3 (research-backed) tips to produce a webinar people will actually take the time to
We reached out to the members to find out the answer to this question. We found the insights so fascinating (and unexpected) that we decided to provide them to you. For you to get the most mileage out of the next live event you host, here are three actionable insights that you can take to the bank or, in the case of the next live stream you're planning to host.
1. No one wants to attend your all-day party
...And honestly, it shouldn't even be longer than lunch breaks. 70% of respondents consider that events should run less than an hour, or lesser -- two-thirds of people polled said that they would put off even registering for an event because of its length.
You've certainly put in lots of time and effort into your content, you're an professional in your field, but in order to maintain interest, it's important to distill what you have to convey in only a few minutes. You must be ruthless with your plans to give your audience nothing but the good stuff.
2. Many people (like thousands!) will rewatch your event
If you believed that your live event was only important on the day of the event take a second look. It was found that more than three quarters of viewers indicated they'd be willing to watch the event again even if they didn't see the live broadcast. And, not only that, just over two-thirds of participants said they'd watch the event they'd been to. (That level of commitment is amazing.)
Your assignment: make your post-event VOD user-friendly and easy to find. Shoot every RSVPs with a link for the event directly to your email following the event to make sure you're covered.
3. Q&As? Yes. Breakout rooms? Meh.
We love a little interactivity at our events. But do not overestimate the interest of your attendees. We found that Q&As are the most used method for live events but not every tool available to you is received by everyone.
Breakout rooms, adored by the vast majority (83%!) of event organizers, actually are among the event attendees most disliked. In fact, over one-third of respondents said they don't consider them to be effective. Our suggestion? Keep your interactive elements low-lift to keep people content and to avoid the dreaded dropping-offs.
The future is a virtual
If you're considering "Great ideas, but won't we getting back into IRL activities soon?" We'd like to respectfully oppose. Even post-pandemic 72% of respondents predicted that they would take part in the same number (or greater!) in online-only events, as they do today. When you are thinking about IRL elements, consider adopting the hybrid model to reach the largest audience you can.
We know virtual events aren't without their struggles. Tech issues as an example are the live event's #1 boogeyman for hosts and attendees alike. To help keep the concerns at bay, you are able to peruse our vast library of live event wisdom. We've listed a few that we love: