How to Use Drawing Tools and Annotations in Gotomeeting Presentations

Getting your point across in a virtual meeting isn’t always easy. If your audience is tuning out or multitasking, even the best slides can turn into background noise. That’s where drawing tools and annotations in Gotomeeting come in—they let you point, draw, and highlight right on the screen so people can actually follow what you’re saying.

If you’re running meetings, webinars, or remote training sessions and want to keep things interactive, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through exactly how to use Gotomeeting’s drawing tools, what actually works, what to skip, and a few tricks I’ve learned along the way.

Why Use Drawing Tools in Gotomeeting?

Let’s be real: most presentations are boring. Even if you’re talking about something exciting, people zone out when all they see is a static screen. Drawing tools help you:

  • Highlight key info in real time
  • Sketch out ideas on the fly
  • Circle, underline, or point to exactly what you’re referencing
  • Get your audience to focus on what matters (and tune out what doesn’t)

But don’t expect magic. These tools can’t fix a bad presentation, and they won’t make up for poor prep. They do make it easier for people to follow along—and sometimes, that’s all you need.

Step 1: Check Your Gotomeeting Plan & Setup

Before you start, make sure you’re actually using Gotomeeting and not a different “GoTo” product (like GoToWebinar or GoToTraining). The annotation tools aren’t identical across all their products, and some features might be missing if you’re on a free or basic plan.

What you need: - The GoToMeeting desktop app (drawing tools aren’t available in browser or mobile) - Presenter or Organizer role (only presenters/organizers can draw) - A screen or document to share

Pro tip: Test drawing tools before your real meeting—sometimes they’re disabled by default, or hidden behind odd menus.

Step 2: Start Screen Sharing

Annotations only work while you’re sharing your screen or a specific app window.

To share your screen: 1. Click the “Screen” button in the control panel. 2. Choose either your entire screen or a specific app window. 3. Hit “Share.”

Now, your audience sees what you see—and you’re ready to start annotating.

Step 3: Open the Drawing Tools

This is where most people get lost. Gotomeeting hides its drawing tools behind a tiny pen icon.

To open the drawing tools: 1. Look for the floating control panel (usually along the top or side). 2. Click the “Pen” or “Drawing Tools” icon. It looks like a pencil or squiggle. 3. A mini toolbar pops up with your options (Pen, Highlighter, Shapes, etc.).

If you don’t see the icon, you might not have the right permissions, or you’re not sharing your screen yet.

Step 4: Use Each Drawing Tool

Here’s what you’ll find in the toolbar and when to use (or ignore) each one:

Pen Tool

  • What it does: Freehand drawing—think of it like a digital marker.
  • When to use: Underlining, circling, or sketching quick shapes.
  • Limitations: It’s not very precise. If you try to write out words, it’ll look like chicken scratch.

Highlighter Tool

  • What it does: Transparent color overlay; good for highlighting text or areas.
  • When to use: Emphasizing parts of a slide or document.
  • Limitations: If your background is already colorful, the highlight might not show well.

Shapes (Lines, Arrows, Boxes, Ovals)

  • What it does: Adds basic shapes with a click-and-drag.
  • When to use: Drawing attention to specific parts, creating quick diagrams.
  • Limitations: Limited shape options—don’t expect fancy flowcharts.

Eraser

  • What it does: Removes any drawing or annotation you’ve made.
  • Use it for: Cleaning up mistakes or clearing the screen between points.

Color/Thickness Settings

  • What it does: Lets you change the color and thickness of your pen or shapes.
  • Pro tip: Stick to high-contrast colors (bright yellow, red, or green) so your marks are visible to everyone—especially if some folks are watching on small screens.

Step 5: Invite Others to Annotate (or Don’t)

Here’s where things get interesting—or messy.

As the organizer or presenter, you can let other attendees draw, too. This can be great for brainstorming or interactive sessions, but it can also turn your meeting into chaos.

To let someone else annotate: - Find their name in the attendee list - Right-click and assign them Presenter or give drawing privileges

Should you do this? - Yes: If you’re running a collaborative session and trust your group. - No: For large or formal meetings. One rogue doodler can ruin your flow fast.

Pro tip: Set ground rules (“Please only annotate when asked”) to avoid distractions.

Step 6: Save or Clear Your Annotations

When you switch slides, share a new app, or stop sharing your screen, your annotations usually disappear. If you want to keep what you’ve drawn:

  • Take a screenshot. There’s no built-in “save annotations” button in Gotomeeting (as of 2024), so screenshotting is your best bet.
  • Clear all drawings: Use the trash can or eraser icon to wipe the screen when you’re done, so your next slide isn’t covered in old marks.

Step 7: Troubleshooting Common Issues

Nothing kills momentum like a tool that won’t work. Here’s what usually goes wrong:

  • Can’t find the drawing tools: Make sure you’re using the desktop app, sharing your screen, and have Presenter or Organizer privileges.
  • Attendees can’t see your drawings: They may be on mobile/browsers, or there’s a lag. Ask them to confirm what they see.
  • Annotations are laggy or slow: This happens on weak internet connections. Keep drawings simple and avoid rapid scribbling.
  • Drawings disappear too soon: If you switch what you’re sharing (like moving from slides to a browser), annotations vanish. Warn your audience before switching.

What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore

  • Works: Quick underlines, arrows, highlights to keep people focused.
  • Works: Letting a small, trusted group annotate during brainstorming.
  • Doesn’t work: Handwriting detailed notes live (just use the chat or follow-up doc).
  • Doesn’t work: Over-annotating every slide. It’s distracting and looks messy.
  • Ignore: Trying to use drawing tools on mobile or browser versions; they’re just not there.

Pro Tips for Better Annotations

  • Practice before your live meeting. Your first few attempts will look rough.
  • Use drawing tools sparingly—less is more.
  • Narrate as you draw (“Let me circle this area here...”) so people know what you’re doing.
  • If you’re recording the meeting, remember that annotations will show up in the video—plan accordingly.
  • Keep a screenshot shortcut handy (like PrtScn on Windows or Cmd+Shift+4 on Mac) to save your best diagrams.

Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overdo It

Drawing tools in Gotomeeting are handy, but they’re not magic. Use them to help your audience see what you’re talking about—nothing more, nothing less. Don’t worry about being perfect or making your annotations look pretty. Focus on clarity, and adjust as you go. The more you use these tools, the smoother your presentations will get.

Now go run your meeting—and don’t be afraid to pick up that digital pen.