Mastering Presenting Online: 9 Essential Virtual Presentation Skills

Updated November 2025

How do you present better online? What are the top online presentation tips? How to give an online presentation? What do you need to know about virtual presentation skills? Mastering online presentation skills is no longer just a useful — it’s a necessity.

Meet the Author: Benjamin Ball

Ben is the founder of Benjamin Ball Associates and leads the presentation coaching and pitch deck creation teams. Formerly a corporate financier in the City of London, for 20+ years he’s helped businesses win with better pitches and presentations, particularly investor pitches. He is a regular speaker and a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School and UCL London.  Follow Ben on LinkedIn or visit the contact page. 

How to Present Online: 9 Expert Tips to Sharpen Your Virtual Presentation Skills

Presenting online has become part of daily business life. Whether you’re leading a board update on Teams, pitching investors on Zoom or running a client webinar, your virtual presentation skills shape how people see you.

If your online meetings lack energy or your audience seems distracted, you’re not alone. Presenting through a screen is different from being in the room, and it needs a more deliberate approach. These nine practical tips will help you present online with confidence, clarity and impact.

This is all based on the 15+ years of experience that we have at Benjamin Ball Associates where we coach executives for better public speaking and presentation skills – whether face-to-face or virtually.

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1. Keep your message simple and clear

When you present online, people’s attention drifts easily. You’re competing with inboxes, phones and everyday distractions. That means your message must be easy to follow.

Remember, when you speak to people virtually, it should feel intimate – even if you are speaking to 100, each person is by themselves in their own environment.

• Lead with your key point early.
• Use short sentences and plain language.
• Pause regularly to let ideas land.

Think of it as speaking to one person, not a crowd. Simplicity helps your audience stay with you.

2. Look into the camera – not at the screen

Eye contact builds trust, even virtually. The trick is to speak to the camera lens rather than to people’s faces on your screen. It feels unnatural at first, but it makes you appear more confident and engaged.

Practical tip: Position your camera at eye level and close to your notes or slides. You’ll look natural while maintaining genuine “eye contact” with your audience.

3. Bring energy to your delivery

Flat delivery kills online presentations. Your voice, pace and facial expression need more life than they would in a meeting room.

A simple way to make your voice more interesting for virtual presentations: vary your tone, add warmth, many pauses and sound enthusiastic. A little animation goes a long way. Smile as you speak and let your personality come through.

People will respond to your energy.

4. Check your background and surroundings

Your environment says a lot about you. Make sure your background supports your credibility rather than distracts from it.

A neutral wall, tidy shelves or a branded backdrop works well. Avoid clutter, movement, or bright light behind you. Everything in the frame should look professional.

Pro tip: Record yourself for 30 seconds and check what your audience sees. Adjust lighting, camera height and framing until it looks right.

5. Use lighting to your advantage

Good lighting makes a huge difference. Natural light from in front of you works best. If that’s not possible, use a soft LED or ring light.

Avoid sitting with a window behind you — it will cast you into shadow. Your audience should see your face clearly and feel they’re speaking to a real person, not a silhouette.

6. Dress the part

Dress as you would for an in-person meeting with the same audience. Solid colours work better than patterns, and simple, clean lines look professional on camera.

It’s not just about appearance — dressing for the occasion helps you get into the right mindset. When you look ready, you perform better.

7. Engage your audience deliberately

In virtual settings, people can hide behind blank screens. Keep them involved by inviting participation and using their names. Ask questions. Pause for reactions.

If you’re delivering a longer presentation, build in short interactions — polls, Q&A, or a quick discussion point. Engagement isn’t automatic online; you have to design it into your presentation.

8. Practise your virtual presentation

Even experienced speakers need to rehearse for online delivery. Test your slides, timing, and technology before the day. Record yourself, then review your tone, pace and energy levels.

Rehearsal also gives you confidence that your tech will behave — you’ll know how to share your screen, mute participants, or switch between slides without fumbling.

9. End with clarity and purpose

Don’t let your presentation fade away. Finish with a strong summary and a clear next step. Tell your audience exactly what you want them to remember or do.

Then pause and thank them — it leaves a professional final impression.

CASE STUDY – Virtual Presenting at Columbia Business School

Every year, I teach a class at Columbia Business School.  I do this as a Virtual Presentation, with me at my desk in the UK and participants either at a Columbia lecture room or at home. 

To make this work smoothly, the professor in the US acts as a facilitator for the class at Columbia.  Being in the room, they introduce the session, they pick questions, read the online chat bar and do any local coordination.  In the UK, I can work on engaging the audience, sharing important information and answering questions from the audience.

