Presenter Tips: Good to Great Webinar

A great webinar isn’t defined by slides or software; it’s defined by the presenter. Small choices in how you show up on camera, speak to your audience, and guide the conversation can make the difference between a webinar that’s merely informative and one that’s genuinely engaging. These presenter tips are designed to help you move from good to great.

Remember: you are the presentation

People connect with people, not slides. Slides should support your message, not compete with you. If attendees remember anything, it’s your clarity, confidence, and energy.

Be on camera early and stay visible

Appearing on camera before the webinar officially starts builds trust and warms up the room. When possible, remain visible while presenting to maintain a human connection.

Frame yourself intentionally

Position your camera at eye level, with your head and shoulders filling the frame. You should be large enough to read facial expressions; if viewers can’t see your eyes, they’ll tune out.

Speak to someone, not at everyone

Imagine you’re talking to one person, not the “audience”. This subtle mindset shift makes your delivery warmer and more conversational.  Make eye contact.

Slow down (more than you think)

Nerves speed people up. Online audiences need extra time to process information, especially when slides, chat, and audio are competing for attention.

Pause for emphasis

Silence is powerful. A short pause after an important point helps it land and gives the audience time to absorb it.

Bring questions into the presentation, not just the end

Audience questions reveal what people actually care about. Addressing them throughout the webinar makes it feel interactive, responsive, and alive. More about questions at A Way to Boost Webinar Engagement: Comment Banners.

Acknowledge the audience out loud

Refer to comments, questions, or polls verbally.   Such as “That’s a great question in the chat…”.  This signals that participation matters.

Avoid reading slides verbatim

Slides should highlight ideas, not duplicate your words. If you’re reading, attendees might as well read on their own.

Smile

Smiling changes your tone, even when people can’t see it clearly. It makes your voice sound more engaging and confident.