Almost everyone now works from home and that includes digital presentation. Sometimes it is an online pitch or meeting, but maybe also a larger presentation for larger groups of people. Present online requires slightly different skills than presenting live. I have 8 tips for you, and I hope you find it useful.

1. Stand up
   You arrange set-up so that you can present standing up, you have to make sure that your webcam is placed at eye level, or just below it. Make a sturdy stack of crates or books. And, maybe it's smart to have one anti-slip mat under your laptop so that it does not just fall off. They often cannot handle that very well. When you present standing up, you automatically use a lot more body language and that is more pleasant to watch. Communication is for only 10% through the words you choose, much more is transferred through the communication of your body language. This makes it easier for viewers to follow.
2. Look into the camera
   In this digital age we no longer have eye contact. That is very difficult, because you cannot 'measure' or 'see' whether your message has been received. To ensure that the viewer does not have this feeling, it is up to you as a speaker to look directly into the camera and not at the screen. If you do look at the screen, it is the feeling that you can experience during a live conversation if someone is not looking at you but is staring at your chin all the time. Then you don't have a good contact.
3. Light and sound
   Of course you have to be visible, and the better your light is, the less the webcam has to adjust. Your image will then remain sharper and less grainy. But good video is also very closely related to good sound. So if you like to move while presenting, it might be smart to use a clip-on microphone. Wired microphones are available, as well as wireless variants. I have heard good stories about the Rhode go.
4. Your background
   Everything is a story, so are you aware of what others can see in your background? For example, are you sitting in front of a bookcase? As a viewer I am often quickly distracted. I then try to read the backs of the books to see what your interests are. This is how I, as a viewer, form an image of you. Or is there a cat scratching post, that says something about you. All this separate data does not say much, but a lot of small pieces of information can still paint a fairly detailed picture about someone. The question is whether you want to disclose that information.

As an illusionist I currently make regular performances specifically for online events. I create both business meetings where I am asked to freshen up participants with something wonderful and humorous. But I was also allowed to provide shows for the festive variations of online events. When making these shows I am always thinking about how the content fits in with the assignment, but also how I can turn viewers into active participants. A great challenge, from worldwide webinars for CEOs of top companies to spicing up the meeting of a municipality. Fortunately, it was always a success.