As a result, we run a lively, interactive session that is regularly rated as amongst the most popular on the executive MBA programme. 

Build stronger virtual presentation skills

The more you present online, the more natural it becomes. Each time, refine something — your setup, your tone, or your structure. Small improvements quickly build into real authority.

If you’d like professional coaching to improve how you present online, our team can help. We’ve coached thousands of executives and business leaders to deliver with clarity, confidence and credibility — both in person and virtually.

How to Become Really Impressive When You Present Online

If you want support to present online with impact, our team can support you either face-to-face or remotely via Zoom / Video Conference.

Call us today to discuss how we an help you. Either pick up the phone to Louise Angus on +44 207 018 0922 or click on the button below.

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Why Choose Us:
Transform your pitches and presentations with tailored coaching

We can help you present brilliantly. Thousands of people have benefitted from our tailored in-house coaching and advice – and we can help you too.

“I honestly thought it was the most valuable 3 hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.”

Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky

For 15+ years we’ve been the trusted choice for leading businesses and executives throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East. We’ll help you improve corporate presentations through presentation coaching, public speaking training and expert advice on pitching to investors.

Some recent clients

Unlock your full potential and take your presentations to the next level.

Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.

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Quick FAQ: Virtual Presentation Skills & Presenting Online

1. What makes a great online presentation?

A successful online presentation is clear, engaging and interesting. Keep your message simple, speak naturally and maintain good eye contact with the camera. Check your sound, lighting and background in advance — and rehearse so you appear calm and confident. Strong messages and concise structure help your audience stay with you.

2. How should I prepare for a Zoom or Teams presentation?

Treat it as you would any important meeting. Know who’s attending, what matters to them and what you want them to remember. Test your technology, internet connection and slides beforehand. Choose a quiet, well-lit space and close all unnecessary apps or notifications. A short run-through will help you settle your timing and flow.

3. Which platform is best for presenting online?

It depends on your audience and purpose. Zoom and Microsoft Teams work well for most business meetings and webinars. Google Meet and Webex are solid alternatives. What matters most is that you’re confident using the features: screen sharing, chat, breakout rooms, and that your audience can join easily.

4. How can I keep people engaged during a virtual presentation?

Engagement doesn’t happen automatically online. Keep your energy high and vary your pace. Speak as if you’re talking directly to one person. Ask questions by name, invite chat comments, or run a quick poll. Build moments for interaction throughout your session, not just at the end.

5. What should I do if something goes wrong technically?

Stay composed. Technical issues happen to everyone. If your sound or slides fail, tell your audience what’s happening and continue speaking while you fix it. Always have a backup plan — for instance, switching to audio only or emailing the deck. A calm response reinforces your professionalism.

6. How can I make my slides more effective for virtual delivery?

Slides should support you, not distract. Keep them clean and uncluttered. Use large fonts, minimal text and clear visuals. Avoid reading directly from your slides — instead, talk around the key point. If possible, include a moment where you turn slides off and speak directly to the camera; it strengthens the connection.

7. How should I handle questions in an online presentation?

Decide in advance how you’ll manage Q&A. You can take questions as you go or save them for the end. If someone types a question in the chat, acknowledge it briefly so they know you’ve seen it. Repeat questions before answering — it helps everyone follow. Always finish your session with your own closing message, not the last question.

8. How can I end a virtual presentation professionally?

End with clarity. Summarise your key message, state the next step, and thank your audience. If appropriate, share your contact details or follow up afterwards with slides or a short summary email. A confident ending leaves a stronger impression than a rushed goodbye.

9. What’s the best way to improve my virtual presentation skills?

Keep practising. Record yourself and review what works and what doesn’t. Watch experienced presenters and notice how they use pace, pauses and tone. Ask for feedback from a trusted colleague or a presentation coach. Structured coaching can dramatically improve how you come across online.

Final thoughts: Own your virtual stage

Whether you’re presenting to one person or a thousand, mastering how you’re presenting online is a differentiator. With deliberate preparation and the right mindset, you elevate your virtual presentation skills from okay to outstanding.

If you’d like help refining your technique or crafting your next online presentation with impact, I’m always here to talk. Let’s connect.

Call us today to discuss how we an help you. Either pick up the phone to Louise Angus on +44 207 018 0922 or click on the button below.

Speak to an expert. Get a free consultation

Read our Ultimate Guide to Business Presentations