Virtual speakers and video platforms are just a few of the changes happening in the keynote speaking industry since COVID-19. While you may have quietly lowered your expectations in the past for webinars—after suffering through one too many plain PowerPoints by a monotone presenter—today’s virtual keynotes are more entertaining and interactive.
Top names like Brené Brown, Steve Wozniak, Marcus Lemonis, and Kevin O’Leary have all embraced the form (and my speakers bureau has had the honor of working with all of them during the lockdown). Each has their own style and all connected with their audiences. One company said, “Marcus was the best presenter we’ve ever had, virtual or even face to face!”
If you’re booking a virtual keynote speaker for the first time or for the umpteenth time, here are a few things you should expect.
1) Shorter Presentations and a Moderated Format
Virtual keynotes tend to be shorter. Jay Baer, who wrote the ebook 11 Ways to Win with Webinars and Virtual Events, suggests a maximum of 30-45 minutes for video conferences. Some speakers have delivered shorter 20-30 minute presentations on topics.
However, if you add a Q&A at the end of your talk to involve your participants, expect the presentation to run for 60 minutes. My speakers bureau recommends including a component of moderated Q & A and a concise virtual keynote for all virtual presentations to keep it fresh and lively.
2) Multiple Presenters
Virtual keynotes make it easier to have multiple presenters on a topic. Take emotional Intelligence gurus J.P. Pawliw-Fry and Bill Benjamin, for example. These two EI experts used the virtual format to present dual expertise to help calm people during the early stages of the lockdown in the United States while providing useful takeaways.
3) Animated Visuals
Many keynote presenters and companies are creating better visuals to hold an audience’s attention. Check out this entertaining virtual keynote from Slack, which spiced up their PowerPoint with animated text and graphics. Likewise, futurist Gerd Leonhard used animated visuals and a green screen to keep people glued to his message.
4) Hosted by an Emcee
Some organizations are using an emcee to help frame the event and moderate discussions during the presentation. Resilience expert and author of the bestseller 100 Days of Rejection Jia Jiang used an emcee to host his most recent virtual talk. The emcee brought a sense of organization and control to the event by providing an introduction, handling audience questions, and moderating the Q&A.
5) Live and Recorded Events
Expect virtual events to be both live and recorded. This live virtual event can be more engaging than a standard talk. The best talks tend to include an emcee, feature interactive polls and surveys, and involve panels with multiple speakers. Typically, the talk is also recorded so your organization can reuse and re-edit the presentation for training and other purposes.
6) Customized Talks
As with in-person events, most keynote speakers will customize their talks for your organization’s needs, many focusing on the changes COVID-19 has brought to the business world. Like in-person events, I recommend reaching out to virtual keynote speakers with pre-event calls to share your company’s story. Your insights will help speakers tailor their keynotes to solutions that will specifically address the situations you are facing.
