I set out in earlier posts to consider 38 ideas for engaging webinar audiences.
If you have already read part 1 and part 2 in this series … welcome back! Here is the remainder of the list …
- Virtual tour: Your audiences want to get to know you. A virtual tour of your office may provide a different level of connection that pays dividend in engagement.
- Demo: If you reference a product or tool in your webinar, consider adding a demonstration to your audience.
- Animation: An animated video works in a similarly to a static infographic, helping visualise and explain abstract or complicated concepts.
- Auditory hooks: Presenters can guide the expectation of their audience by previewing what is still to come. Let your audience know what key points you will still address in the remained of the programme.
- Visual hooks: In addition to auditory hooks, visual hooks such as screen overlays can add interest and engagement.
- Teasers: Teasers are used in film to set expectations for the audience, so they know how a story will unfold. In webinars, the same can be done, and even help promote your webinar to larger audiences.
- Unveiling of news: If you are an important announcement to make, consider where in the programme this could best fit to keep your audience listening actively.
- Note taking: If audience are able to take notes, even annotate slides, they will listen more attentively.
- Live illustrator / cartoonist: A cartoonist can help illustrate the story of your webcast as it unfolds, with the benefit of viewing the finalised illustration at the end of the programme.
- Social feed: linking a hashtag to your webinar will help the discussion with participants going beyond the webinar itself.
- Continued Professional Development (CPD) Points: if you register your webcast for CPD awards, attending to the end will add value to your audience.
- App: Consider linking your webinar with an app, where audiences can go to interact and respond to your presentation
- Personalisation: The more targeted the content, the more audiences will be engaged. Perhaps hosting slightly different versions of the webinar for different audience segments will allow the content to become more engaging.
- Multiple cameras: If you are including a video feed of your presenters, consider multiple camera angles. This will add more visual interest.
- Special locations: Recording your webinar from an unusual location, perhaps a museum with an exhibit that is relevant to your topics, will add interest and engagement.
This list is far from comprehensive. However, I hope you found some of the ideas useful – let me know. I’d love to get your feedback.
Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.
Voltaire