Virtual Event Engagement Strategies

🔕 Design Guidelines For Better Notifications UX (https://lnkd.in/ehgF7Taa), with practical techniques on how to make notifications more useful and less annoying — with snooze mode, by exploring how and when they are triggered and measuring their use (scroll down for the newsletter ↓). 🚫 High frequency of notifications is a very frequent complaint. ✅ Not all notifications are equal: some are more useful than others. ✅ Users value updates from close contacts, transactions, insights. 🤔 Users ignore automated, irrelevant, promotional notifications. ✅ Sending fewer messages can improve long-term product use. ✅ Let users choose notification modes (silent, regular, power). ✅ Suggest switching from push notification to email digests. ✅ Let users snooze, pause, mute if high volume is expected. ✅ Track how often notifications are ignored and acted upon. 🚫 Avoid disruption and notification fatigue by sending less. And most importantly: scrutinize the decision tree to find the right timing to send the right types of notifications. Experiment with wording, timing, grouping and frequency for different user segments. And when in doubt, postpone, rather than sending through. --- 👋🏼 I'm Vitaly Friedman, and you can find useful UX resources on my profile. I’m also running “Smart Interface Design Patterns” 🍣 (https://lnkd.in/d4CNaTxR) with a friendly video library and live UX training. 😊 #ux #design #notifications

Think about the last presentation you sat through. Do you remember anything from it? Probably not. Most presentations fail because they are: ❌ Overloaded with bullet points ❌ Devoid of emotion ❌ Data dumps with no clear story The good news? You can make your presentation unforgettable with these 7 simple shifts: 1. Start with a Hook, Not an Intro Most presenters begin with "I'm excited to be here today..." and lose the audience immediately. Fix: Grab attention from the start. Example: “Your company is losing $10M a year—and you don’t even know why.” 2. Tell a Story, Not Just Data People remember stories, not statistics. Instead of listing facts, wrap them in a compelling narrative. Fix: Use the “Problem → Struggle → Solution” technique. Example: "Before using our system, Sarah’s team spent 3 hours a day on reports. She tried different tools, but nothing worked—until she found our solution. Now? Just 15 minutes a day." 3. Use Contrast & Surprise The brain is wired for novelty. If your presentation sounds predictable, people will tune out. Fix: Vary your tone, pace, and visuals. Drop in an unexpected question, statistic, or pause to keep them engaged. 4. Say Less, Mean More Too much information overloads the audience. They’ll remember nothing. Fix: Cut the fluff. Stick to one core message per slide, per section, per speech. 5. Make It Visual Bullet points don’t inspire. Images and metaphors do. Fix: Instead of saying “Our product is faster,” show a race car next to a bicycle. 6. End with a Bang, Not a Fizzle Most presentations end with “Thank you” and no real impact. Fix: Leave them with one key idea and a clear next step. Example: “If you only take away one thing today, let it be this…” 7. Master the Pause Most speakers talk too fast and leave no room for ideas to sink in. Fix: Silence is power. Pause after key points to let them land. 💡 A great presentation isn’t about information—it’s about transformation. Make your next one impossible to forget. What’s the most memorable presentation you’ve ever seen? Drop a comment below! ⬇

In a world where attention is fleeting and virtual fatigue is real, how can you successfully host online events? Here are 9 essentials to keep in mind: 1. Start with a Compelling Opening Your opening should grab attention, set the tone, build anticipation and give people a reason to stay. 2. Make Eye Contact Look directly into the camera to create a sense of connection. If you're using a teleprompter or script, keep it at eye level to maintain that engagement. 3. Mind Your Facial Expression People are paying close attention to your face. They can see when you’re smiling, or when you appear bored, upset, or frustrated. Be conscious of your expression. 4. Manage Your Energy Your energy drives the entire experience. If you seem disengaged or flat, your audience will tune out. 5. Build Emotional Connections Use personal stories, relatable examples, and analogies. These human elements help your message resonate on a deeper level. 6. Engage the Audience Make your audience part of the experience. Use polls, Q&A, or chat prompts to keep them actively involved. 7. Be Clear and Concise Attention spans online are shorter. Get to the point quickly, and use clear language. 8. Use Visual Aids and Multimedia Use images, short videos, graphics, and animations that support your message. However, don’t overload your slides with text. 9. Check Your Tech Setup Poor lighting, audio, camera quality, or an unstable internet connection can lead to frustration and reduced participation. Test in advance. Hope this helps. I’m Temi Badru, a professional event MC for physical, virtual, and hybrid events. I also train individuals and teams in public speaking and effective communication. #temibadru #voicesandfaces #eventhost #mc #moderator #speaker #events

