Business Conferencing Solutions Blog

From teleseminars to hook prospects to conference call updates for investors, you may find yourself charged with delivering a teleconference (as Captain Jack Sparrow would say) all by your onesie. It can be a tall order for an already busy professional. So how can you present an engaging conference call that gets the job done? Check out these 5 gotta-have teleconferencing tips for solo presenters:

1. Choose conference calling services wisely. Yes, you can find a free conference call provider. But if that provider delivers services on a less-than-professional level, you could find yourself spending time apologizing for technical difficulties instead of driving the message home.
2. Get the feel for a “people-free” audience. Teleseminars and teleconferences have a different flavor than a face-to-face meeting, where a presenter can observe and interact with the audience. If you’ve never done a remote presentation before, practice the teleconference with colleagues or friends so you develop a better sense of how to interact with a group over the phone.
3. Stand up. It’s easy to suffer a case of the slouches if you’re sitting down. Why does that matter on a teleconference? Slouching affects your volume and breathing, and that can make talking for an extended period a genuine slog. Standing up forces you into a posture that gives your voice clarity and command, and makes you feel more energetic.
4. Don’t read. Teleconference attendees can smell a reader through the phone line. Use notes to remind you of pertinent points or data and to keep the presentation on schedule. The more you practice, the more natural the delivery will be and the less you’ll need to rely on reading.
5. Watch the water (or coffee or tea….). When doing a solo presentation via teleconference, water can be your best friend—and your worst enemy. Take a bathroom break before the event, and then be smart about how much water you’re drinking throughout. (Bonus tip: Lips dry? Keep lip balm handy.)
6. Consider a wingman/woman. Hosting an effective teleconference can present challenges, so don’t be afraid to turn your solo act into a duet. An assistant, for example, can keep you on schedule or take the lead on a particular segment. That person might also help people who are having difficulties, like the teleseminar attendee who can’t find the pre-event material you emailed last week.

You can go solo and still deliver an effective teleconferencing event. For more info about our suite of tools that gives you the power to deliver messages reliably and affordably, contact RollCall Business Conferencing.