Be a great internet presenter
Are you sending 100 emails a day? You’re probably not getting the results you want. You need to learn how to present your content in an effective way. Presenting isn’t just about telling a story or conveying facts — it's about convincing the listener that what you're saying is worthwhile, that it's time for them to change their perspective, their paradigm, and ultimately their behavior.
This blog post will give you some tips on how to become the best presenter on the internets.
But first...
The best way to understand how to present effectively is to return to how you were originally trained as a child. You learned about cause and effect, about fairness and truth, about respecting others' perspectives. What does that mean for your online presentation?
Here are five principles that you can use to teach others the power of presenting well: Cause and Effect: Presenting well means that you present what is true and fair so that the audience will act in accordance with their values. Your audience will change behaviors when they see that what you're telling them is true. That's why it's important to be honest with your viewers. If you're not honest, they'll know. It's like when you give someone the wrong change in a store – they won't just let it go. They'll question or confront you.
Presentation is a continuum, not an on/off switch. You can't just tell people to start sharing their knowledge online or to stop being rude on the internet. You have to give them the tools and skills they need to do so, and present your message as something that works in their current situation and provides a step up from where they are now.
You can't just tell people to start sharing their knowledge online or to stop being rude on the internet. You have to give them the tools and skills they need to do so, and present your message as something that works in their current situation and provides a step up from where they are now. Pluralism: Presenting well means respecting the people you want to reach. It means understanding that your audience has different needs, backgrounds, experiences, and other unique factors that may make them choose not to take action on the message you're sending because it doesn't speak to them. That's where a little empathy can come in handy!
Presentation is a continuum, not an on/off switch. You can't just tell people to start sharing their knowledge online or to stop being rude on the internet. You have to give them the tools and skills they need to do so, and present your message as something that works in their current situation and provides a step up from where they are now. That's why it's important to be honest with your viewers. If you're not honest, they'll know. It's like when you give someone the wrong change in a store – they won't just let it go. They'll question or confront you. Pluralism: Presenting well means respecting the people you want to reach. It means understanding that your audience has different needs, backgrounds, experiences, and other unique factors that may make them choose not to take action on the message you're sending because it doesn't speak to them. That's where a little empathy can come in handy! The Relationship-Based Approach: When you present well, you're not just telling your audience about the facts. You're helping them to understand how what they're doing makes a difference — and ultimately, how it might make things better for them.
When you present well, you're not just telling your audience about the facts. You're helping them to understand how what they're doing makes a difference — and ultimately, how it might make things better for them. Storytelling: We've all been trained to be storytellers at various points in our lives. It is time to use the skills you learned as a child to help others understand that it IS possible to make their voices heard online and that doing so will improve their lives.
The 5 Principles of Presenting Well
Pardon my French, but this list should be read in French — I'm French. It's just too good not to share with you guys! (Sidenote: I have been looking for a way to translate French for an entire year now and can't seem to come up with even close translation.)
In English: "What good is mentioning all the facts if you don't give people something they want?" That's how we think when we're speaking in English. In French, it goes like this:
"What's the point of listing out everything if you aren't going to give people anything they can be passionate about?"
They're not just saying the same thing, but they are actually leaving out something. English speakers tend to focus on the facts and details while French speakers are more focused on emotions. Those emotions make someone want to contribute because they want to feel good. They want to feel like they've added something valuable and worthy of recognition. They need that feeling of accomplishment! It's important for us as presenters to understand that these people are looking for some sort of reward for contributing in your online project or community.
Let's take a look at those five principles in action.
The French Presentation: When you present well, you're not just telling your audience about the facts. You're helping them to understand how what they're doing makes a difference — and ultimately, how it might make things better for them.
The English Presentation: When you present well, you're not just telling your audience about the facts. You're helping them to understand how what they're doing makes a difference — and ultimately, how it might make things better for them.
What's different? The French version communicated in terms of people (with emotions) instead of focusing on the facts or having the presenter tell them what they should understand (the speaker is trying to convince us that it's true). It's much more like a conversation — not like someone talking down to someone else. In English, they focus on the facts and details while French speakers are more focused on emotions. Those emotions make someone want to contribute because they want to feel good. They want to feel like they've added something valuable and worthy of recognition. They need that feeling of accomplishment! It's important for us as presenters to understand that these people are looking for some sort of reward for contributing in your online project or community.
The French Presentation: When you present well, you're not just telling your audience about the facts. You're helping them to understand how what they're doing makes a difference — and ultimately, how it might make things better for them.
The English Presentation: When you present well, you're not just telling your audience about the facts.
Conclusion
No matter what language you speak, presentation is not just about presenting. It's about presenting well. The only way to make sure you've presented well is to understand how your words and actions influence the people around you — online or in real life. What do they want? What can they contribute?
Remember that when you're translating a documentary on a topic like this (or any other) — show respect for your audience by learning their language and using it to reach them. Do not only translate the words of the film, but also translate its tone, style, and approach.