If your audience didn’t feel anything… you didn’t give a speech. You gave a TEDx audition. The best speakers don’t just inform or entertain. They move people emotionally. Case in point: that viral Thai ad “The Dog” by Kiatnakin Bank. No dialogue. No celebrities. Yet millions cried. Why? Because it tapped into something universal: human emotion. So… how do you do that as a speaker? After 15 years of speaking in 39 countries to half a million people, here's how I evoke emotions in my audience. 1. Choose the emotional entry point, not just the story. Every speech has two beginnings: - the first line you say - and the first feeling your audience registers Before you write anything, ask: “What’s the emotional state they’re in right now?” Are they burned out? Feeling stuck? Hopeful but scared? Then ask: “What emotion do I want them to leave with?” When those two emotions connect, where they are and where you want to take them, your speech becomes a journey, not a monologue. 2. Use emotional contrast, not just chronology. So instead of storytelling like “this happened, then this…” (boring!) Build it like a movie trailer. What creates suspense? Contrast. Here’s how I structure it now: Before the storm - Life was okay… or so I thought... The disruption - Something happened I didn’t see coming... The emotional cost - I didn’t just lose money/time/status, I lost sleep, confidence, myself... The turning moment - And then suddenly... (a moment of truth, a wise mentor, or a shift in perspective) changed everything The ripple effect - That shift led to action, small at first, but it created a wave of momentum, and the results started to follow (yay!) The transfer – And here’s what that means for you. This format works because it mirrors the emotions of transformation and that’s what people want to feel. 3. Give emotional language, not just a moral. Most speakers end with “So… never give up.” (boring!!) But audiences can’t act on vague encouragement. What they need is emotional vocabulary. Say: “If you’re in that same dark place… you don’t need motivation. You need clarity. And here’s how I found mine...” or “Maybe today you’re like how I was, smiling on the outside yet quietly panicking inside.” Insight lands when people feel seen. 4. Don't just end hope. Instill self-belief in them. Our job as speakers isn't to impress the room. Our job is to transfer belief and courage so they are empowered to make the necessary changes even after you have left the stage. Here's how I do it. I say: “You don’t need my story to be inspired. You need to see yourself in my story. And if a guy who used to panic before every speech can now speak globally… I promise, there’s more in you than you know.” Remember, your audience will likely forget what you say but they will never forget how you make them FEEL. This is how you get asked back again and again! #publicspeaking #getpaidtospeak

Good product design is about reducing unnecessary cognitive load. Every push notification I get is a touchpoint but when timed well, it adds value. When mistimed, it can feel out of place. It’s not about reducing notifications but about making them more context-aware. That’s why personally I find FastingMode on Swiggy so interesting. It doesn’t remove notifications, it simply gives users the choice to pause food-related ones during fasting hours. A tiny tweak, but one that makes the experience feel more user-first. From a product and UX standpoint, here’s why it works: 👉 Intent-driven activation: The feature is surfaced contextually instead of buried in settings. 👉 Non-disruptive design: No forced pop-ups or alerts, just an option available when needed. 👉 User-centric approach: Prioritizes experience over default engagement metrics. Good tech isn’t just about building more features. Sometimes, the best engineering decision is knowing when to stay out of the way. 😉 #marketing #networking #connections LinkedIn LinkedIn News

