---
title: "Part 2: Ways to Support and Guide Speakers for Virtual Events"
description: Planning a virtual event. What you need to know to have a successful virtual event. Speaker tips for virtual events.
image: https://insights.yesandagency.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Yesand-Virtual-Event-Speaker-Hero-Image-v2-3.jpg
---
[ ](https://yesandcommcore.com/)
[ ](https://yesandagency.com/)
[Back](https://insights.yesandagency.com)
[Virtual Events](https://insights.yesandagency.com/tag/virtual-events) , [Announcement](https://insights.yesandagency.com/tag/announcement)
# Tips for Virtual Speakers: Part 2
**Sara Rassi
## SHARE
- [ Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-two&text=Tips%20for%20Virtual%20Speakers:%20Part%202)
- [ Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-two)
- [ Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-two)
In this second blog of a three-part series, we’re looking at ways to support and guide speakers for virtual events. We first looked at the recommendations in and around the [**physical spaces**](https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-one) of the speakers, so now let’s turn our attention to how they present online.
# The Presentation
****
Regardless of whether it’s their first speaking engagement or 100th, the atmosphere speakers lose from being in front of an audience matters. And they no longer benefit from having an audience's undivided attention in a ballroom, dramatic lighting, or focal point of being on a stage and able to walk around. The burden of keeping people engaged falls more on your speakers than ever. There are some practical things to remember much like you would for a real event, and some additional tips for the virtual setting:
**Clothing**
Think about how you want your speaker to dress. You may want them to wear what you’d expect at a live event. Or perhaps you’re ok with them being a bit more informal. Be clear and set expectations up front. Much like a live event, you want speakers to at least stay away from busy patterns.
**Personality**
If your speakers feed off of a live audience, this is going to be interesting for them. Even if your speakers don’t, this is still going to be interesting for them. They will need to work harder to appear dynamic on screen. It will feel like an exaggerated version of themselves, but trust us, it’s not. If you’re pre-recording their segment, make sure someone is there to provide feedback. If they will be live, provide rehearsal and coach them then.
**Positioning**
For the best viewing and framing of the video, have them center themselves in the middle of the screen.
**Eye Contact**
Making eye contact with the camera is going to be especially important in keeping the audience engaged. And it will look more polished. A few specific tips:
- If they have notes or a full script, make sure they are pulled up on the screen where the camera is. You don’t want them looking down or away to a second monitor pulling the focus away from the audience.
- Ask them to position their device at eye level, even propping up the laptop using books if they have to.
**Rehearsals**
Rehearsals are important for any live event, and even more important for a virtual one. Make sure you have at least one to two rehearsals for your speakers. These are the things you want to make sure is covered:
- Understand the process from start to finish, where they log in, how to use chat and Q&A functions, etc.
- Have all necessary software downloaded.
- Run through presentations from beginning to end. This is particularly helpful if there are different forms of content (slides, polling, video) that need to be cued up at various points of the presentation.
- A full run-through for all live components, particularly to rehearse the transitions.
**Day-of**
Tell your speakers to login at least 10-15 minutes head of their scheduled time to speak. Having a separate virtual green room will allow speakers time to arrive early and have all their tech ready to go so you can start on time.
So we’ve nailed down the space and presentation...let’s turn our attention to perhaps the most important element of all, the **[technology](https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-three). **
### SUBSCRIBE TO THE AMPERSAND NEWSLETTER FOR INSIGHTS FROM YES&:
Yes& is the Washington, DC-based marketing agency that brings commercial, association, and government clients the unlimited power of “&” – using a full suite of branding, digital, event, marketing, public relations, and creative capabilities to deliver meaningful and measurable results.
[**Let’s talk**](https://www.yesandagency.com/contact-us) about **what the power of "&" **can do for you.
## SHARE
- [ Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-two&text=Tips%20for%20Virtual%20Speakers:%20Part%202)
- [ Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-two)
- [ Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-two)
- [Previous Article](https://insights.yesandagency.com/making-a-pr-splash-for-marine-environmental-protection)
- [Next Article](https://insights.yesandagency.com/yes-helps-akima-win-prestigious-hermes-creative-award)
Sara Rassi
## More Insights
You might also like these articles. Sign up for our monthly newsletter for updates, insights and general tomfoolery.
SUBSCRIBE
[ News Announcement Yes& General
## Yes&’s Latest Acquisition is Legendary DC Agency Williams Whittle
**Yes&
Yes& embraces firm’s 55+ years of nonprofit expertise
](https://insights.yesandagency.com/williamswhittle-acquisition)
[ News Announcement Yes& General
## Yes& Deepens B2B Capabilities with the Acquisition of Beacon Digital Marketing
**Yes&
Clients Gain Access to Enhanced Digital Strategy and Execution as Beacon Joins Yes&
](https://insights.yesandagency.com/beacon-acquisition)
[ Announcement Yes& General
## Yes& Promotes Debbie Bates-Schrott to Chief Marketing Officer
**Yes&
New role for marketing expert comes after serving as SVP since 2021.
](https://insights.yesandagency.com/debbiebatesschrottcmo)
[ Announcement Yes& General
## Yes& Launches Yes& Federal
**Yes&
Andy Blenkle appointed President to expand government practice .
](https://insights.yesandagency.com/yesandfederallaunch)
## Let's Chat!
You’ve got challenges. We’ve got imagination. Let’s achieve your goals together.
[CONTACT US](https://yesandagency.com/contact)
You’ve got challenges
## We’ve got imagination
[ Let's Connect ](https://yesandagency.com/contact/)
1700 Diagonal Road, Ste. 700,
Alexandria, VA 22314
[(703) 823-1600](tel:7038231600)
You need expert advice
## Read our newsletter
[ Let's Connect ](https://yesandagency.com/contact/)
Follow us
You want proof
## We've got awards
© 2026 Yes&. All Rights Reserved.
### Thanks for joining the Yes& mailing list!
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Sara Rassi",
"url" : "https://insights.yesandagency.com/author/sara-rassi"
},
"dateModified" : "2025-04-22T20:23:55.888Z",
"datePublished" : "2020-07-21T04:00:00.000Z",
"headline" : "Part 2: Ways to Support and Guide Speakers for Virtual Events",
"image" : [ "https://insights.yesandagency.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Yesand-Virtual-Event-Speaker-Hero-Image-v2-3.jpg" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://insights.yesandagency.com/tips-for-virtual-speakers-part-two",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://insights.yesandagency.com/hubfs/Yes&_OneColor_White.png"
},
"name" : "Yes&"
}
}
```