We’ve all been there – we prepare content for an amazing webinar, have our background set and have locked the door to avoid interruptions from the puppy – and/or the kids.
But then, suddenly, our internet drops out. You can plan as much as possible, but when presenting from your home office, anything can and will happen.
We have put together the following tips to help you and your presenters avoid internet connection hindrance during remote presentations.
1 . Ethernet cable
Wi-Fi connection is unreliable, for the best possible connection, make sure you plug in your laptop or computer device directly into your modem using an ethernet cable. Using the cable will ensure the best internet access available.
2. Minimise all other programs
Multiple Tabs and any programs you have running in the background will slow your connection down. Disconnect from any VPN connections and collaboration tools such as Skype and MS Teams etc. This includes smart devices like Google Home. To achieve the best results, close all side apps and programs and just have your webinar platform running.
3. No other users
When you are presenting from home, it is likely other people living in your household will be accessing the internet simultaneously. Multiple people accessing the internet may overwhelm the connection, resulting in low speed or glitches. Try to negotiate with other users at home beforehand to have the network free for only your device in use.
4. 4G Network
If you have had bad experiences with your home internet in the past and struggled to achieve a reliable connection, try using the 4G network available on your mobile. Your laptop computer can connect to 4G on your phone via hot spotting. Alternatively, you can try using a 4G dongle if one is available.
5. Event Time
The time of day you choose to run your webinar will also have a significant impact on your internet connection. Your provider’s connection supply can fluctuate during different times of the day. Therefore, running events in evenings might impact the quality of your connection as evenings are usually a prime time for internet users in any local hub. Choose your event time wisely for streaming video content considering internet usage peak hours.
If you apply these tips but still find the quality of your video not improving on webinars, there are other streaming options such as the presenter using their telephone for audio while a speaker image is displayed.
For more information on presenting online, take a look at our other articles:
4 Technical Problems Webinar Users Experience — And How to Avoid Them