webinar software Archives | Online Business Manager

Webinars and Videos: The main differences

5 Apr, 2016

What are the main differences between webinars and videos?

They are both essentially recordings of a presentation but they are just completed differently, normally using different technology or devices. Webinars are normally recorded live, whereas videos are pre-recorded and uploaded.

Similarities of webinars and videos

Webinars and videos can both be:

Pre-recorded
Be automated
Training videos or course
Interviews
Demonstration
You can re-purpose both into podcasts and YouTube Videos and of course blog posts.

The key differences about webinars

Webinars are normally presented live to your audience. Although you can automate them and build them into a training course. Presenting live webinars builds immediate relationship power. They are an excellent way to deliver coaching and consulting. They are also a great way to have round table discussions and to answer questions at anytime throughout the webinar. Webinars are usually hosted and recorded on a webinar platform such as Go To Webinar, Anymeeting or Google Hangouts (just to name a few!) They can be recorded and then edited afterwards to obtain a more streamlined presentation. Webinars usually run for an hour, although some can be longer or shorter depending on the format and what is specified in the invitation.

The key differences about videos

Videos are pre-recorded using either a video camera or other video software depending on the type of video that you are recording. Videos can also be pre-recorded using a webinar platform as well. These can then be edited using specific video editing software such as Camtasia or Premiere Elements, you can then upload the videos to your website, Youtube and other mediums. Videos are different to webinars because they are not live, you can only answer questions after the fact and they are not automatically responsive in engagement and inclusion that a webinar offers. Videos can also be super short ie 1-2 minutes and this is a great way to offer small snippets of information or potentially create that small video to invite your customers to your webinar.

Both webinars and videos are fantastic to include in your marketing arsenal as they both engage the audience to learn about you and your expertise.

5 things to know to host your first webinar

29 Mar, 2016

A webinar is an effective medium for engagement, promotions and training. However, there are many things to consider before hosting that first webinar. You will need to ensure that you have a few things ready to go before pressing record and welcoming your guests. So here are five things to consider before hosting your first webinar.

Have a goal in mind

Understand why you are hosting a webinar. Is your end result to sell a product? Is it to gain more subscribers to your email marketing list. Is it just to provide information and create yourself as an industry expert? Ensure that you have your end goal in front of mind when creating your webinar and what you want to achieve at the end. This will help with planning your first webinar.

Plan your first webinar

Planning your first webinar is important to ensure that it runs smoothly. Ensure that your slides are professional and not too wordy, we have some great tips here. Practice your webinar so that it doesn’t sound like you are reading from a document. If you are providing a demonstration, ensure that you have the software, product etc ready to go prior to the webinar.

Test your technology

Ensure that you technology is up to scratch. Have a decent internet speed and headset with microphone and pick a webinar platform. Running a small webinar with a friend or with Adminaholics to ensure that your technology is going to be maintained throughout the webinar will ensure that you can run the webinar on the day. Technology has a way of being temperamental but if you can sort the basics before the webinar, it will assist in a smooth running presentation.

Marketing your first webinar

There is no point running a webinar if you don’t tell everyone about it. Some great ways to market are through social media, your email marketing list, word of mouth, joint ventures and affiliates. Keep a steady stream and ensure that you advertise everywhere that you can. The more people that you attend your webinar, the more opportunity you will have to achieve your end result.

Break some rules

Webinars are not a new concept. They have been around for a while and many people have perfected it. This has lead to some customary practices which are more like unwritten rules. It is important to make your webinar a little bit different and break some of the rules but in a constructive way. Don’t go haywire but don’t follow a predictable script either. Customers that attend your webinars want to hear from you so it’s important that your personality and expertise shine through!

Go for Gold!

We have created an essential webinar checklist so that you can host the perfect webinar! Download it for free today!

How to Invite Customers to your Webinar?

13 Jan, 2016

Once you have put together a presentation with a wealth of content. You will want people to attend your webinar.

So how do you arrange for participants to attend?

Here are some techniques that will help you to create an invitation that will have them registering quickly to your online webinar.

Do not sell the product, this is part of what you will do while presenting, instead you want to sell the offer.
Hype up the event and the information that they will receive on your presentation – content is King! Besides while the goal will be to sell something, you don’t want your potential participants to know that, just yet!
Have a sales/landing page that allows them to register easily and effectively with no fuss. Include a shorter video on there too.
Send a great email newsletter invitation to your list to get them to sign up by leading them back to your sales page.
Advertise on Social Media and promote your webinar.

What you should include in your invitation

The invite needs to have facts and by showing them as benefits will develop a much a better registration result. Ensure that you really detail what sort of content that they will receive on the webinar and the benefit it is to them. By ensuring that your pitch and wording is right you will receive many more registrations.

Add images, videos and other graphics to your invitation. People are visual and often look at images or videos before reading the pitch. Infographics are a great way to show the benefits and other information as well.

A very important part of the invitation is to give the potential participant some information. They have to know what they are getting into by spending an hour watching your webinar. If they are going to participate, then you have to let them know why they should participate. You need to tell them who will be speaking at the webinar. For example, if it’s the tech genius of the world, qualifications and other information to really show their expert status.

Also include the date and time of the webinar. There are many resources and options available to allow for time conversion calculators so that the potential participant is able to convert their time into their local time. Ensure that you also send reminders leading up to the webinar as well and you can automate this feature.

Download our Essential Webinar Checklist which provides you with a step by step guide for hosting your webinar.

How to decide on a Free Webinar Software Program

30 Aug, 2014

Webinar software allows you to use technology to your advantage. The ability to save time and money is now possible in ways that were not always available using traditional seminars. We often need to travel to seminars, but online webinar software removes the need to travel to an event. Now you can host or sit in on a webinar from the comfort of your own office. There are many different types of free webinar software that are designed to make meetings more technologically advanced. However, not all this software is exactly the same or offers the same features. It is important to know what types of free webinar software are best and which features matter most.

What are your audience limitations? The first thing that you must consider when you are comparing free webinar software, involves the amount of individuals that can access your webinar at one time. Are there any limits in numbers? How many people will be attending the webinar? Most free webinar software does come with some number restrictions, but it is important to know what this limitation is. As long as your free webinar software allows your required audience numbers to access the webinar at once, you will be able to meet your customers demands. Make sure that you take the number limitation into consideration when you are comparing free webinar software.

What features are included? You will need access to free webinar software that enables you to present, instruct and demonstrate with ease. A simple to use interface is also critical if you do not have a lot of experience with this type of software. It is also important to also take security into consideration when you are looking at available features. You need to make sure that you data is safe and secure at all times. Other features to consider when looking at a free webinar software:

Do you need to send out invites from the webinar platform?
Will they register to attend at the webinar software?
Do you require a recording?
Will a link be available for the recording of the webinar or will you need to host the recording on your website or YouTube or via a file sharing option?
Do you require a screen sharing option?
Will all attendees be required to talk or will it be a listen only webinar?
Will attendees be able to ask questions via speaking or through a written chat box?

What technology do you need to host a webinar? When it comes to audio and video features, you will need a good internet connection to ensure that you don’t have any interference with drop outs and static voice or screen freezing. A good headset with microphone to avoid echo and computer camera if you are requiring a visual of yourself. This makes it easy to interact with the audience. There are many more features that come with free webinar software, but we have detailed the most important and also some other options for you to consider. Not all free webinar software is the same, so it is a good idea to have look at the best options.

Some of the Free Webinar Software programs available are:

Anymeeting

Google Hangouts

There are a few more that offer free trials as well. Adminaholics has a great Specialist Webinar Package available to assist with technology, set up and marketing of your webinar.