Unfortunately, Zoom is like all other forms of public speaking. As you are talking, the audience is forgetting what you are saying. In some ways, talking on Zoom is ever worse because there are many more distractions. It’s particularly important to provide…handouts. Speaking on Zoom requires handouts that are appropriate for the medium. Here are five answers to questions that are frequently raised.
- Should I provide my slides as a handout? No. If your slides make sense without you, you weren’t needed. If your slides don’t make sense without you, they won’t make sense later on.
- Should I provide a handout in advance? Maybe. It depends on the purpose of your handout. If you want the audience to follow along, they may need your handout. If you want your handout to serve as a reminder, they can wait until the end of your talk. Providing the handout at the end also can encourage the audience to stay with you until you are finished.
- What is the best way to provide a handout? The best way to provide handouts is to encourage the viewer to take a screenshot of a particular slide or slides. Unfortunately, she or he may not know how to take a screenshot. Here are ways to do it, depending on the device you are using.
- What other ways are there to create a handout? There are two primary ways to create a handout for Zoom users. First, create a webpage that can be printed out. Make it look like a paper page so that the viewer will be encouraged to print it, or create a PDF from it (using Print –> Save as PDF). Second, create a PDF that can be downloaded. Your PDF should summarize your content, not repeat it. A dedicated webpage with a URL that is easy to remember is essential, to make it easy for your audience to find it or be able to jot it down accurately. Adding it to the footer of some slides is very helpful.
- What should my handout include, aside from my content? Any handout you create should include your contact information on it, in addition to your content. If you are creating a PDF, add your contact info to the “footer” of the page so that it appears on every page that you are providing. The last page of your handout can include a bit of your own advertising, perhaps suggesting additional topics that you speak about or where to find your latest book.
You and the best speakers in the world have something in common. As you are speaking, members of your audience are starting to forget what you are saying! It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are. People forget. When speaking on Zoom the problems are magnified. When your Zoom talk is over, you need to help the audience both remember what you said, and also remember you.
Help your viewers remember you…with a handout.