Webinars are an integral part of personal branding - at least if you are looking to build an expert image. Nowadays, they take different forms depending on the medium on which they are broadcast. However, the basics of conducting webinars remain the same. Find out how to prepare your first online presentation.
Webinars are an increasingly popular form of knowledge transfer. For some, they are even a source of income. If you want to get to this level, you need to gain the trust of your audience, build an engaged community and show that you have sufficient experience in the subject matter. It is worth starting by providing free broadcasts and training materials. Social media is very helpful in gaining customers.
Webinar - what is it?
A webinar is a modern form of training covering specific topics and issues. The person conducting it does not meet the participants live, but only broadcasts the event. It most often takes the form of a presentation similar to college lectures. An online webinar can be organised via a fanpage, live on Instagram or separate video conferencing software. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The meeting usually starts with a broad overview of the topic. In order to cover all topics, it is advisable to draw up an agenda. The training should cover the most important points, but also leave room for questions from the participants. Webinars are also best recorded - especially if you run an online shop where you can offer recordings to people who were unable to attend the event.
Webinars are now a lucrative business. Specialists in various fields organise virtual courses consisting of several or more video presentations. Their popularity grew even more during the pandemic. Initially, they offer free e-books or make educational posts available on social media. In this way, they encourage people to expand their knowledge and prove that they have enough experience. 
The most popular webinar tools
For a seminar to be successful, you need to organise it on the right platform. You can broadcast free conferences using Facebook or Instagram. Both applications guarantee the tools to host a live event. Also on TikTok you have the possibility to do so.
To hold a professional meeting online, it is best to use platforms specifically designed for this purpose. You will find thousands of these in your search, but among the most popular are Zoom and Google Meets. Their advantage is that there is no charge for organising a conference.
How does a webinar work? A meeting held outside of social media requires advance registration. Those who declare their participation receive a link to the webinar and have to log on to it on a specific date. The advantage of this is that participants provide you with their contact details. In this way, you can later send them information about new offers, provided they agree. Remember to include a RODO clause in the form used for sign-ups.
Advantages of a webinar over a traditional conference
Why is organising a webinar a better idea than preparing a conference? The audience has the opportunity to participate in the webinar regardless of where they are. All they need is access to the internet. As a result, the event attracts many more participants.
There is nothing to prevent traditional conferences from also being broadcast online. During the pandemic, all conventions, trade fairs, seminars or university lectures were held in this way. For some industries (e.g. new technologies), the online format even proved more effective than the land-based format. It also provides the opportunity for several specialists to speak at the same time.
It is worth noting that organising an online event generates much lower costs. Participants lose nothing as long as they get the opportunity to ask questions in real time. For some, the virtual format is also attractive because they would be embarrassed to speak in a crowd of people. They are more adventurous online, so you can expect more activity. 
How do I prepare to host a webinar?
A video conference or webinar requires advance preparation. It can be stressful the first time, but over time it will get into your blood. Most people feel uncomfortable speaking in front of the camera, so introduce shorter forms, such as spoken testimonials on Instagram, before you decide to conduct live events or webinars. After a dozen or so speeches, you'll definitely feel more at ease.
Inserting spoken accounts also has the advantage of increasing community engagement. Observers can get to know you better and see how you behave on a daily basis. The way you speak, your choice of vocabulary or your facial expressions say a lot about a person. If you arouse sympathy, your reach will grow and thus more people will start to attend your webinars.
Social media will also enable you to identify what course topics are in demand. It's worth conducting a poll asking what your watchers want. Once you've chosen a topic, keep asking - what topics they're interested in, what they think the webinar means and what times they can attend. This will make it easier for you to create a speaking schedule.
Although it is a good idea to prepare notes, during the webinar avoid reading from a page or repeating text from the slides. Also try to anticipate in advance what questions will be asked. Remember what webinars are and what they are for - they are for participants to learn. Their side benefit is to promote you or your products. It is best to interact with your audience only at the end, allowing time for questions. During the presentation, they may distract you.
You will also need good equipment and internet to organise the webinar. Check your internet connection before you start. Make sure your computer or phone is plugged in to charge. It is worth investing in at least a basic microphone. As a last resort, you can use headphones. Before you connect with your listeners, do a trial transmission. In practice, technical problems can always arise, so think through the scenario of a possible move to another platform in advance.
Webinar versus video conference - what's the difference?
Interesting webinars are 'saturated' with knowledge and participants return to them again and again - this is why they play a huge role in expert business. How do they differ from video conferences?
The same tools are used to conduct these types of meetings, but conferences are usually intended for company employees at the beginning of the working day, for example. During them, more people speak and everyone should be active to some extent. Videoconferences are used for discussions and webinars take the form of a speech, usually by one or two people. Depending on the industry, it is worth considering both forms of communication.
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