Webinars: Holding The Attention Of Your Audience
The first rule of thumb in holding any audience’s attention is to be interesting. You may not always be captivating, but you should try your best to come as close as possible.
One important key to holding your audience’s attention is to be sure you aren’t wasting their time. Don’t spend time on trivial things you can state simply. Avoid repeating yourself more than is necessary; instead, get directly to the point and make steady progression through your chosen topics.
Draw up an outline before you begin and do your best to stick to it. Try not to get off on tangents that don’t offer beneficial information to all participants. If you get too off-topic onto a subject that only impacts a small percentage of people on the Webinar, you’ll lose your audience. Once an audience is lost, it’s nearly impossible to reel them back in for your next presentation.
Avoid talking in a monotone voice. Keep your voice expressive and excited. Don’t get too long winded or speak with so much technical jargon that people get lost. Speak slowly enough so people understand you, but try to move through the material at a good pace.
For best odds of reaching people when they are most attentive, do not plan a webinar first thing Monday when people are busy getting a jump-start on the week. They will have a hard time focusing with so much on their minds. Stay away from meetings just after lunch when people are sleepy or on Friday afternoons, when everyone is already thinking about the weekend, instead of what you are trying to say.
Select a good mix of participants when you plan the webinar so you will have participants who are likely to engage lively discussion, making it more interesting for everyone. Employ visuals to keep people stimulated. Use humor when appropriate. Ask questions to keep people on their toes. Be passionate. If you employ these techniques, you are sure to hold the attention of your audience.
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