Best Webinar Software

We all have been a part of video conferencing at least once in our life. Even if not, we have seen people on video conferencing sharing conversations, documents, and other data. These video calls and meetings are usually held over internet-based software. For video connection to take place, both parties must have the same webinar software installed on their system.

What is Webinar Software?

An abbreviated form of a web-based seminar, a webinar is a presentation, workshop, lecture, or seminar that is conducted over the web or the internet with the help of video conferencing software. The virtual webinar software exchanges the data and information in real-time and hence is one of the most sought software by the corporates.

Webinar software is loaded with webinar tools, that is, tools that are part of virtual webinar software and help in exchange for various information. The webinar tools help the easy exchange of data over audio, video, document sharing, and application exchange. Supported by updated technology, the webinar tools today also offer live streaming of the session and record the webinar to publish it on youtube channels further.

A webinar can be divided into two parts:

1. Live Webinar

   Live webinars are those that take place in real time. They are usually used for internal team communication/meetings or with the audience to have an interaction between the business and the audience and take sessions, such as live Q & A sessions.

   These are usually web-based or cloud-based webinar software. A cloud-based webinar is based on cloud technology and has enormous data space with sharing done in real time. They are highly secure and encrypt data transmission over the server.

2. Pre-recorded Webinars

   Pre-recorded webinars are usually video recordings uploaded with informational content. Unlike live webinars, they aren’t interactive and only talk about the business and the information they want to circulate. However, they have an advantage over Live webinars in terms of a replay of the video and hence can be played multiple times.

What is an Online Seminar?

An online seminar is a seminar conducted virtually with the presence of an online instructor. The instructor and the attendees communicate with each other as if they were attending a physical seminar.

Webinar software is a way to conduct these online seminars in a user-friendly manner with the use of cloud-based solutions. These Webinar Software tools apply across many businesses, professions, and even educational organizations. These are the strategically designed tools that facilitate the job of engaging many attendants through high-definition audio and video calling. These tools have a query-solving platform, public and private chatbox, and integrated polling. The Webinar Software is equipped with a screen-sharing feature to explain the pictorial content. Also, the online seminars can easily be recorded, edited, and shared virtually for future reference.

A webinar is the most commonly used synonym for online seminars. It’s a combination of two terms- web and seminar. So it’s an online form of lecture, conference, or workshop.

What are the Key Features of Webinar Software?

With many webinar software available in the market, the best one is chosen based on the available features. Following are a few of the common webinar solutions available in the market:

• Multiple Presenter can be present online at a single time

• Video file sharing over a single platform

• Live chat for all the attendees

• Screen sharing in real-time

• Option to play pre-recorded videos

• Conference option for viewers to attend the live video

• Cross-linking of the software with the social media networks

• Attendees can have live Q&A sessions, Polls, and feedback forms

• Calendar scheduling and invites

• Text communication via chat

• Sharing and Downloading of files and other material

• Real-time audio, video, and text-based communication.

• Ease of making presentations with the help of text or data content, slideshows, and documents.

• Facilitates the downloading, recording, and sharing of online seminars.

• It can be used for conducting MCQs, surveys, polls, exams, and quizzes.

• Ease of interaction between the presenter and the audience using chats, polls, surveys, quizzes, and questionnaires.

• Even attendees can share the online seminar invite with others through social media links.

• Corporates buying enterprise webinar solutions are also provided with additional features of linking it to external applications, such as CRM Platforms and Email Marketing Tools.

What are the Benefits of Using Webinar Software?

A webinar, real-time video conferencing software, is loaded with numerous benefits for the business. With the help of the tips of webinars, a business can conduct meetings and conferences anywhere, therefore cutting down the need for a physical presence at the office.

Following are a few of the benefits of virtual webinar software:

• Live chat and interaction between the attendees and host and attendees. This improves internal communication and lets everyone in the room participate effectively. A webinar, with the presence of the audience, allows the host to interact with the audience in real-time. Online seminars are interactive. The audience can get their queries solved through chats or emails.

• The live presence of an individual always adds more value to the content. Webinar solutions help the host connect with the audience with a virtual presence made physically over a live video call. We can attend online seminars from any place in this world. We need not visit the venue personally.

