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.