One great presentation can do what multiple applications can't. Over the years, my presentations have earned awards, speaking invitations, and opportunities I never applied for. Most recently, at MAA MathFest 2024, someone from the audience approached me and said: "Your talk was so engaging. You made such a complex topic accessible." On the spot, he invited me to speak to high school students in Chicago. Full expenses paid + speaker fee. Here is the framework I use every single time... (You might want to save this.) 1. Know your audience before you make a single slide → Kids? Public? Policy makers? Academics? → Your job is to design your talk to suit them. → Picture one person in the audience, let's call them "Bola." 2. Map out the entire talk first → Write the takeaway from each slide in one sentence. → Connect each slide logically to the next. → Ask yourself: Will Bola digest this information? 3. Ditch the jargon → Would Bola understand this? → If not, go back to the drawing board. → Use simple, plain English. 4. Make it visual → One message per slide. Big font. Bullet points. → Use visuals or illustrations instead of text (if possible.)  → The moment your audience starts reading your slides, you've lost them. 5. Practice as you build each slide → After creating each slide, ask: What will I say here? → This reveals what to add, remove, or fix as you go. → Once done, practice the full presentation again. 6. Never read off your slides during delivery → Deliver like you're telling a story. → Everything on screen is just supporting visuals. → Know your slides inside out. Keep eye contact. 7. Use your body language intentionally → Don't stare at the ceiling, ground, or stand frozen. → Your movement and energy speak louder than words. → This automatically communicates confidence and authority. Great presentations aren’t about showing how smart you are. They’re about making your audience feel something... curiosity, clarity, and inspiration. That’s what makes you memorable. And that’s what opens doors. --- PS: What's ONE thing that's helped you improve your presentations? PPS: Want to see this framework in action? Link to the Chicago talk is in the comments. ♻️ REPOST if this was useful. Thanks!

Regardless of how great your ideas are in your virtual sales pitch, webinar, or team meeting… People are most likely checking their email, browsing social media, or working on other things while you present. How can you prevent that and actually get your audience to pay attention? Here are 4 of the most powerful techniques we use for our own virtual training courses: 1. Win the first five seconds According to research from the University of Toronto, people need only five seconds to gauge your charisma and leadership as a speaker. In virtual environments, this first impression is even more critical. To establish instant rapport: - Keep your posture open and inviting (avoid fidgeting, crossed arms, and closed-off postures) - Use open gestures that welcome the audience into your space - Gesture with your palms showing at a 45-degree angle - Speak with clear articulation and energy from the very first word The quickest way to lose your audience? Starting with tentative body language that signals you’re unsure or unprepared. 2. Design your presentation for virtual viewing When designing slides, assume varied viewing conditions. Design for the smallest likely device and the slowest likely Internet speed. Make your slides accessible by: - Using larger fonts (24-32pt) - Applying higher contrast colors - Limiting each slide to ONE clear idea - Adding more space between lines when using smaller text - Stripping excess content (you can provide additional information in a separate document) 3. Vary your delivery Our research shows the optimal length for linear presentations is just 16-30 minutes, while interactive ones can maintain engagement for 30-45 minutes. People’s attention will go through peaks and valleys during that time, so try these techniques to keep their attention: - Vary your speaking pace (faster to convey urgency, slower to express gravity) - Use intentional pauses to let key points land - Adjust your vocal tone (lower pitch for authority, higher for approachability) - Shift between slides, stories, and data at regular intervals Each change helps reset your audience’s attention and signals importance. 4. Build in structured interaction Don’t make your audience wait until the end of your presentation to interact. According to our research, presentations that incorporate audience engagement through polls, chat responses, or breakout discussions maintain attention longer. For the highest engagement: - Use a variety of interaction types throughout your presentation - Incorporate breakout rooms for small-group discussions - Switch modalities regularly to keep it interesting Remember: In virtual environments, you need to recreate the natural engagement that happens in person. Your virtual presentation success isn’t measured by perfection…it’s measured by action. Master these techniques and your audience won’t just pay attention, they’ll respond. #VirtualPresentations #CorporateTraining #WorkplaceLearning