• Webinars can be recorded for future use. It can also be used as a marketing tool to market the business interaction with the live audience hence promoting the sensitivity of business towards the mass. It can also be further used in workshops and seminars so as to explain the company process.

• Since there is a limited place in the meeting room and everyone can’t be accommodated, the webinar cuts down this limitation welcomes everyone on board, and seeks the individuals' input over the same.

• The less the travel cost involved in traveling individuals from one place to another for the meeting, the more cost-saving it is for the company.

• The automated webinar software is pre-recorded online webinars that can be hosted anytime and anywhere with the minimum number of resources involved. The automated webinar software is called so as they help record the video and can be accessed anytime, unlike live streaming.

• Easy to share minutes of the meeting and other information post-meeting. Important documents can also be shared during the meeting without any hustle.

• Unlike physical seminars with limited seats, online seminars can incorporate unlimited attendees.

• Hosting online seminars by use of Webinar Software is much more affordable than conducting a physical seminar at a rented venue with rented equipment.

• Using the right Webinar Software provides a professional look to your seminar by enhancing the overall appearance and engaging the audience.

With the above-listed benefits of a webinar, it can be utilized as a classic face-to-face seminar for institutes and corporates. Teaching content can be shared with a large number of students through pre-recorded webinars, this content could be class lecture recordings, Q & A sessions, study material sharing, Live text chat, etc. Online seminars play a major role in e-learning. Distance learning programs are all based on webinars – recorded and live lectures.

For corporates, the best Webinar software plays the following roles:

• Press Conferences

• Presentation of products

• Meetings

• Software training courses

• Online interviews with multiple candidates

• Lead generation and sales

Types of Webinar Software?

We can categorize webinar software options based on the type of seminar:

1. Live online webinar tool

   Such seminars are conducted at a specific time on a specific day. There is no scope for editing or re-doing the content which has gone live. If the attendant gets late, he misses out on a section of the seminar.

2. On-Demand online webinar tool

   The online seminar tool records the seminar content and makes it accessible to the audience at their own flexible time. It incorporates the feature of polls and quizzes.

3. Automated online webinar tool

   It follows a set procedure whereby the presenter records and uploads the seminar on the platform. Thereafter the time of release is set. When the time arrives, the seminar gets streamed to the live audience.

Things To Consider When Buying Online Webinar Software?

1. The aim of the online seminar

   The choice of Webinar Software depends on the motive behind conducting the seminar. If an online seminar aims to build a community, then the chosen software should enable networking too. If the seminar has over one speaker for online discussion, then the software should enable multi-speaker sessions and screen sharing.

2. Budget

   The multiple online seminar tool available in the market come with different price tags attached to them. So choose an option that meets the expected ROI of an online seminar and does not compromise on quality.

3. Quality

   Don’t compromise the quality of the online seminar tool. It can rupture your image as a speaker and also spoil the experience of the attendees. Opt for a device that supports HD-quality audio and video.

4. Engagement

   The level of engagement provided by online seminar tools is different. Some software options support interaction between the speaker and audience, while others allow seminar broadcasting. For example, Airmeet software comes with interactive features like “Raise Hand,” “Emojis,” “ChatBox,” “Q&A,” etc.

5. User-friendly

   The tool should be easy to use. It should be easy to set up operations, schedule the recordings, share, etc. It should be easy for the attendees to access information, watch the seminar and also listen to it when needed.

6. Security

   Meeting security, user data security, and privacy are among the most significant factors to be considered when choosing software.

7. Audience size

   Opt for a webinar software option that enables you to incorporate a large size audience in the minimal price plan.

8. Recording session

   The software should allow the recording of live sessions. Recorded seminars are great for future reference and for further sharing on social media and other virtual platforms. Often the snippets from previously registered seminars are used as teasers for upcoming live sessions.

9. Networking

   Choose an online seminar tool that supports networking. This ensures a two-way interaction between the audience and speaker, even post the live session. Some software has the option of a social lounge with virtual tables for genuine virtual connections.

10. Analytical tracking of data

    Opt for a tool that allows the analytical monitoring of audience engagement and audience satisfaction to measure the success of the seminar. We can conduct polls to get honest feedback from the audience during the continuity of the seminar.

