7 Body Language Tips for Powerful Public Speaking

Your webinar content is spot on. Your slides are polished. But when you step in front of the camera, something feels off. Attendees seem disengaged, and your message isn't landing with the impact you expected.

The problem? Your body language. Your physical presence and nonverbal cues are a major factor in how audiences perceive you and process your message.

In this article, I’ll walk through how to master public speaking body language so you can create genuine connections with the audience and deliver webinars and virtual events that get results.

Key takeaways:

• Viewers rate speakers similarly whether watching with sound or on mute, showing the importance of physical presence and body gestures in public speaking.
• Proper posture, purposeful hand movements, and strategic facial expressions become your primary tools for engagement when you're on camera.
• Looking directly at your camera lens instead of your screen creates the impression of eye contact with webinar attendees.

Why body language is so important for public speaking

Within seconds, webinar attendees start to form impressions about your credibility, confidence, and expertise. These perceptions can take shape before you even begin speaking — and they can affect engagement and conversions during and after the event.

Your impact comes from what you say and how you appear

Research shows the power of nonverbal communication in public speaking. In a study by Science of People, 760 people watched hundreds of hours of TED Talks, rating how much they liked the speakers.

Interestingly, viewers gave speakers similar ratings, whether they watched the TED Talks with audio or without sound. This shows that how you move, gesture, and carry yourself on camera tells your audience as much about your expertise and trustworthiness as the words you say.

Virtual presentations amplify every movement

Webinars and virtual events put every element of your stage presence in the spotlight. Your upper body fills the screen, which makes every gesture, expression, and fidget obvious to webinar attendees.

This makes body language even more important during online events. Since you can't move around a stage or connect with individual faces in the audience, your posture, gestures, and facial expressions become your primary tools for building rapport and maintaining engagement.

How to improve your public speaking body language

With the right techniques, you can improve your body language and deliver more powerful speeches and presentations.

1. Perfect your posture and stance

Pay attention to your body posture in public speaking settings. Pauline Mura, Livestorm Senior Marketing Partnerships Manager, recommends sitting up straight with your shoulders back and both feet on the floor. This projects confidence on camera and allows you to move naturally as you speak.

Position yourself close enough to your camera so your torso is visible. But make sure you’re far enough back that your hand and arm gestures stay in the frame.

Avoid slouching or leaning too far forward. Both movements make you appear overly casual for a B2B webinar.

2. Make strategic eye contact

Eye contact builds trust and keeps webinar audiences engaged. But maintaining eye contact in a virtual setting is a little different from being on stage.

Look directly into the camera lens, not at the screen or your own video feed. This way, you essentially make eye contact with your audience on their devices.

Place a sticky note near your camera to help maintain focus during longer presentations. For example, add a reminder that says "LOOK HERE" next to the camera lens.

To make this easier, Pauline suggests, “have the camera positioned at eye level or just slightly above.”

3. Use purposeful hand gestures

Natural hand movements support what you have to say and add visual interest. Use gestures to make key points or illustrate concepts. For optimal visibility on camera, keep movements between your shoulders and waist.

Avoid repetitive gestures or pointing directly at audience members. Instead, use open palm gestures that feel welcoming and inclusive to the audience.

4. Be aware of your facial expressions

Your face should reflect your message's tone and energy. Pauline recommends making an effort to smile so you appear energetic and likable. It’s also important to show concern during serious topics and express enthusiasm for exciting developments.

Practice in front of a mirror to identify any unconscious expressions that might contradict your message. Record yourself to see how your facial expressions translate to your audience's perspective.

5. Move with purpose during virtual presentations

When you're on camera, your range of movement is more limited than it would be on a physical stage. But you can still move with purpose and practice positive body language:

• Use head turns and upper body movements to emphasize points and make transitions between topics.
• Lean slightly forward when making important points to engage your virtual audience.
• Pause and look directly at the camera to create moments of connection.

