Home > Support > FAQs

Presenting FAQ

Are there any golden rules for presenting?

Yes, all presenters should consider the following four rules for webcasting effectively:

First          Learn your lines.  You cannot present well if you are reading out loud

Second    Maintain eye contact with the camera during head-on shots. Smile and relax.

Third        Wear solid colours - avoid red, white and black.

Fourth      Minimise movement - sit at a desk, or stand at a podium and avoid quick movements

Do you have any tips for my slides?

Keep slides simple.  It is important to use solid colours for backgrounds, avoid gradients and ‘photographic' images where possible.  Use non-serif fonts, such as Verdana, Helvetica, Arial or Tahoma, in solid colours, without dropshadow, at point sizes above 20.  Avoid using animated transitions and builds.  Work to a slide size of 22.58 cm wide, by 16.93 cm high – as this provides the necessary 640 x 480 image size when converted. 
Where necessary please ensure slides signed off by your compliance and legal teams beforehand.

What should I consider for webcasting locations?

Use a quiet room, away from kitchens, lift shafts, toilets and any other cause of noise or constant traffic.  Use a 'recording' sign when capturing to avoid interruptions, and unplug the phones.  Presenters should use chairs with legs, not wheels.  In addition, ensure mobile phones are off, not just on silent, as received calls interfere with the audio equipment.

What advice do you have for preparing presenters?

Before you start:

Make sure you are familiar and comfortable with the subject matter before booking studio time

Use a mirror to check appearance (hair, tie and collar straight, no dandruff/fluff on shoulders, no food stuck in teeth).

Breathe deeply a few times and drink some water before you start.

When you start:

Smile.  Make sure you're sitting comfortably. Try to enjoy yourself.

Maintain eye contact with camera lens, as you would in a normal face to face conversation.

Convey enthusiasm and interest and appear upbeat, even if conveying bad news.

Do not say 'Good afternoon' or 'Good morning', rather just 'Hello' and do not refer to 'this month', 'last month', or otherwise date the presentation.

Don't worry about stumbling on words, just carry on.  Remember regular conversation has slip ups and this is all about communicating in a way to give the organisation a more human face. Don't rush.