How can you manage virtual audience feedback with limited time?

1 Use a dedicated tool for feedback

One of the easiest ways to manage virtual feedback is to use a tool that is designed for that purpose, rather than relying on the chat function of your video conferencing software. A dedicated tool can help you create polls, surveys, quizzes, Q&A sessions, and other interactive features that can engage your audience and gather their input. Some examples of such tools are Slido, Mentimeter, Kahoot, and Poll Everywhere. These tools can also help you sort, filter, and prioritize the feedback you receive, and display it visually on your screen or on a separate device.

2 Set clear expectations and guidelines

Another important tip is to set clear expectations and guidelines for your audience before and during your presentation. For example, you can tell them when and how you will collect their feedback, how long they have to respond, and what kind of feedback you are looking for. You can also ask them to use specific hashtags, keywords, or symbols to categorize their feedback, such as #question, #comment, #idea, or #feedback. This can help you identify and address the most relevant and urgent feedback quickly and easily.

3 Use a timer and a moderator

A third tip is to use a timer and a moderator to help you manage your time and your feedback. A timer can help you keep track of how much time you have left for your presentation and for your feedback session. You can use a simple online timer, such as Google Timer, or a more advanced one, such as Timer Tab, that can also play sounds, show messages, or open links. A moderator can help you monitor and filter the feedback you receive, and select the best ones to share with you and the audience. You can ask a colleague, a friend, or a volunteer from the audience to be your moderator, and communicate with them via chat, phone, or email.

4 Acknowledge and appreciate feedback

A fourth tip is to acknowledge and appreciate the feedback you receive from your audience, even if you cannot address all of it in detail. You can do this by thanking them for their participation, summarizing the main themes or points of their feedback, highlighting some of the best or most interesting feedback, and inviting them to follow up with you later if they have more questions or comments. You can also use emoticons, stickers, gifs, or other visual elements to show your appreciation and enthusiasm.

5 Follow up and follow through

A fifth tip is to follow up and follow through with your audience after your presentation. You can do this by sending them a summary of your presentation, a recording of your session, a link to your slides, or any other relevant resources. You can also ask them for more feedback, such as their satisfaction, learning outcomes, suggestions, or testimonials. You can use the same tool you used for collecting feedback during your presentation, or a different one, such as Google Forms, Survey Monkey, or Typeform. Finally, you can follow through with your audience by answering any pending questions, addressing any concerns, or implementing any changes based on their feedback.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?