Webinar Best Practices & Tips for Success

1

SHORTER IS BETTER

The ideal dinner seminar or workshop is between 45 and 50 minutes long. The ideal webinar is between 25 and 30 minutes long. Your webinar is competing with every streaming service available, distracting family members, multiple open browsers and web games, you name it - they’re doing it! So, get in, get out and point them to your call-to-action as soon as possible.

2

BUILD YOUR CALL TO ACTION

Plan your webinar with your end goal in mind, ensuring you uphold that goal throughout your presentation. Whether you want the viewer to buy product, join a cause, take action, or simply like you on Facebook, knowing what action you want your prospects to take at the end of your webinar is key to building persuasive content.

3

FRAMES ARE ALL THE RAGE

Framing your shot is important. You want to make sure you frame it in such a way that your torso, just below the rib cage, and the top of your head are on the screen. This rule of thumb will ensure you aren’t too close or too far away.

4

SMILE, YOU'RE ON CAMERA

If you’ve ever experienced a webinar presenter with a stern look and oh so serious presence, then you’d agree it does not work. Part of creating connections is personality. What’s better than one who appears fun
and happy?

5

READING IS NOT THE RIGHT PLAY

DO NOT READ YOUR SLIDES. You are on camera and your audience is watching you. Instead of reading your slides, which is very easy to do with them right in front of you, focus on looking at the camera. To them, it will feel as if you’re speaking directly to them.

6

WHAT'S THAT LURKING BEHIND YOU

It’s very easy for your viewers to become distracted by things. Imagine you set everything up, you have a full room, and you hit go without previewing everything around you. Oops, you forgot your neatly folded clothes stacked behind you or a messy pile of papers that look like an unorganized nightmare. Take the time to set a background that is clutter-free and free of
unnecessary distraction.

7

HOW YOU START IS EVERYTHING

Before you start your webinar, recorded or not, engage those attendees coming into the room by name. Welcome them and thank them for coming. When you do start the webinar presentation, set the tone and pace for the webinar in advance, and don’t be afraid to drop in a CTA or two that attendees can get at the end of the seminar. For example, “As you can see we have quite a bit to cover in a short period of time, and I’m sure many of you will have questions along the way. (CTA One) Feel free to type your questions into the chat, and I’ll do my best to address them as we go. If you still have questions, or we didn’t have enough time to address them, (CTA Two) click on the link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation.”

8

CARROT, CARROTS, AND MORE CARROTS

Even with short presentations, perfect framing, and killer webinar skills, there’s a good chance your attendees will drop off. It’s too easy not to if they’re disengaged. Within the first 2-3 minutes, drop your carrot/offer right on your attendees lap for the first time — ideally with an offer icon popping up on the screen (WebinarJam makes this very simple). Then, about every 7-8 minutes of your presentation, find a reason to repeat your offer as a reminder and in case you had latecomers.

9

IF YOU OFFER, THEY WILL COME

Let prospects know they can immediately schedule a time with you for a phone appointment or virtual meeting, and allow them to click your offer to set that time right then and there through a scheduling link. Tools like Calendly make this easy.

10

EVERYONE LOVES ATTENTION. YEAH, I'M TALKING TO YOU.

As you see prospects clicking your offers (this is visible through WebinarJam’s platform), acknowledge them by name. “George — I see you scheduling times, that’s awesome! I look forward to talking with each of you soon!” Doing this occasionally, can help create “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out!) and prompt others to do the same.

11

ANECDOTES ARE BETTER WHEN THEY'RE RELEVANT

Rather than using “evergreen” client stories, adjust your stories right now to include client scenarios involving times of market correction, significant uncertainty, or concern about what to do financially.

12

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MEANS TAKING ACTION

Every webinar platform available (including WebinarJam, GoToWebinar, etc.) allows you to see attendee names. You can also see their questions in the chat. Always take the opportunity to acknowledge some of them by name. This is a great way to “create” an in-person experience while still being online.

13

WAIT, MORE SLIDES?

Contrary to many believes, more slides means certain death for your webinars. Keep the focus on you, not your slides. And keep your webinar short. Our attention span is nill and our time is ours, not yours. 

14

THE END IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

At the conclusion of your webinar, be mindful of the fact that you have likely just given your audience a lot to consider. Knowing that their minds may be full at that point, return on camera, and end with a soothing statement. Remind them to click on the link to schedule a virtual meeting or a phone call. Let them know you are here to answer their questions and thank them all for
joining today.