Endings and beginnings are more important than middles. This is particularly true in virtual instruction where you are not physically present to excite your audience. Beginning on a high note and ending with a Bang will not happen by accident! You need to plan for it. After years of successfully developing and presenting virtual instruction, I have found that the foundation of a firecracker virtual training class are lighting rod introduction and summary scripts.

This and the next few blogs contain examples that support training in a variety of industries and disciplines.

Before we begin, here are some practical hints for creating introductions that capture participants’ attention and summarize your virtual learning classes with a bang.

Introductions that Gain Attention and Establish Relevance

• Never begin a session by asking attendees to introduce themselves. It is boring.
• Begin with a very strong introduction. This introduction should underscore the relevancy of your virtual class. It should be scripted and memorized. Your introduction should capture the essence of your virtual session and the attention of the audience.
• Demonstrate that your class will be “different.” At the beginning of your class, demonstrate your interactive and casual style and your intention to be unique. Within the first five minutes of your session, have your producer or moderator ask a planted and provoking question; one that you have prepare beforehand. Then answer it gracefully and honestly. Attendees will generally not ask questions until see it is safe to do so. This will allay their fears.
• Use more than just words. Have attendees experience the importance of your topic. Use stories, current events, cartoons, movies, newspaper articles, or television clips.

Summaries that End your Session with a Bang

• Never end your virtual instruction with a Question-and-Answer Session. You need to end your session with an inspirational finale and a call to action. Nothing is more deflating than then a question-and-answer session. Answer questions throughout your session or early in your ending.
• Address their yearning or hurt. If your virtual class was meant to address a problem or a yearning, do not simply remind them of that fact. Get them to feel it. Creating a feeling rather than describing it is the difference between standard writing and poetry.
• Be helpful. Display your e-mail or Web address for at least 30 seconds toward the end of your session. This will convince attendees that you really do want them to contact you if they have any questions. Be sure to respond to any questions within 24 hours or less.

Following are samples scripts of an introduction and summary for a virtual instruction session to introduce a new product in the high-technology sector.

Samples Scripts

Introduction

For the past two years, our competitors have been eating our lunch. They have been eroding our customer base by exciting people with their feeds and speeds. Finally, our laboratory has developed a new technology that not only beats them at their own game, but provides our high-capacity customers with unparalleled value: twice the speed at half the price.

During this short virtual training class, I, joined by a few of your product managers, will unveil this new technology and its associated products. We will also provide you with materials that will document our claims and their value to your clients.

Now, before we go on, please share some important information with me by sending me a chat or message answering the following question. “What are your customers’ grandest dreams for virtual storage?”

Summary

Thank you all for attending this virtual learning experience. I hope that I was able to convince you of the value and benefits of this important step forward for Hatsi. Within the next 24 hours, you will receive a personal call from a member of our product development team, who will speak with you on a case-by-case basis about how this compelling new technology will address the specific needs of your top ten clients. Please take a moment now to note what you find most compelling about our new technology, how using this suite of new products will provide value to each of your top customers, and what detailed information you would find helpful in selling them Hatsi’s products incorporating this new technology.

Thank you very much for your time. My e-mail address is myemail@mycompany.com. I will be sending you a short evaluation sheet. Please answer the questions frankly. They are just for me and will not be shared with anyone else. Of course, kindly contact me if you have any questions now or in the future.

Please disconnect from this presentation.

I hope that you find these ideas useful. I would enjoy hearing from you. Please send me a note using the “Contact Us” tab on my website https://www.fttraining.com/