Webinars. Over recent months when our ability to meet face to face has been restricted, webinars have become a popular way for businesses to reach out to their customers and communicate with them.
But what exactly are they?!
The dictionary definition is “a seminar conducted over the Internet”, and what makes webinars stand out from the crowd is the interactivity a webinar offers. Because it takes place in real time it means attendees have the ability to discuss, send and receive information throughout the event.
Throughout the pandemic, webinars have proven to be a useful tool for communicating important information to a wider audience. Whether it’s helping UK farmers understand and adapt to the changes brought about by Covid-19 or providing guidance on employment contract law for the construction industry, webinars have certainly played a vital role in keeping people informed when group gatherings have not been possible.
Webinars can be used to:
- generate engagement with your chosen audience
- position your organisation as an expert in your particular field
- showcase your latest product/s
- bring together industry experts to share knowledge and experience
How do you get the best out of a webinar?
Have a clear plan. Your webinar will run to a specific time, and should cover everything you need to within that time.
Create a project plan. Project manage the webinar in the same way you would if you were running an event. List the speakers, topics and tasks in detail so they can be signed off at each relevant stage. Remember the phrase “failing to plan is planning to fail!”
Have a clear idea of format. You can throw a number of features into a webinar but remember that with the wealth of options available, don’t go overboard. From surveys and polls to text chat and demonstrations, there are a number of different ways in which you can make your webinar interactive. Think carefully about the most appropriate one for your needs and stick to it.
Tell everyone about it. There’s no point running a webinar if you don’t have anyone attending it! Reach out to the relevant audience for the webinar topic and tell them about it. Run a marketing campaign using different social media platforms and make sure it’s clearly visible on your website so people can sign up.
Do a dummy run. Run a test version with your team. This is your opportunity to iron out any sticking points, ensure you can operate all elements of the technology when needed and highlight any gaps. It will help create a more polished end result.
Take charge. Make sure you chair your webinar in the same way you would a face to face meeting, keeping attendees in check, not allowing any one person to dominate, and taking things off line if you need to.
Don’t forget the value of post-event activity. Now’s the time to market your webinar, gauge its success and learn from what worked so that your next event is even better. Pick out some teasers as learning points from the event and send them out on your socials.
Record the session and have it transcribed. This really does maximise the value of your webinar because it can be used again and again – whether for training, or even offer it as either a free or paid-for service to anyone who couldn’t attend at the time. You could even extract sections from the whole piece to use for different purposes.
Don’t miss our previous blog to ensure you get the most out of your recording