Online workshops are now easier than ever to organize and attend. Since the pandemic, companies have experienced an 87% increase in webinar attendance, thanks to remote work. Webinars serve a great purpose and have incredible results when planned and executed right. Research shows the average attendance conversion rate of webinars is 55%, generating 500 – 1000 leads. To achieve these results, it is essential to execute your webinar strategy correctly. Paying attention to top do’s and don’ts will help you lead productive webinars that help you meet your goals. This article also comes with two free, downloadable resources you can use when planning your next virtual event.
The Do’s of Creating a Successful Webinar
Choose the Right Topic and Make the Content Interesting
When planning a webinar, stick to the specific topics you are an expert in. Doing this will allow you to sell your company and provide incredible value. Remember: the goal of communicating to potential leads is not quantity, but value. When choosing your topic, consider your goal for the webinar. Here are a few examples to choose from: Your content should deliver on the topic you choose and help you achieve your goals. Keep your content interesting and engaging by using images, GIFs, and videos to provide the best to your attendees.
- Generated leads, measured in revenue and sales meetings
- Increased company engagement, measured in participation, comments, and questions
- Brand awareness and establishment as a leader in the industry, measured in impressions and website sessions
- Generate buzz for an upcoming product or offer
Making a plan for your webinar is essential to give a clear roadmap on how you’ll execute it. Plan your content and the exact subtopics you’ll cover in advance. When doing this, consider some of your audience’s questions and aim to cover them thoroughly. Figure out your timelines for delivery to ensure that you consistently work on the different aspects of your webinar’s success. Then, you’ll be in a better position to delegate specific tasks and get the results you expect.
Determine the Right Webinar Format and Platform
You can hold your webinars in different formats, including Q&A, panel discussions, single-speaker presentations, and interviews. Research shows that Q&A webinars are incredibly successful in driving engagement, with an 81% score in popularity, because it answers specific questions, instead of lecturing broad facts. When finding the correct way to present your webinar, you also need to take learner engagement into account. Using interactive virtual tools can be the difference between a valuable presentation and a muted one someone keeps on during another meeting. Here are a few tools you can use to level up your interactivity levels:
- Whiteboard
- Polls
- Quizzes or call outs
- Raised hands
- Annotations
There is a massive number of webinar hosting platforms that you should consider. When choosing a platform, your main concern should be how easy it is to use and whether it can accommodate your webinar format and estimated attendees. With these aspects in check, you can then look into the prices and find alternatives that suit you.
Choose the Right Time and Day
When choosing the best time to hold your webinar, you’ll need to consider where the majority of your audience is from. Research suggests the best times are estimated to be 11 am and 2pm because most people are not commuting or at lunch during this time. It also allows for a time difference between the West and East coast of the United States. Research also suggests Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best days to hold webinars. For a more in-depth look at timing preferences, determine who your ideal target audience is and research the best times of day for them to attend.
Market Your Webinar
Promoting your webinar is essential to ensure its success, and following a marketing roadmap will help you determine the proper channels to use and measure your results. Email is an incredible channel that comes with promising results to consider, which is why 65% of entrepreneurs note that email outreach is the best way to promote their webinars. However, a multi-channel approach is always a necessity when promoting an event. Below are a few ways you can advertise your upcoming webinar:
- Social media channels
- Email marketing
- Post on your website
- Affiliate marketing
- Internal channels
- Create a blog around the excitement
- Email signature lines
Knowledge Anywhere has hosted a variety of webinars and has found a Webinar Planning Checklist to be the best tool to clarify the marketing game plan, set timelines, assign responsibility, and act as a checklist. For the first time, we’re giving this resource to you for free!
The Don’ts of Creating a Successful Webinar
Don’t Make the Webinar Too Long
Your webinar should aim to provide immense value with the least time possible. Therefore, the average length should be 60 minutes, with 30 to 45 minutes covering the actual presentation, and the remaining time for Q&A to boost engagement. No one wants to take time out of their day to go to an event where the first 20 minutes are warming up the audience with generics and small talk.
Don’t Use Too Much Text
Using a lot of text in your webinar presentation will only harm its success rate. Expecting your attendees to read long chunks of text may lead them to click off. Instead, consider adding videos or pictures to communicate what you intended with text. Reserve text for some of the critical points in your webinar. Doing this will allow your attendees to screenshot what is essential for them to refer back to the points you make easily.
Don’t Ignore Technical Issues
Technical issues make running a successful webinar more difficult. You’ll need to address any issues ahead of time to ensure that your webinar runs smoothly. If you run a pre-recorded webinar, checking for technical issues will be easier. However, consider asking your attendees whether everything works well during the introduction when running a live webinar. If there are any issues, address them immediately to avoid losing your audience’s attention. Sometimes, technical issues come from the side of the Audience, not the Presenter. While you can’t fix every problem your attendees may have, you can ward off a lot by providing a downloadable, Free Virtual Training Checklist, which shows what users should do before a meeting or webinar in order to avoid problems.
Don’t Ignore Rehearsals
Live webinars will require you to put in some time to rehearse what you’ll cover. Doing this will allow you to accurately predict the time you’ll spend during the presentation. If you plan to invite a presenter or a niche expert, ensure that you take the time to go through the webinar before time. Rehearsals also allow you to test for technical issues and address them before that live webinar launches.
Don’t Cover Too Much In A Limited Time
Narrow down on your topic to ensure that you cover a good chunk of content before your time is up. Running through content in a hurry will lead you to skip key points and leave your audience disappointed. Instead, cover the right amount of content in your webinar to leave your audience well-informed without taking up too much time.