10 Webcast Tips

1. Practice — practice — practice! (Know your content!)
2. Remain flexible by using hyperlinks to meet the needs of your audience.
3. Set participation expectations at the start by letting participants know that you will stop every 4 – 8 minutes to ask for their input. Plan interactivity every 4 – 8 minutes by displaying a graphic (such as a light bulb) to let them know it is time for their thoughts, comments, and questions.
4. Skip the long cordial introductions and get to your content quickly. Explain the benefits they will receive from the presentation first, then you can introduce yourself and provide a little background.
5. Do not read to your audience. This is one of the most disrespectful things you can do to your audience. We read to children, not to adults. Moreover, it sends a clear message to your audience that you are not prepared. 
6. Summarize frequently to check that your message is received as intended. 
7. Include plenty of “spice” such as polls, relevant examples, stories, metaphors, analogies, and Jeopardy® type games.
8. Test the technology before the event, every time! Systems are constantly changing and being updated.
9. Have a backup plan, especially for a software demonstration. If the software fails for some reason, use a series of screenshots from the software and combine with hyperlinks to simulate navigation. 
10. Have an “icebreaker” question on the screen during session logins, and/or use an etiquette slide at the beginning as attendees are joining the webcast.