How to Master Audience Pace and Presenter Pace in Your Next Presentation with Mentimeter
What’s the best way to nail a presentation? At Mentimeter, we’d say lead with curiosity and choose the right presentation structure. And bringing the audience into your presentation is a great way to keep it upbeat and more engaging. So understanding how to manage the voting pace of your presentation is an important step toward turning a simple presentation into a meaningful dialogue.
With Mentimeter, you have the unique option to switch between two different presenter modes: Survey mode (also called audience pace) and Presentation mode (also called presenter pace). Each is suitable for different types of presentations. Let’s explore these and find out when and how to use them.
Table of Contents
- What’s the difference between presenter pace and audience pace?
- How do you change the voting pace in a Menti presentation?
- How do you share a presentation for different paces?
- Turn presentations into conversations with Mentimeter
- Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between presenter pace and audience pace?
Audience pace is a setting that lets participants navigate through slides at their own speed. It’s called Survey mode. It’s perfect for self-guided sessions. On the flip side, presenter pace keeps you in the driver’s seat, ensuring everyone stays on the same slide at the same time. This is called Presentation mode.
An article from Ohio State University shows that while synchronous (presenter-paced) sessions build community and immediate engagement, asynchronous (audience-paced) modes are superior for deep reflection and cognitive processing.
This choice fundamentally changes the vibe of your presentation, moving it from a shared, live experience to an individual, asynchronous one.
- Audience pace: Survey mode. The audience controls the slides and pacing.
- Presenter pace: Presenter mode. The presenter controls the slides and pacing.
When you use Mentimeter, voting is the primary way to gather insights and spark engagement. By picking the right pace, you’re deciding exactly how that data gets collected.
When should you use Presenter mode (presenter pace)?
Presenter mode is the default setting for most live sessions, and for good reason. It helps make sure your audience only sees the slide you’re currently talking about, so it’s great for presentations where you as the presenter need to convey lots of information. This keeps everyone focused on the topic at hand and stops people from jumping ahead and missing the point of your story.
We recommend using this mode for:
- Live training sessions where you need to explain things step-by-step.
- Classroom lessons where you want students to follow your lead.
Any situation where you want a synchronized, high-energy flow.
When should you use Survey mode (audience pace)?
Survey mode lets participants answer questions at their own speed without waiting for a host to click "next." This is the perfect setup for Mentimeter when you’re offline or doing remote data collection where people might need a little more time to think.
This mode is ideal for:
- Post-session feedback and evaluations.
- Remote surveys sent via email or Slack.
- Asynchronous icebreakers or "get to know you" forms.
- Pop quizzes where students might want to flip back and forth to review their work.
How do you change the voting pace in a Menti presentation?
Ready to switch things up? To change the voting pace, just open the "Settings" menu (that’s the cogwheel icon) at the top of your Edit View. Under the "Type of Menti" section, you can toggle between "Presentation" and "Survey." The change happens instantly, so your participants will see the update right away.
Note: if you’re using the Quiz Competition feature, you won't be able to change the pace. Quizzes are designed to be fast-paced and synchronized, so they always require the presenter to lead the way.
How do you share a presentation for difference paces?
The way you invite people to join depends on the pace you’ve picked. For live sessions using Presentation mode, just show the voting code at the top of the screen; it’s the fastest way to get everyone in. If you’re using audience pace for a survey, a direct link or a QR code is a much better bet.
Why skip the voting code for surveys?
The standard Mentimeter voting code is built for quick, live use and usually expires after four hours. If you send a survey out to be completed over a few days, that code will stop working, and your participants will be stuck.
For long-term access, follow these simple steps:
- Go to your presentation dashboard.
- Click the three dots on your presentation and select "Share".
- Copy that unique URL and send it to your participants.
- Alternatively, download the QR code from the "Share" tab to use on posters or in printed materials.
Turn presentations into conversations with Mentimeter
Choosing between Presentation and Survey mode is about more than just clicking a button; it’s about how you want to listen. Presenter pace lets you lead a collective journey, while audience pace gives individuals the space to share their thoughts on their own time. By mastering these two modes, you’ll make sure every voice is heard, whether they’re sitting right in front of you or responding from the other side of the world.
See how to use Mentimeter for a quick form or survey
Forms are incredibly simple, fast, and effective. They are amazingly versatile, and despite the simple nature of a Quick Form, remarkably powerful as a data collection toolReady to start creating? Discover some of our ready-made competition templates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the pace on a Mentimeter presentation?
It’s easy! Open your presentation in the Edit View and click the "Settings" cogwheel at the top. Then, choose between “Presentation” and “Survey”. The experience updates for your participants immediately.
What exactly is "Audience pace"?
Audience pace is a setting that lets participants move through a Mentimeter presentation independently. Instead of waiting for you to change the slide, they can go forward or backward at their own speed. It’s the go-to choice for surveys, feedback forms, and self-paced learning.
Does the Mentimeter voting code expire?
Yes, the temporary code at the top of a live presentation usually expires after four hours. If you want your presentation to stay open longer (like for an audience-paced survey) you should use the permanent "Voting Link" or QR code instead. Those links don't expire, so they’re much more reliable for long-term use.
Can I use Mentimeter for asynchronous surveys?
Absolutely. Mentimeter is a great tool for asynchronous surveys when you set it to audience pace. Just share a direct voting link or QR code, and you can collect responses whenever it’s most convenient for your participants.
Why can't I change the voting pace on my quiz?
Quiz competitions are built to be a real-time, shared experience. To keep things fair and keep the energy high, everyone needs to see the questions and the leaderboard at the same time. If you need a quiz that people can take on their own time, try using standard question slides in audience pace instead.
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