🌟Behind the Scenes of Public Speaking 🌟 I've often received messages complimenting me on how my public appearances and addresses come across as being effortless. As senior representatives of the larger industry and our organisation, we’re often invited to speak at events and share our insights on stage or in front of a camera. The first time going up on an imposing stage in front of an audience, or the first time facing a camera, can be overwhelming to anyone. But remember, while it may seem like public speaking comes naturally to some, this ability isn’t necessarily innate—it can be practised, honed, and carefully crafted over time. What appears effortless on stage is often times a product of deliberate preparation. Sharing the 5 principles I follow to ensure my presentations are impactful: 🗒 In-Depth Research: Mastering the subject matter is crucial. This is a continuous process and needs dedication. I dive deep into data, trends, and case studies regularly, to make sure I have relevant and compelling insights at my fingertips - and not just for a speaking engagement. ➡ Deliberate Practice: Rehearsing just before an engagement will only take you so far. It’s about refining your delivery style, flow of thoughts and anticipating transitions, over a period of time. Only then will you truly own the material - so that it feels completely natural. 🗣 Personalised Delivery: The best speeches are the ones that mirror natural conversations. So, as you delve into the exercise of learning and practising public speaking, you will find that the best way to structure what you have to say, is to keep it as close as possible to your natural conversation style. This approach fosters authenticity, ensuring the message lands in a way that feels completely you. 👥 Audience-centric Approach: Understanding who you are speaking to —what they care about, what challenges they face, what is relevant to the context of the engagement — will help you fine-tune and tailor your message for maximum impact. 🔄 Continuous Refinement: Actively seek feedback after each and every talk, in order to continuously refine your technique. This cycle of reflection and improvement is key to evolving as a communicator. The magic of public speaking often lies in the unseen hours of preparation that goes before it. What seems effortless in public is, in fact, shaped before and after the actual delivery.

How would you design a system to send 1 million notifications during a big sale event? You can't just loop through a million users and call your notification API for each one. That would take forever, overload your servers, and almost certainly hit your provider's rate limits. The real design starts with decoupling. Instead of sending notifications directly, you publish each notification request to a message queue, something like Kafka or RabbitMQ. This separates deciding who needs to be notified from actually delivering it, so your main application stays fast and doesn't sit around waiting on a slow provider. On the other side of that queue, a pool of worker services picks up messages and sends the actual notifications. During a big event like a sale, you scale up the number of workers to handle the load, and scale them back down once things settle. Rate limiting matters more here than people expect. Every notification provider has a limit on how many requests you can send per second, and ignoring that gets you throttled or blocked entirely. So your workers send at a controlled pace instead of trying to flood the provider all at once. Batching helps too. Most push notification providers let you send to multiple device tokens in a single API call instead of one call per user, which is far more efficient at this scale. Failures also need a real plan. Some notifications will fail, an invalid token, a temporary provider error, a timeout. Instead of blocking the pipeline, those failed messages go into a retry queue and get retried with exponential backoff, and after enough failed attempts, they move to a dead letter queue instead of getting stuck forever. And realistically, users don't need all 1 million notifications delivered in the exact same second. Spreading delivery over a short window keeps your systems and the provider's systems healthy, and nobody notices a difference of a few seconds anyway. Queue it, throttle it, batch it, retry what fails intelligently. That's the actual system behind that notification you get the second a sale goes live.

𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 After managing more than 50 tech events of different scales, one observation has become consistently clear: people no longer attend events, especially in person, just to listen. They attend to interact. In an era where most talks can be watched on demand, long monotone speeches or tightly controlled panels with no room for questions struggle to justify physical attendance. According to multiple event industry studies, audience attention drops significantly after 10 to 15 minutes of uninterrupted speaking, and more than 70 percent of event attendees cite interaction and networking as their primary reason for showing up in person. Yet, paradoxically, Q and A sessions remain one of the hardest parts to manage. Live microphones, time pressure, off topic questions, and unequal participation can quickly derail an agenda. Still, removing Q and A altogether is not the solution. Tools like Slido or Kahoot have proven to be effective compromises. They allow participants to ask questions asynchronously, vote on what matters most to the room, and help moderators prioritize relevance over spontaneity. In practice, this often leads to better questions, broader participation, and more focused discussions. Another key point worth reconsidering is that events should maximize impact for attendees, not only visibility for organizers or speakers. When formats are designed primarily around stage time rather than audience value, engagement drops, both during the event and afterward. This is not a call for radical change, but for thoughtful adjustment. Shorter, sharper interventions. Built in interaction moments. Structured, tech enabled Q and A. Formats that respect why people actually show up. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. #events #tech #ai #impacr #community