How to adapt your activity to the online format
Given this change in the format of the activities, many Inspirers are struggling to adapt the content from the face-to-face format to the online format. To help you, we suggest the tips below.
Before developing any content and/or material, ask yourself:
- - What is your value proposition?
- - What are your audience's needs and/or desires?
- - How can your content help others?
- - What is the purpose of this content?
With these questions answered, let's move on to your activity.As the time is not long, we recommend the following:
- - What is your central message?(choose a maximum of 3 main points);
- - If Participants only remember one thing, what should it be ?
- - Method A.I.D.A: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.
You must consider the challenges of connecting with a virtual audience. Professor Matt Abrahams of Stanford Business School has identified 10 valuable best practices to ensure that you communicate successfully:
1. Be Brief
Audiences begin to lose attention after roughly 10 minutes of hearing from the same presenter. If you have more than 10 minutes of content, use interactive activities to keep your audience engaged (for example, take a poll, give quizzes, or ask audience members for their opinions via chat).
2. Be Simple
Keep slides simple — avoid too many words, graphics and animation features. Less is definitely more!
3. Be a TV Personality
Look straight into your camera, not the screen. Wear clothing that is neutral in color (no plaids or stripes). Light yourself well and from above. Be mindful of what appears behind you in the background. Invest in a good microphone.
4. Be Standing
Even though your audience cannot see you, stand when you present. This allows you to stay focused and use good presentation delivery skills such as belly breathing, vocal variety, and pausing.
5. Be Prepared
Practice delivering your presentation with your technology in advance of your talk. Make sure all of the features of the technology work. Record your practice using the recording feature of your tool. Watch and listen to learn what works and what you can improve.
6. Be Assisted
Have someone available to deal with technical issues and to field email/text questions. Also, if you have multiple remote audience members in one location, be sure to pick one of them to be your “eyes and ears.” Ask them to queue up questions and facilitate discussion on your behalf.
7. Be Specific
Ask pointed questions to avoid too many people answering at once. For example, rather than ask, “Are there any questions?” try “Who has a question about the solution I provided?” Set a ground rule that people state their names prior to speaking.
8. Be Synchronized
Transitions are critical. You must connect what you just said to what is coming next when you move from point to point. Transitions between topics and slides are good opportunities to get people reengaged to your talk.
9. Be Connected
Imagine your audience even though you can’t see them. You can place pictures of audience members behind your camera so you can look at people as you present.
10. Be Early
Encourage your audience to access your call or webinar in advance of the start time so you can iron out any technical issues in advance and get them familiar with the technology.
(Source: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/10-tips-giving-effective-virtual-presentations)
How to record and upload the video of the activities on the Platform
When recording the video for your PLAY activity, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- 1- The video must be shot horizontally (Youtube format);
- 2- Identify yourself: include at the beginning of your video your name / logo, the name of your activity and which WCD you are participating in (city and country, for example: WCD São Paulo, Brazil);
- 3- Check the ambient lighting to ensure the quality of the video;
- 4- Check if the audio is good to guarantee the quality of the video;
- 5- Pay attention to the length of the video, try to stay within the time limit (maximum 30 minutes);
- 6- Enjoy natural light: try to record between 10am and 4pm;
- 7- Send the video in .mp4 format and less than 1GB;
- 8- Make the checklist: watch your video before uploading to ensure that all of the above points have been respected.
When presenting your LIVE activity, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- 1- The camera must be positioned horizontally (Youtube format);
- 2- Identify yourself: when starting the live, say your name, the name of your activity and which WCD you are participating in (city and country, for example: WCD São Paulo, Brazil);
- 3- Check the ambient lighting to ensure the quality of the transmission;
- 4- Check if the audio is good to guarantee the quality of the transmission;
- 5- Pay attention to the duration of the transmission, try to stay within the time limit (maximum of 30 minutes);
- 6- Make the checklist: confirm before starting the transmission that all the previous points are being respected.
How, when and where to upload your activity video?
If your activity is approved by the Local Leader, you will receive an email congratulating you and asking you to choose whether your activity will be LIVE or PLAY.
- - If you choose the LIVE format, you will receive a second email with instructions and you must wait for a third email with the URL of your room.
- - If you choose the PLAY format, you will receive a second email with the directions and the UPLOAD button for your file. At this point, it will be possible to review the activity data and upload the video file.
IMPORTANT: The video must be sent until 04/16. For security we recommend that you keep a copy of the video sent on your computer.