If you are new to Webinars and GoToWebinar, here are some practical tips for using GoToWebinar effectively.
Pre-webinar Admin
- Embed the GoToWebinar invitation URLs into your web site
- Create your own 'how to use our webinar system' PDF and mail it all attendees (based on these documents)
- Also have a simple presentation about using the Webinar control for attendees ready
Roles
- Separate the Organiser (Master of Ceremonies) role from the Presenter role (Presenters have enough to think about without worrying about people's audio settings)
- The Organiser manages the whole flow of the webinar and must monitor the dashboard for questions
- Have one member of staff logged in as an attendee at the office - and if someone calls for help they can help out
Webinar flow
- Make sure that the Organiser stays in practise mode untill 100% ready to show screen (waiting attendees can see screen before audio 'broadcast' starts)
- The Organiser starts by explaining basic stuff (a bit like fire drill and mobile phone routine) - e.g. How to ask questions, How to get help with audio, How to speak, How to raise your hand
- Organiser then runs through who YOU are (the company) and introduces the subject and presenter
- The Presenter has slideshow ready started at right point before hand-over
- The Presenter run through slides - but they say goodbye on penultimate slide and hand back 'audio' to Organiser who closes to Webinar
- Organiser does the talking on the last slide and says goodbye
- Tell non-speaking Presenters and Organisers to mute their microphones while not speaking
Slides and webinar content
- Keep the slides simple - dark writing on white - small images - simple 'fade' transitions if any
- Use lots of slides - more than in a real seminar (otherwise it gets easy for attendee to drift away)
- Talk fairly quickly and simply - not too much pausing as this doesn't have the same effect 'online' as it does in a live venue
- Have well signposted 'calls to action'. For instance; To place an order or request a meeting call this number, Call us for more information on this number, Call to talk to the presenter now on this number, Email us to request the follow-up document, View specific page on our web site, Register for another webinar
- Presenter works in calls to action all through and the Organiser summarises and repeats them at the end
If you would like to discuss Webinars and GoToWebinar, then contact us for a no-obligation conversation about running Online seminars and Webinars
