How to Host a Really Cool Webinar: 4 Secrets
Miscellaneous / / April 21, 2021
Let's be honest, most of these online events are downright boring. And for good reason.
When it comes to serious work or training that requires attention and strength, entertainment is considered inappropriate. The creation of interactive online training events (webinars) is often treated the same way.
"Avoid banter!" - warnThe Ultimate Guide to Webinars: 41 Tips for Successful Webinars newbie consultants. And it spoils everything.
Why average webinars are boring
There are two key points.
1. Humor is important to successful online learning, but it isn't
Often times, a webinar is no different from an online work meeting. You can participate in Zoom ‑ dialing with colleagues, and then connect to the online training broadcast - and not notice any difference.
The people who create and run webinars often don't pay much attention to this work. It's just another routine item on their to-do list.
Meanwhile, one of the key factors in successful learning is to create the most relaxed, even fun atmosphere. Research
Assessing Fun Items ’Effectiveness in Increasing Learning of College Introductory Statistics Students: Results of a Randomized Experiment show that it is enough to add a few related jokes and funny stories to an online course, and listeners will remember the material much better.In addition, a bit of fun makes the participants rate the online classes higher and also speaks better about the professionalism of the instructor.
In general, if it's funny at a webinar, it will captivate, remember and appreciate. If not, they will most likely quickly forget.
2. It's easy to get distracted by something more interesting during a webinar.
The format of a massive online event, which is a webinar, is literally created in order to distract.
When you are in a face-to-face lecture in the same office as other people, you are less tempted and less able to engage in extraneous business. But at home, in front of a laptop or smartphone screen, multitasking starts to seem like a very attractive idea.
However, why not wash the dishes while listening to the webinar? Or, for example, not reply to a colleague's message that pops up in a separate window? You can also parse the mail. Hang up the laundry. Prepare something delicious.
Working people are sorely lacking in time, so few people miss the opportunity to combine a couple of things. However, multitasking is not as easy as it sounds.
Based on research resultsThis Is Your Brain on Multitasking, only 2% of people are able to efficiently perform multiple tasks at the same time.
As a result, if a webinar does not grab attention entirely, it turns out to be practically a dummy: the listener, being constantly distracted, will assimilate only a small part of the information.
How to make your webinar bright and memorable
For a webinar to be effective and memorable, you need to get rid of those moments that make it boring. Here are four steps to help you achieve your desired result.
1. Make your videos mesmerizing
Simply put, think in images and in short videosrather than words. If your slides are supposed to have text, make sure that in most cases it is no more than 15 words. Be sure to combine verbal information with pictures, mentions of different ideas, short funny stories about the topic. Use animations and transitions between different blocks of information to keep things moving.
2. Make your listeners laugh
Remember, for online learning to be effective, it must be engaging and enjoyable.
Robert Provine
Neuroscientist, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland.
One of the signs that you are enjoying yourself is joyful laughter.
Figure out how to get people to laugh - well, or at least smile. You may need to insert into the webinar a short video with a funny cat, which illustrates with his behavior one or another thesis you voiced. Or prepare some nifty anecdotes to tell at the right time.
3. Make your listeners feel like one team
When people become aware of themselves as members of a new team, they begin to try a little more - in order to impress and not let their colleagues down. Therefore, create an urge for the participants to interact. Provoke situations in which they might feel like they have similar life stories and the same goals, and began to support each other.
4. Engage your listeners in the process
When a person has to do something with his hands, it is more difficult for him to be distracted than if he just listens. Therefore, generously add small polls and contests.
Ask questions that can be answered by placing an X in chat or raising your hand in front of the camera. Insist that it is essential for you as a facilitator to know the opinions, circumstances, and goals of the listeners. This will make webinar participants more active and make them focus on the online lesson.
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