.
14. Close Unnecessary Applications
Notifications and pop-ups can distract you and your audience.
Close anything you do not need before going live.
15. Put Your Phone Away
If you are presenting, be present.
Remove distractions that might pull your attention away from your audience.
During Your Presentation
16. Start Strong
The first moments matter.
Instead of beginning with a long introduction, consider opening with:
- A question
- A story
- A surprising fact
- A challenge
- A relevant personal experience
Give people a reason to listen.
17. Look Into the Camera
When you look directly into the camera, your audience experiences it as eye contact.
You do not have to stare at it constantly, but remember to return to it regularly.
18. Speak to People, Not Screens
Imagine that you are speaking to individual people rather than talking to a computer.
This small mental shift can make your delivery warmer and more natural.
19. Vary Your Voice
Avoid speaking at exactly the same pace and volume throughout the presentation.
Use changes in:
- Pace
- Volume
- Tone
- Emphasis
Your voice is one of your most important presentation tools.
20. Use Pauses
Do not be afraid of silence.
A short pause after an important statement gives people time to process what you have said.
21. Ask Questions
Questions turn passive listeners into active participants.
You can ask people to answer in the chat, use a poll, or simply invite them to reflect.
22. Use Names
If someone asks a question, use their name when appropriate.
It creates a more personal connection.
23. Tell Short Stories
A relevant story can bring an abstract idea to life.
Keep stories focused and make sure they support your main message.
24. Move With Purpose
In a physical room, movement can create energy.
Online, excessive movement can become distracting.
Use gestures naturally and keep your upper body visible when possible.
25. Don’t Read Your Slides
Your slides should support you.
They should not replace you.
If the audience can read every word you are saying, they have little reason to listen.
26. Use Fewer Words on Slides
One clear idea per slide is often more powerful than a wall of text.
Use visuals, short phrases, and simple structures where they add value.
27. Change the Rhythm
If you speak continuously for 30 minutes, attention will drop.
Change the format.
Ask a question.
Show an image.
Tell a story.
Invite participation.
Create variation.
Keep Your Audience Engaged
28. Use the Chat
In online presentations, the chat can become part of the conversation.
Ask participants to share an opinion, answer a question, or describe their experience.
29. Give People Something to Do
Do not make the audience work hard, but give them occasional opportunities to participate.
Even a simple question can bring their attention back.
30. Read the Room Digitally
You may not see every facial expression clearly.
Pay attention to the signals you do have:
- Chat activity
- Questions
- Poll responses
- Participation levels
- Silence
Adapt when necessary.
31. Leave Room for Interaction
Do not fill every available minute with your own content.
Give people space to think, respond, and ask questions.
Finish Strong
32. End With a Clear Message
Do not simply say:
“That’s all from me.”
Remind people of the most important idea you want them to remember.
33. Give Them a Next Step
A good presentation should lead somewhere.
Tell your audience what they can do next.
It might be:
- Try a new technique
- Have a conversation
- Reflect on a question
- Download a resource
- Contact you
- Apply one idea from the presentation
Make the next step clear.
The Most Important Digital Presentation Tip
If I had to reduce all 33 tips to one principle, it would be this:
Do not forget the human being on the other side of the screen.
Digital communication can easily become mechanical.
We see boxes, names, microphones, slides, and chat messages.
But behind every screen is a person.
Someone with attention, expectations, emotions, experiences, and distractions.
Your job as a presenter is not simply to deliver information.
It is to create a connection.
Download the Full 33 Tips
I created a downloadable resource with these practical tips so you can keep them available when preparing your next online presentation.
33 tips for when presenting online
Use it as a checklist before your next webinar, virtual keynote, online meeting, or digital presentation.
And remember:
Good digital presentations are not about being perfect. They are about being clear, present, relevant, and human.
Enjoy!
