Webinar

What is a Webinar?

A Web-based seminar containing audio and video, often in the form of a slide deck.

IT is a live, web-based video conference that uses the internet to connect the individual (or multiple individuals) hosting the webinar to an audience of viewers and listeners from all over the world. Hosts can show themselves speaking, switch to their computer screens for slideshows or demonstrations and even invite guests from other locations to co-host the webinar with them.

There platforms also offer interactive features that the audience can use to ask questions and chat with host. Many people who host webinars include Q&A sessions at the end to answer viewers’ questions about the content from the presentation.

Why Host ?

Professionals use webinars to give educational presentations related to their businesses or organizations and to connect with their audiences in a much closer way. Many hosts treat their presentations as lectures or seminars to help teach their audience something. Some also use webinars to sell their own products and services.

In additional to teaching and selling, webinars are also helpful tools for conducting live interviews with other professionals, which are often compelling aspects that draw more people in to attend these events. The live aspect of it is really compelling for people who want the opportunity to connect and interact in real-time.

Put simply, if you want to learn something about a topic of interest, they are one of the best ways to expand your knowledge by learning directly from the experts. And if you’re an expert yourself, hosting webinars can be a great way to help you connect with your audience.

Features

Here are just some of the things that webinars have to offer.

• Display slides: A host can display a slideshow presentation using MS PowerPoint or Apple’s Keynote, just like you would in a regular classroom, meeting room or lecture hall.
• Stream video: A host can show a video either stored on their computer or found online, such as on YouTube.
• Talk to an audience: Webinars use VoIP to make real-time audio communication possible.
• Record everything: They often provide an option for the host to record their entire presentation — including all visuals and audio.
• Edit: The host can often use their mouse to create annotations, highlight things or create markings on the screen.
• Chat: The host can open a chat box to text chat with the audience, which is especially helpful for audience members wanting to ask questions.
• Conduct surveys and polls: Some providers offer the ability to create polls given to audience members for quizzes or survey purposes.

Tuning In!

Depending on which service the host uses, you may need to download a computer application first in order to access the webinar. Some hosts also require you to reserve your spot by clicking on a link in an invitation email — especially if the webinar allows a limited number of audience spots.

Many hosts will send out at least one reminder email an hour or a few minutes before the webinar is about to go live. Some hosts will even go as far as to host two webinars of the same presentation to cater to large audiences — especially if they’re from all around the world in different time zones.

When it’s time to tune in, audience members must ‘call in’ sort of like making a phone call to access the webinar. Audience members are often provided with a custom link or even a password by webinar host in order to get in. For some webinars, there’s even an option to call in by phone to listen live.

Some hosts will also give their audiences access to a replay of their webinar if they weren’t able to attend the live session.

 

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