Remember that any movement outside the camera frame is invisible to your audience. So, keep all meaningful gestures and movements within your visible space.

6. Adjust your body language for the audience

The same communication style won't necessarily work for every audience. While executives might respond well to controlled, professional body language, creative industry attendees might appreciate more dynamic, expressive movements.

When planning your presentation style, consider your audience's background and communication preferences. Get to know your audience beforehand and adapt to match their expectations while staying authentic to your natural communication style.

7. Practice your body language while speaking

Rehearse your presentation while focusing on more confident body language. Practice in front of colleagues, record yourself, or use a mirror to identify areas for improvement.

Use Livestorm's webinar software to host a webinar dry run before the big event. This way, you can get instant feedback from cohosts or other presenters.

Pay attention to the nervous habits that emerge when you're under pressure. Awareness is the first step toward looking (and feeling) more confident.

Avoid these common virtual body language mistakes

Even experienced webinar hosts sometimes struggle with how they present themselves on camera. Watch for these common mistakes and use our body language advice to improve your nonverbal communication.

Nervous habits that distract from your message

Pen clicking, hair touching, and fidgeting all pull attention away from your webinar content. These habits can signal uncertainty, which can affect how audiences view your authority.

To limit distracting body language, create a short pre-webinar checklist. Start by removing items that you might fidget with from your desk. Then, practice smooth transitions between points, focusing on stillness between gestures rather than constant movement.

Closed-off body language positions that push viewers away

You create barriers between your audience with movements like crossing your arms, placing your hands out of view, and turning away from the camera. These gestures suggest defensiveness or discomfort, which can make the audience less receptive to your message.

Use body language that signals openness and welcomes engagement. Keep your arms uncrossed, face the camera directly, and use hand gestures that draw people into the discussion.

Remember that the camera frame is your entire stage. Every movement within it should invite connection.

Looking away from the camera during virtual presentations

Reading notes off-screen, checking notifications, or looking at your own video feed breaks your connection with webinar attendees. These behaviors hint that you haven't properly prepared or that your attention is drifting.

Position your notes near your camera and silence all notifications before joining the live event. If you must reference materials, do so quickly and return your gaze to the camera. Consider using a second monitor positioned close to your camera to minimize obvious eye movement when checking chat or participant engagement.

Poor camera positioning that undermines your presence

Odd camera angles show an unflattering perspective. When you position cameras too high or too low, you distort your appearance and distract from your message — which can cause viewers to question your authority.

Position your camera at eye level and make sure you're properly lit. Check our recommendations for the best lighting for webinars and virtual presentations.

Then, use our free tool to test your webcam to see how your camera angle and lighting will look to your audience. (You can use this free tool whether or not you use our virtual event software to host your event.) Adjust as necessary so you can feel confident the moment you go live.

Frequently asked questions about public speaking body language

What is body language in public speaking?

Body language in virtual speaking includes nonverbal communication elements visible through your camera: posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and upper body movement. These physical cues can communicate confidence, credibility, and engagement to virtual attendees.

What are the 5 tips for body language when presenting?

The five essential body language tips for presenters are:

1. Maintain a confident posture with shoulders back
2. Make eye contact with your camera lens rather than the screen
3. Use purposeful hand gestures within the camera frame
4. Align facial expressions with your message
5. Emphasize points with upper body movement and head positioning

What are the 7 elements of body language?

The seven elements of body language include:

1. Facial expressions
2. Eye contact
3. Posture
4. Gestures
5. Proximity
6. Touch
7. Voice

What are the 5 C's of body language?

The five C's are:

1. Confidence: Projecting self-assurance through posture and camera presence
2. Credibility: Matching mannerisms with your webinar message
3. Connection: Using eye contact and gestures to engage audiences
4. Clarity: Making sure your movements support rather than distract from your content
5. Consistency: Aligning verbal and nonverbal communication throughout the presentation