Revengers: Age of Zoom. Eliminating unconscious distractions. 5 more tips to improve your digital pitches.

You need your business leader to come up with $100,000, so you can start your marketing campaign. She doesn’t look like she is paying attention. She is constantly squinting and adjusting her head. She’s looking bored and clearly not reacting to your comments.

It could be your message, or it could be she is struggling to stay focused due to a handful of things that just don’t seem ‘right’. Your white shirt is an odd shade of yellow, your background is very busy, your features are hard to make out and you seem to be making her feel uncomfortable.

Each of these reactions could be due to unconscious distractions that are artifacts unique to digital interactions. Unconscious, in that they are not obvious, but they make for human interactions that feel odd. For some of you experienced presenters these tips may seem simple or basic, but I still observe these distractions quite often.

Create a conversational experience (6). One of the most common errors is staring down at your audience. Like when your teacher was scolding you, standing above you at your desk. With your laptop sitting on your desk, or bed, and below you, you get the chin-and-ceiling shot. Instead, raise your computer on books to position the camera and top of the screen so they are at your eye level. This will create a more natural and conversational experience. If you still need to type, you can add a separate keyboard.

Increase your visibility (7). While you are adjusting the position of your computer, make sure you are not situated in front of a window. When that happens, your camera is forced to adjust to the bright light outside, putting you into silhouette. Your features are hard to see, especially for older members of your audience with eye disorders which make it more difficult to see contrast. You should reposition your computer or camera, so you face the window making it easy to view your expressions.

The location and type of light can also introduce subtle distractions. If natural light is coming in from the side, casting shadows, it helps to add front light. A couple of desk lamps on either side of your computer can work very well. And use “daylight” light bulbs – which look bluer. Normal soft white light bulbs when mixed with sunlight, cast a yellow glow which the camera will accentuate making you look sickly.

Be the hero of your shot (8). It’s not just what’s in front of you that causes unconscious distractions. Take a picture with your camera and study it. Is there an odd picture on the wall, are there strange trinkets on the table? Does the image match the professional statement you are trying to make? Your surrounding says a lot about you, so make sure you agree with what it says.

I also don’t suggest you use a virtual background. (see image at top of article) The waves lapping on the beach or the Stars in Space may not reinforce your need to raise capital. When you move your hands, strange glimpses of your actual room can pop through. While you’re looking, check for any reflections in your eyeglasses which make it harder for your viewer to see your eyes.

Engage your audience (9). They are watching you or your slides. If you’re busy looking at a second monitor (to read your slides), you are not looking at your audience.

First, make sure all the materials you need are positioned on your main screen, in the center, just below the camera.

You want to minimize the distance between your gaze and the camera. Next shrink the size of your Zoom (or other collaboration app) screen to also be located just under your camera. Both of these adjustments will make it look like you’re making eye contact with your viewer.

Breakdown technology barriers (10). Even if you are remote, you should still look as natural as if you were next to them in a conference room. Avoid large headphones and instead use your computer speakers for sound. If you share your space with other people, use as tiny an earpiece as possible – ear buds can work well with a lapel microphone. The strategy is to remove as many indications of the technology separating you from your audience as possible.

Finally, record yourself giving your talk to spot these unconscious distractions. Recording and watching yourself as a viewer sees you, gives you the opportunity to make final adjustments and practice that important talk a few more times to make it perfect.

To help identify distractions that are more obvious please read: Close encounters of the remote kind. Removing Conscious Distractions, 5 Tips for great remote presentations.