How do you prepare your online presentation tools for a perfect performance?

1 Choose the right tools

The first step is to choose the right tools for your online presentation. Depending on your purpose, audience, and content, you may need different tools to create, share, and interact with your slides. For example, you may use PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi to design your slides, Zoom, Skype, or Webex to host your meeting, and Slido, Mentimeter, or Kahoot to add polls and quizzes. Make sure you select the tools that suit your needs and preferences, and that you have access to them before your presentation.

2 Test your tools

The next step is to test your tools and make sure they work properly. You don't want to face technical issues or glitches during your presentation that can disrupt your flow and frustrate your audience. Therefore, you should test your tools in advance and check your internet connection, audio and video quality, screen sharing, and interactive features. You can also do a dry run with a colleague or a friend and ask for feedback on your tools and presentation.

3 Optimize your tools

The third step is to optimize your tools and make them more effective and engaging for your online presentation. You can do this by adjusting the settings, features, and layout of your tools to suit your presentation style and goals. For example, you can customize your slides with animations, transitions, and multimedia elements, use the chat and Q&A functions to interact with your audience, and enable the recording and transcription options to save and share your presentation. You can also use extensions and plugins to enhance your tools and integrate them with other platforms.

4 Learn your tools

The fourth step is to learn your tools and master their functions and capabilities. You don't want to waste time or lose confidence by fumbling with your tools or not knowing how to use them. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with your tools and practice using them before your presentation. You can watch tutorials, read guides, or join webinars to learn the tips and tricks of your tools and how to use them effectively. You can also explore the features and options of your tools and experiment with different scenarios and situations.

5 Prepare your backup tools

The final step is to prepare your backup tools and have a plan B in case something goes wrong with your primary tools. You never know when you might encounter a technical problem, a power outage, or a network failure that can affect your presentation. Therefore, you should have backup tools and alternatives ready to use if needed. For example, you can have a copy of your slides on a USB drive, a phone or a tablet with the same apps as your computer, and a backup meeting link or platform to switch to if necessary.

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?