Roger Courville is the author of The Virtual Presenter’s Handbook, blogger at TheVirtualPresenter.com and principal of 1080 Group, LLC, an independent consulting training firm that helps companies design and optimize online presentations and web seminars.

I met Roger on Twitter.  We’ve had several conversations since, and he consistently impresses me as friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to lend a hand.  This book continues in that vein.

Section 1: Introduction

Roger explains what web seminars (“webinars”) are all about.  And while web seminars offer a number of benefits, Roger quickly states that:

“Replacing 100% of face-to-face meetings shouldn’t be your goal, but the ability to dialogue (read: influence) an audience at a distance is a unique and powerful tool…”

Treat web seminars like any other new venue.  Something that worked in one place may not translate to the new place.

Section 2: Getting Started

To inspire, to inform, and to influence.  Those are the three buckets for presentations.  Take your pick, or use them all.  Just keep in mind that web seminars are events that need to be designed to match your objectives.  Roger compares two software companies and their very different approaches to presenting online.

Section 3: Planning Your Presentation

Roger helps you get from point A to point B as he defines the three pillars of online presentations:

1. Purpose
2. Movement
3. Interactivity

Just as it is helpful in planning your presentation, make sure you have a purpose.  I’ve been guilty of this before.  I get carried away with how I want the presentation to look.  Resist.  Keep PowerPoint closed.  Roger says start with paper and a purpose.  And hang on to that clarity as you present.  There’s great stuff in here about when and when NOT to include interactivity in your web seminars.

Section 4: What to Know About Virtual Presentation Technology: Choosing the Right Tools

Roger addresses the frequent concern many web presenters have in common: “How do I keep my audience from multi-tasking?”  He talks about “virtual seating arrangements,” listen-mode, eliminating background noise, VOIP, screen sharing, and more.  My favorite tips in this section are to cover up the majority of your presentation and put your Q&A tool in front of you at all times.  After all, you aren’t reading your slides, are you?  Those questions are the life blood of online presentations.

Section 5: Adapting Slides to the Virtual Stage

This section is where I perk up.  Time for pretty slide shows!  Hooray!  Roger calls your attention to text, language, and images.  There’s some really practical advice like eliminating periods from bullet point items.  If you start throwing Microsoft clipart willy nilly at every slide, you are going to look a little dated.  I’d also suggest avoiding fancy animated transitions between slides.  Simplicity is the goal with slides.  Check out Roger’s thoughts on the Rule of Thirds, as well as Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule.

Section 6: Getting Yourself Ready

Create a pre-show checklist, own it, and make it your routine.  It’s something athletes, musicians, and actors all do.  And Roger says it works for online presenters too.  I quite like this idea (and not just because of my unhealthy obsession with checklists in general).  By creating a list of repetitive tasks you need to do before each presentation, you put some crucial details on auto-pilot.  Now you don’t ever have to worry about forgetting them again.  There’s also a great couple of pages on mitigating common risk when you’re presenting with a partner.

Section 7: Delivering Like a Rock Star

What’s Roger doing backstage before the show?  Breathing.  Closing down unnecessary apps.  Rebooting.  Multi-tasking audiences are enough of a challenge.  Make sure you, as the presenter, are distraction free.  Shut down email and IM (unless you’re using that as your Q&A tool)!  There’s a nice pile of tips at the end of this section.

Worth a Read?

Roger Courville

As telework and virtual teams continue to grow, your ability to deliver information remotely becomes crucial.  Roger has crafted his book around principles rather than techniques, assuring you that this book will be as valuable ten years from now as it is today.  Do your audience a favor.  Give The Virtual Presenter’s Handbook a read.

More Info

Get a copy of The Virtual Presenter’s Handbook
Roger’s blog
Twitter: @1080Group
1080 Group