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A Step-by-Step Guide for Confident PowerPoint Presentations with a teleprompter
If you're a frequent presenter or a public speaker, you know how nerve-wracking it can be to deliver a speech without missing a beat. Even if you've rehearsed your presentation multiple times, there's always the possibility of stumbling over your words, losing your place, or forgetting a critical point.
That's where Virtual Teleprompter comes in. With its intuitive and user-friendly interface, this application can help you stay on track and maintain eye contact with your audience while delivering your presentation. And the best part? You can use it in conjunction with PowerPoint, the popular presentation app from Microsoft, to create a seamless and polished presentation.
In this how-to guide, we'll show you step-by-step how to use Virtual Teleprompter with Microsoft PowerPoint, from setting up your teleprompter to syncing it with your presentation. By the end of this article, you'll be ready to take your presentations to the next level with Virtual Teleprompter and Microsoft PowerPoint. Let's get started!
Prerequisites:
1. A computer with Microsoft PowerPoint installed
2. Download the Virtual Teleprompter app from the app store
This guide assumes you have basic knowledge on how to use the Virtual Teleprompter app. If you need detailed instructions for the Virtual Teleprompter, please refer to this guide https://www.vtpapps.com/post/laptop-teleprompter-instructions.
Setting up Microsoft PowerPoint:
1. Launch the PowerPoint app and open your desired presentation.
2. Before you start your presentation in PowerPoint, you need to set the Slideshow settings to be presented in an individual window. Playing in an individual window allows you to access other apps on your computer during the slideshow. To choose this option, go to Slide Show in the ribbon menu > choose Browsed by an individual (window) and press Ok.
The yellow highlighted settings are important to ensure other apps are available for you to use during the Slide Show.
3. To start your presentation in PowerPoint, choose Play > Play Slideshow, then adjust the presentation window to the desired size. Launch the Virtual Teleprompter app and place it on top of Presentation. Position the teleprompter so you have a nice transparent overlay. Take some time to run through the presentation and fine-tune the font size, color and transparency.
Setting up sharing for online meetings
5. Continue reading if you intend on presenting your PowerPoint presentation into an online meeting or webinar such as Zoom, Webex, Teams etc. It is important to use the correct sharing options. Below is an example of sharing PowerPoint into Zoom but Webex and other meeting platforms are much the same. Do not share the Desktop or entire screen - only share the PowerPoint application itself to ensure that any other content on screen remains hidden from the attendees.
Because we have shared the PowerPoint application directly, it will appear full screen on the attendee side.
6. Once you start the sharing, you can preview what is being shared to attendees for your own piece of mind. Expand the preview tile to see what your attendees are viewing.
7. The attendees view (below) will see a full screen of the PowerPoint application and they will have no idea that a teleprompter is being used.
Some tips for setting up your laptop, webcam and Virtual Teleprompter:
Position the webcam at eye level: To ensure that you're looking directly at the camera and making eye contact with your audience, position the webcam at eye level or slightly above it. Avoid looking down or up at the camera, as this can make you appear less engaged with your audience.
Position the teleprompter application over the meeting window so you have a nice transparent overlay. Be careful not to place the teleprompter on top of the meeting controls so you can easily access the mute button, webcam on/off button, screenshare etc.
Adjust the teleprompter speed: If you find yourself looking away from the camera frequently, it may be because the teleprompter speed is too slow or too fast. Adjust the speed to a comfortable pace that allows you to maintain eye contact with the camera while still reading your script.
You can adjust the font size, font color, transparency and also adjust several advanced features for right to left languages.
Use body language: Even when using Virtual Teleprompter, it's important to use body language to engage with your audience. Use hand gestures, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues to convey your message and keep your audience engaged.
Practice, practice, practice: Like any skill, maintaining eye contact with a camera while using Virtual Teleprompter takes practice. Spend time rehearsing your presentation and getting comfortable with the teleprompter, so you can deliver your presentation with confidence and ease.
In conclusion, PowerPoint is a powerful tool that can help you deliver engaging and impactful presentations. When used in conjunction with the Virtual Teleprompter, it can help you maintain eye contact with your audience, reduce stress and anxiety, and create a polished and professional presentation. By following the tips and best practices outlined in this article, you can enhance your presentation skills and deliver a presentation that will leave a lasting impression on your audience. So why not give the Virtual Teleprompter a try today and take your presentations to the next level?
For further instructions please refer to the instructions blog.