Step Up Your Virtual Panel Game with These 7 Expert Tips for Co-Moderation: From Polls to Secret Signals, Here's How to Keep Your Audience Engaged!"

Co-moderating a virtual panel can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be! Imagine having the power to keep your audience engaged from start to finish, while seamlessly communicating with your co-moderator. With these 7 expert tips, you can do just that!

Launch running polls until you have a good sized group. By having short, continuous fun polls, you can create energy and engagement right from the start. This serves as an ice breaker. When most of the people are in place, begin the program.
Restrict the chat to the panelists. This prevents the audience from having side conversations and allows the moderators to send important messages to the panelists.
Call five people and ask for their success stories. Don’t rely on spontaneity when it comes to participation. Most audience members don’t think off the top of their heads. Instead, interview select audience members in advance and ask them to tell you a success story pertaining to the presentation topic. Let them know that you’ll call on them during the panel presentation. This ensures engagement and eliminates long silences or embarrassing surprises because you’ve heard the stories.
Split the delivery of the housekeeping items. It’s more interesting to hear two presenters, as you set expectations and take turns going through the agenda items. Determine who will read which slide and who will do the opening. Read each other’s introduction instead of introducing yourself.
Write down baton passing statements. Nothing screams “Novice” like a choppy panel presentation. Preplan your transitions and summary remarks after each panel presentation. This will create a smooth flow.
Create baseball signals. When you’re not in the same room, it’s difficult to catch your co-moderator’s eye. Create a code word that you can say to alert your partner to check your message in the chat or to at least look at you on the screen. Just like a coach signals to the player what kind of pitch to throw, you can also use a hand signal that only you and the co-moderator understand. The signal could mean to summarize or wrap up or to turn it over to you.
Keep their attention by telling a story and holding the punchline until the end. Many moderators and speakers dread the audience tuning out or leaving early. One way to keep them in their seats or on the screen is to tell a story at the very beginning of the presentation. Then tell them you’ll let them know the punchline at the conclusion of the presentation. Their curiosity will get the better of them.