Remote webinars: Interview with Brad Every, founder of Live Streaming Services
What is the difference between a webinar and a remote or hybrid webinar?
A webinar is an online presentation where one or multiple speakers deliver their messages to an audience. Webinars can be recorded by anyone, especially through Zoom which is now a very popular platform. However, if you want to integrate more features to your webinar and have a better quality of delivery, hybrid, or most commonly called remote webinars, will give you more options. Hybrid webinars allow you to integrate your Zoom call into a Slido, Q&A or even an interface, which are platforms that could allow you to reach a wider audience. The other very important aspect of a hybrid webinar is the sound quality, which is often neglected by presenters, but will make a huge difference for your audience as they probably won’t stay connected very long if they cannot hear your message. Regardless of all the qualities of Zoom, sound is not its strength. A hybrid webinar managed by a professional will give you access to better equipment, and as a consequence, better sound quality.
What kind of industries can benefit from hybrid webinars?
Hybrid webinars can cover a wide range of industries - pretty much any industry as long as guest speakers have a message to communicate to their audience and want to create engagement. For example, Brad tells us that in the morning he did an hybrid webinar about mental health, the presentation from three guest speakers were pre-recorded and then integrated into Slido, live, to interact with the audience with poles and Q&A in real-time. Brad is also working on a hybrid webinar type where a keynote speaker will be managed through Zoom and then bounced to a private link for the client to use.
Regarding the size of hybrid webinars, it can vary from a simple main room, called a plenary room, to a more elaborated presentation including numerous break out rooms where the audience can choose from their own screen which room with which guest speaker they want to listen/watch to by simply clicking on it and then swap from one room to another as they like. The rooms can be set in different geographic locations with different moderators.
Take us through the process to organise a successful webinar.
Like every project, the organisation of a remote webinar starts with a client brief to determine what outcomes/deliverables are expected, and other important aspects for the client, such as easy accessibility, security, statistics etc. When the deliverables are confirmed then the pre-production starts. The pre-production involves the design of a technical schematic to present to the client along with the quote for the project highlighting the specific requirements of the brief. When everything is approved by the client then it comes to other specific choices for them, such as the location, duration, platforms to be streamed from, etc.
The Location
A remote webinar can be shot from the client’s house or from a more elaborated studio, which will, on most occasions, allow a more professional background along with a bigger space and a wider choice of lighting. For example, Brad tells us that he often uses a studio located in Yarraville which is much appreciated by clients who like a more professional environment with different features.
Timeline and Length
It is important to choose the length and timeline of the webinar wisely, more so than a regular conference as it’s essential to understand that your audience will stay focused for only a certain amount of time, as they are participating remotely to it there are even more ways for them to get distracted and it will be harder to keep their attention focused. While a remote webinar can generally run for as long as you like, it is best to run it for a maximum of two hours. Depending on the length you chose, don’t forget to include breaks. Even if you are not ‘face to face’ with your audience it is important to give them time to absorb the information you’re broadcasting, make a coffee or just stretch their legs to get back to you with full attention. It is also very important to involve your audience in your hybrid webinar. As much as passive remote webinars will be informative, allow your audience to be part of it by integrating Q&A and surveys etc, and aim to keep their attention throughout your presentation.
How to choose the right platform(s)
Generally, a hybrid webinar will be delivered through a private link that clients can integrate on their website, which gives them the possibility to share the location of this link with their own audience.
There is also the possibility to stream the hybrid webinar through YouTube, however, YouTube won’t go directly through the live link which will create delays and sometime might be confusing for your audience to find. Facebook is possible, but it is not ideal for a webinar as copyright issues can occur.
A private link makes it easier to monitor your audience. This link is created by your live streaming company on a ‘Content Delivery Network’ and shared with the client directly. The CDN provides the client with the option to integrated many features that might not be available through public platforms like YouTube or Facebook.
A private link also provides an opportunity for a bigger audience pool as the CDN directs your link through different servers to avoid saturations.
But it also means that the more people are watching the more expensive your remote webinar will be and will represent more data usage. Usually, the price rises from over 500 viewers. In that case, if the clients want to keep it on a budget it might be more interesting to stream through a public platform instead of a private link.
What are the different tools that you can use during a hybrid webinar?
Q&A, poles, chatbots are the most used features in hybrid webinars, however, another feature like bringing a host from another location to a webinar is becoming more and more popular.
What are the technical requirements if moderators from different geographic locations are required?
It is possible to have different moderators and/or guest speakers attending a remote webinar from different geographic locations. This is most commonly done through a Zoom call. If clients are aiming for a higher quality than Zoom it is also possible, but involves a higher cost. It is also important to note a live-streaming team is not necessarily required in different locations as long as the technical material is of quality.
What are the benefits of remote webinars
Remote webinars are a very convenient way to communicate in a cost-efficient and timely manner. They allow clients to convey their message in a way that is accessible to a wide audience in different geographic locations while avoiding the often very expensive cost of organising a traditional physical conference. The time saved in the organisation of a remote webinar is also considerable as the live streaming company will take care of almost all the aspects required to guarantee a successful presentation.
Are remote webinars the future of communication?