A recorded webinar is an online lecture, presentation, or workshop about a particular topic presented by an expert that has been recorded to allow people to watch at their own convenience. They are incredibly helpful for busy individuals or organisations as they allow access to useful information when time is of the essence.
Webinars are used in a variety of fields, ranging from education and business, to connection and marketing. They allow a presentation to be shared with a wide range of people at one time, and are incredibly useful in knowledge dissemination.
When planning a recorded webinar, there are general guidelines and best practices that can help make the process easier and the presentation more successful.
The first step is to prepare. Preparation should include feasibility studies of the topic and the target audience; review of the content, goals and objectives of the webinar; scheduling to ensure the webinar is recorded at an ideal time for the target audience; as well as designing the content to ensure it is recorded and presented in the most effective way.
When determining the subject of the recorded webinar, it is important that it has a clear purpose and goal. This will ensure the subject is relevant, the content will be meaningful, and that all the data and information delivered is actionable i.e. the audience understands what to do from the webinar.
Another key consideration is the target audience. Knowing the target audience helps speakers customise the content to meet their needs or interests. As such, understanding the target audience’s needs and wants is key, and this will dictate the content needs to be included in the recorded webinar.
Additionally, deciding upon the content type and format of the recorded webinar is an important step. Content could include, for example, text-based slides, videos, audio clips, Q&A sessions and polls.
After the format and content have been determined, the webinar should be scheduled. When considering time and date it is important to take into account time zone differences if the audience is across multiple countries, as well as any particular holidays that may have an impact.
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The next step is to develop the webinar. Storyboarding is a useful tool to use when developing the webinar’s content and structure, as it lays out the different subtopics and helps in identifying if there are any knowledge gaps. Furthermore, preparing images, slides, video and audio clips as well as any other artefacts needed, allows the presenter to focus on the delivery during the webinar and makes sure the audience have engaging content to watch.
When setting up the technology for the webinar, performers should be given early access to the platform, enabling them to ensure all their equipment is compatible and tested prior to delivering the webinar and ensuring that the experience is smooth.
Before the webinar is presented and recorded, a practice before a select number of individuals can be helpful. Not only should this ensure the presenter is comfortable with the content, but it should also give the presenter the chance to ask questions and to practice the delivery.
On the day of delivery, the presenter should arrive at least half an hour before the recorded webinar is scheduled to start. This ensures the presenter is ready, enabling them to greet the audience, and the audience are welcomed in a prompt and professional manner.
The presenter should deliver the recorded webinar in a structured way, ensuring they begin at the start and slowly build up to a climax. Good speakers tend to make use of visuals, body language, eye contact, facial expressions, energy and humour as well as other presentation skills.
Finally, a good webinar recording should include an introduction of the speaker and the topic, a summary of key points made during the presentation, and any questions that the audience may have asked.
Recording a webinar is a great way to reach a wider audience, provide resources, and create positive outcomes for both participants and the organisation. Keeping these general guidelines and best practices in mind along with proper preparation can ensure that the webinar recording is successful and well received.