One of the many things a workshifter may find themselves doing is having a presentation, webinar, client meeting, podcast call or other remote contact with clients and customers. I am continually surprised at a few simple things that people neglect to do to make the experience a good one for all concerned.

Etiquette

If you are conducting a meeting or making a webinar from your home office, the most important thing you can do is respect your listeners.  You are giving them knowledge or help, yes, but they are giving you their time to hear what you have to say.

To that end, making sure that all noise and distraction are removed from the area around you is step one for basic etiquette when recording audio or video (or both) from your home office. The big noisemakers in a home office setting are : kids, spouse, traffic, air conditioner, fan, washer or dryer noises, typing keys on a laptop, and ringing phones.

As much as you love your kids (and we do, too), it's distracting to people listening in to hear them playing in the background (and an upset infant can drown you out completely). In that same vein, your spouse may not understand that you need a short period of quiet unless you tell him or her - communication can solve both of those noise factors as your spouse will most likely be happy to help keep the other noises down to a dull roar.

Even if it hot out, close windows and doors to eliminate traffic noise and appliance noise from other parts of your home, and turn the air conditioner and fan off for the duration of your recording or call. That low hum may not sound like much to you, but depending on the tools you have for conducting your meeting, it can be amplified to a jet engine level roar for your listeners. If you are working on a laptop, either refrain from typing or mute your mic while you type - laptop keystrokes sound like little gunshots to the listener.

Incorporating Multimedia

If you are conducting a presentation or webinar online that will require the use of multi media tools like slides, links, movies or active video feed, make sure you choose current tools! One otherwise smart company recently conducted a weeklong series of classes that were broadcast in Real Player, a service not reliably compatible with many platforms. There were complaints all over the internet of people not being able to use the service or participate in the classes because of the tools that were chosen. Shutting out more than half your audience by not choosing a tool that is universally compatible is a bad move.

Incorporating multimedia can be tricky (and we will go over pointers on how to do so effectively in a later post). If you don't have the equipment or software for creating advanced level presentations from home, that is fine. There are plenty of tools, such as Zoho Show,out there to help you create your presentation on a budget. Look for tools that promote compatibility with both Windows and Mac at a minimum and Linux as well if possible.

Downloads

When people tune in for a seminar, forcing them to download your presentation material to their computer is not ideal. A better way to handle it is to give them the option to download your fabulous slides after the meeting or presentation is over, or directing them to a slide sharing service.

Good Habits

Just like you're told not to say "um" when speaking in person, it helps to get into some good habits for remote speaking also. It's tempting to eat or drink while recording or live casting your podcast, video cast, webinar or remote meeting. It feels like you are alone, or that no can tell if you sneak off camera or mic for a moment. I assure you, we can hear you chewing! It's much better to pause briefly and have that snack later.

The traditional markers of a good in person presentation, like eliminating "um" from your vocabulary, also apply here. Any pointers that will keep your audience awake and focused are great to incorporate here - people's minds tend to wander even more if they aren't listening to something in person.

•••

Wrapping up, your key pointers for a good podcast, webinar, meeting or other in-home presentation while workshifting are:

•Eliminate external noise and distractions

•Refrain from typing if on a laptop

•Follow guidelines for good in person presentations

•Hold off on snacking

•Avoid in-presentation downloads

•Use the best tools you can find for your budget

You don't need the most elaborate gear to record a good podcast or webinar. A little care and attention to detail, coupled with a consideration for the people listening to you, should do the trick and make you shine.

Photo by: cogdog