Challenges to Online Seminar Software Implementation

1. Faulty equipment

   Even the best software option can’t combat the challenges put forth by faulty hardware. So opt for equipment that is reliable and does not cause frequent malfunctions. Technical drawbacks can destroy the image and setup of a well-planned online seminar within seconds. Take tests before initiating a final drive to minimize the technical challenges.

2. Digital experience

   Lack of digital experience in handling online seminar tools creates a challenge at actual times. To overcome this challenge, one needs regular practice with the software and hardware too.

3. Distraction among attendees

   Distracted attendees is among the major challenge faced during the use of online seminar tool. It becomes difficult for the audience to remain focused on a virtual seminar when there are other online happenings like social media and emails popping up every moment.

4. Lack of personalization

   Like every other digital experience, even Webinar Software has its share of pros and cons. The tool can do everything but still can not provide the level of personal touch a physical seminar can give. This makes it challenging for the presenter to connect with the audience on an actual level.

5. Low self-esteem

   In physical seminars, one can get an idea about the number of potential attendees based on the number of tickets sold. But with online seminars, it’s a game of chance. The virtual world does not guarantee any percentage of attendance. People register but don’t turn up for the session. It’s common. So the self-esteem of the speaker gets a hard hit when instead of 50, only 15 appear in the session.

Market Trends of Using Webinar Software

Webinars are the most widely accepted and adopted software for addressing the mass. It can be used by institutes, businesses, to corporates for multiple purposes. While an educator uses it to reach a wider audience of students, a business utilize webinar for conducting meetings remotely, training, and updating employees.

Following are the most sought marketing trends of virtual webinar software:

1. Webinar as a Marketing and Sales Tool

   The best webinar software is a marketing and sales tool for the business. It’s part of the brand’s marketing strategy and helps them to grow by sharing the information over recorded videos on platforms such as their website and youtube. They can be successfully used by solopreneurs, small businesses, and startups. Requesting registrations on webinars helps increase the email list and engage the interested audience to grow the business by virtual presence significantly. This engagement and data can be further used to pitch in the products and services.

2. Free Content to Increase Email Data 

   While webinars, make sure to pitch in with the sales dialogue at the end. It’s difficult for businesses to create and follow a no-pitch webinar based on the e-mail list. The companies offer freebies in the form of webinars with content such as lessons on marketing, upcoming trends in marketing, investment trends, etc, based on the interest of the target audience. These webinars are available to download upon the successful registration of the user. Hence, creating a database for the company.

   The main focus of such webinars is to focus on relationship building and provide content that adds value rather than focusing on the sales pitch-in.

3. Live Q & A Sessions

   Another benefit of using a webinar is to conduct an interactive Live Q & A session for your audience to have a smooth conversation virtually. Such webinars can be recorded over automated webinar software and can be used to answer the audience’s questions about the product/services. A product demonstration can also be provided over the video.

   The best webinar software automates the process in the Live Q & A session, that is, adding new joiners in the chat and updating in real-time, entertaining text messages in the video, automating the quality and reach of the video, recording the live video so it can be used later, etc.

   Besides businesses, this feature can also be used by independent artists, authors, filmmakers, etc., and can be used to seek audience input for the next art piece.

4. Live Training Sessions

   If you have a remote team, the webinar is one of the best ways to train them. The training and development team can train the sales team located at some other location, the software training by the IT team can be conducted remotely, etc.

   With the use of top webinar software, these webinars can be recorded and circulated so as to avoid the costs involved in conducting the training every time with the mass. For all the missing candidates in the meeting, these recorded videos are beneficial.

No matter what type of business you’re in, a webinar used properly can not only help with an appealing online presence but also increase sales two-fold. With all the listed benefits and features, a business must opt for a top webinar software that fulfills the business needs while connecting your audience well with the product, establishing an experience, and reaching your business sales goals. Under technical requirements, webinar software only requires a webinar platform, Camera, Microphone, and internet connection. For businesses with a budget constraint, youtube is the best platform to host a webinar for free.

Now that you know what a webinar is, you’re ready to create one!