Talks and presentations remain the key communication method of conferences, even as we hurtle forwards into the digital era. If the main prestations are weak or underprepared, the energy can flow out of the conference as attendees attention span wanders. Here are some tips to ensure that talks capture the interest and add real value to the event.
Use the right environment
Even the most skilled speakers will struggle in a poor choice of venue. For example, at our conference venue in Milton Keynes we have a range of room sizes and configurations to choose from, from a purpose-built auditorium with 580 seats to a range of smaller suites.
This means that there is likely to be a room that will suit the size and nature of your conference, from a large gathering to a more intimate occasion suited to lounge style layout. This means that the audience will neither be too cramped and crowded, nor too underwhelmed by a half empty room.
Make use of interactive elements
The audience will of course expect human face to face communication first and foremost; after all, that’s why they have made the effort to be there. However, when used correctly, digital tools can enhance rather than replace the human element of communication.
Make sure that you book a venue with state of the art audiovisual equipment that is capable of supporting the latest technologies. This will allow you to seamlessly incorporate interactive elements such as live polls and social media integration into your presentation, helping to keep the audience engaged and also connect with hybrid audiences.
Make use of visuals
Even the most fascinating subject matter can usually be made more interesting by including visuals, and dense factual or numerical based data will certainly require infographics or perhaps even short videos or animations to keep the energy and make it easily digestible. Again, the venue should be geared towards multimedia presentations.
You may even wish to include cutting edge technology such as augmented reality or virtual reality. This can be particularly beneficial if you want to create an immersive experience that can accurately recreate the sights and sounds of a particular location, perhaps for training or educational purposes.
Make it relatable and tailored to the audience
You should make an effort to go to the audience, rather than expect them to come to you. This doesn’t mean that you need to spoon feed information or insult their intelligence, but tailor the content of your speech to their job roles, professional level and interests, demographics and current level of knowledge about the subject.
This means that they are more likely to remain engaged and feel as though they have had a meaningful and worthwhile experience. Wrap up your key takeaways at the end of talk and provide digital or printed resources to back up your material, so that they do not have to rely solely on their own notes.