Our seven best webinar practices, tips and tricks
Webinars aren’t new, but in 2020 events went virtual in a major way allowing brands and business to continue to connect with followers and potential customers during the worst of the pandemic. And although we’re slowly returning to some form of normalcy, platforms like Zoom won’t be completely abandoned for in-person events. Here you’ll find a few webinar basics and how to create and host a great webinar.
What is a webinar?
According to Dictionary.com, a webinar is a seminar or other presentation that occurs on the internet and allows participants from various locations to see and hear the presenter(s) and ask questions. Webinars can be live, pre-taped, workshops, training sessions, or classroom lectures.
Benefits of webinars
If you haven’t considered incorporating a webinar into your marketing strategy, you should. Webinars offer an inexpensive and convenient method to establish your company as a thought leader in your industry, provide information and a way of connecting with your target audience, and ensure your brand voice is heard. Webinars can also increase traffic to your website and drive revenue.
Top webinar platforms
Webinars can be an interactive, inspirational, data rich experience, and can be used to drive traffic to your website and social media profiles. As you consider creating a webinar for your brand, you should first decide which webinar platform/software works best for you. Top webinar platforms are:
One of the most popular platforms, Zoom is an insightful, cloud-based platform that’s user-friendly.
Adobe Connect is great for marketing organizations or larger companies.
Generally used by educational institutions.
Crowdcast is ideal for individuals and businesses who are new to live to stream and want to learn how to host a webinar quickly and easily
Demio is the best webinar platform for marketing and lead generation.
GoToWebinar is used by larger organizations because it’s easy to use.
WebinarJam is budget friendly, easy to use for those with little to no technical experience.
EverWebinar is popular for small and medium sized businesses who are looking to generate leads and boost sales through virtual events.
Livestorm is ideal for product demos and sales.
WebinarsOnAir is affordable and user friendly.
DaCast is easy to set up and provides awesome broadcasting features for easy webinar management, monetization, and online video analysis.
WebinarNinja is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create a webinar in under a minute.
How long are webinars?
Webinar lengths depend on the topics and number of speakers. Most webinars are approximately 60 minutes.
How to create and host a great webinar presentation
Want to create an engaging webinar that’ll wow your target audience? First create a webinar strategy that outlines who you want to attend, the pain points they have or information they’re looking to acquire, and what their goals. Once you have your strategy, use these tips to create a successful webinar experience.
- Create a landing page for your webinar
Creating a landing page will help your webinar to stand out. It also allows you to put as much or as little content about the event as you deem necessary. You can create some great graphics around your webinar and why your company has decided to present your webinar. Whatever you decide to do, there is some information that must be included:
- Topic
- Guest speaker(s) and their information
- Date and time
- What attendees should expect learn
- CTA to register
Remember, to make sure your landing page is optimized with SEO rich content.
- Promote…promote…promote
Now that you have your landing page set up. It’s time to promote your webinar to ensure you will get the number of attendees you’re looking for. It’s a good rule of thumb to begin promoting your webinar four weeks prior to the actual event.
Create social media campaigns to promote your webinar: tweet about it, create Facebook ads, post Instagram and YouTube videos, and so forth. Write a blog about the topic you’re presenting and tie it into a call to action to register for your webinar. You can even post a short video to give attendees an inside look at what they can expect on the day of the webinar. Send email marketing messages and SMS messages to your target audience. Create a catchy hashtag that potential attendees will remember.
If you have a webinar giveaway or special feature during the webinar, be sure to share it further. This will differentiate your webinar from similar events held by competitors.
When promoting your webinar, it’s a good rule of thumb to send several reminders, including the day of the event.
- Create a strong script
Talking about a subject for an entire hour can be difficult, even if you’re passionate about the topic. Writing a well-written script may be an essential step in webinar planning. Every word you say doesn’t have to be scripted, but a script is your road map that can do wonders for your webinar. Even if you deviate and go off script, these notes will keep you on course.
- Practice before going live
Practice makes perfect. Be sure to practice your webinar several days before the event to ensure that all your equipment is working properly. This will help you identify and eliminate any potential issues and will boost your confidence.
- Follow up with attendees
Just because the webinar is over doesn’t mean you’re finished. The most important task you must do post-webinar is to reach out to your audience. Emails are a great tool to help your business curate customer touchpoints that build trust, demonstrate your company’s appreciation for feedback, and offer recipients with another opportunity to convert.
That’s why we suggest sending a personalized follow-up email that thanks attendees for participating and also requests their thoughts and input. Don’t forget to send a recording to people who registered but were unable to attend the webinar!
- Measure your results
Use in-platform metrics to analyze registration and webinar performance. You should also speak with speakers, and team members to discuss what went well and areas of improvement. Incorporate audience feedback into your discussion.
You’ll also want to share the results with members of your sales team, so they utilize the information when interacting with potential or existing customers who attended the webinar.
Webinars are proven to be an inexpensive way to engage your target audience and are a great return on investment. Following these tips on how to host a webinar will help you conduct a successful event that drives lead generation, creates brand authority and increases revenue.
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