Tips for Creating and Hosting a Productive Webinar

Webinars have emerged as an effective tool for experts in a specific field to share information. Digital transcription agencies convert the content of the presentation into text, making it accessible to a wider audience. Businesses host webinars in the form of events, presentations, and training for far-flung customers or a remote workforce. A well-recorded video/audio training session with the right visuals and graphics along with methods for real-time interaction can be a truly cost-efficient tool. There are small business management webinars, Facebook and Instagram free marketing webinars for business, and social media webinars. The exciting Know your Sun webseries hosted by the National Solar Observatory (NSO) provided information about cutting-edge research in the field of solar science and what happens during the eclipse, and even gave kids and adults fun ideas to engage in the eclipse.

Many organizations have used interactive videos effectively. Econsultancy reported on how Mended Little Hearts, a charity for children with congenital heart disease used an animated, emotive video in a campaign to show how donating money can transform the lives of those affected.

Maybelline New York roped in a popular fashion blogger to make an interactive tutorial video for Big Eyes Mascara, showcasing four different looks based around a single core product. The audience could view different beauty tutorials and select the style and context of each one, such as ‘rebel chic’, ‘day’ or ‘night’, etc. Such interactive video webinars can prompt an immediate response from viewers.

To serve their purpose, webinars must be done right. Here are some tips for creating and hosting a productive webinar:

• Customize communication to the audience: The key to a successful webinar is to study your audience and their current level of knowledge and expertise, and deliver content to fill their gaps. A webinar that targets customers should address their concerns. Regardless of your audience, your webinar would be productive only if it demonstrates your expertise and provides them with something they consider valuable.
• Use the right webinar tool: There are several great webinar resources out there, including customizable webinar platforms. You need to do some research and find the right tool. Today’s webinar software allows participants to join in from their computer, mobile phones or tablets. Modern collaborative technologies run in a regular browser and do not require download of additional software or complicated codes. There is webinar software with inbuilt features that permit social media integration, allowing you to invite people, share the content, and also enable attendees to promote for you. They also come with archiving capabilities and certain editing features. The recorded webinars and video transcription can be uploaded on your website. Choose a tool that will take you through the entire process smoothly, enhance attendee experience, and address concerns such as security, integrations, and required downloads.
• Create and deliver impressive content: A webinar offers only limited time to provide information on a large number of ideas and concepts. That’s why it’s important to have impressive butcrisp content that can deliver the most within the stipulated time-frame. When you create the blueprint for the virtual presentation, make sure you include graphics and minimize textual matter. Use powerful visuals such as slide transitions, videos, animations and charts that will interest your audience. Audio is the key to a virtual presentation and crucial for its success, but keep verbal explanations short in view of the time constraint. Using interesting facts, real stories, and examples can support your message. Good content enhances understanding. Don’t forget to encourage audience participation in the presentation via questions or polls. This will help keep them focused.
• Develop good speaking skills: Speak clearly and confidently, and avoid mumbling as it will fail to convey the information. If you have a quiet voice, consider using a pinned microphone. Stick to a natural pace and vary tone to emphasize important information. Use pauses effectively to make a point and give the audience time to consider what was said.
• Do a test run and get feedback: It is a good idea to test your webinar before running it with live attendees. You can attend your test run by yourself or with a partner so that you can get feedback, which will help you improve on any shortcomings. You can re-record after the test run.
• Record, transcribe and save your presentation: While a webinar takes place in real-time, the visuals may be recorded. Make sure that your entire presentation is recorded and saved. Participants who want to revisit the content as well as those who could not attend the webinar can listen to the recording later. Recording is also useful for trainers who may want to market their webinars to a new group of participants. Transcripts can help people with hearing disabilities. An experienced audio transcription service provider can handle multiple speakers, various accents and background noises and ensure quality documentation.
• Include call-to-action: A marketing webinar should contain a clear and concise call-to-action that tells the audience exactly what you want them to do next, such as try/test your product, download your white paper, register for your next event, and so on. Effective calls-to-action can drive conversions.
• Send out reminders: To maximize attendance for your webinars, send out reminders with a link to join to those who have registered.

Webinars are a cost-effective tool to convey information, improve collaboration and reach out to a wide audience – without travel expenses and inconvenience. However, success with webinars requires planning, training, and practice. Presentation transcription services facilitate post-webinar evaluation, so that you have the information you need to modify and improve for your next event.