8 Tips on How to Run Your First Webinar

If you have come up with a great idea for a webinar, the next step is to start creating your webinar. The first thing you need is great content. Make sure that the content you use is as specific as possible, and that you go into a lot of detail. This is going to help you stay focused on the topic, and keep things running smoothly without going off-topic. 

For example, if your topic is about pet care, narrow it down to a specific type of pet care. Once you have content, you can start getting into actually creating and running the webinar. Here are some tips to help get you started.

1. Find speakers.

It is a good idea to choose a speaker who is an expert on the subject that the webinar will be about. After all, you need to know that it is someone who knows the subject inside and out, and who is able to be comfortable in front of a camera. They also need to be able to answer any and all questions from viewers, which is bound to happen eventually. 

2. Choose the right platform.

When choosing a platform, look for one that offers a free trial period. This gives you a chance to try out the product before making any long-term commitments. You get to see how it works, and you can try various platforms, such as ClickMeeting, Adobe Connect, and Google+ Hangouts until you find the one that best suits your needs.

3. Understand the technology.

It is important that you know how to use all of the webinar tools and technology before you actually go live. Make sure that you are comfortable with them before going live so your webinar looks professional. Your learners are likely to notice if you do not know how to use certain tools, and this can lead to disengagement of their eLearning experiences.

4. Choose the right format.

Next, you have to decide on the format of the webinar. Will it be hosted by one presenter, or will it be a question and answer webinar featuring two or more speakers? Two factors in choosing a format will be the subject and the availability of speakers who are qualified.

5. Test the webinar.

Before going live, it is a good idea to test the webinar to make sure that everything is going to go smoothly when it is showtime. If you wait until the last minute, there are dozens of things that can, and likely will go wrong. Get friends and family members to log into the platform, and take part in the test webinar and get their feedback.

6. Give learners clear instructions.

Even if you are familiar with the platform, your learners may not be. So, take a few moments to show them the functions and features that they will need to use. Show them where they can ask and answer questions, take part in polls and surveys, etc. Remember, you are using webinars to develop relationships with customers, so make sure that you do what you can to make things easy for them.

7. Create a webinar-ready space.

Make sure that you have a space to work in that is quiet and free of disruptions and distractions. This is another way to make your webinar look professional. If there is a lot going on, learners are not going to be able to concentrate on the webinar itself. Make sure that your computer is ready for recording, and close any apps that you don’t need.

8. Record the webinar.

When you host live webinars, be sure to record them so attendees can watch them at a different time, and to allow learners who were not able to attend the chance to see it. You may even want to use the webinar as part of a larger eLearning course, or to reference later. Just be sure to record the webinar only, and not the personal data of your learners.

 http://www.lifehack.org/465510/8-tips-on-how-to-run-your-first-webinar

 Can you offer additional tips not listed in the article to help make a real success of a first webinar?  Please share in the comments box below.