Key takeaways:

• Webinars are one of the most effective ways people can market themselves, their brand, or their company. 
• Professional-quality webinars require professional-level video and audio production skills and techniques. 
• Working as a professional webinar producer can lead to a lucrative career. 

If you’re marketing yourself, a company, or a brand without webinar content, you’re likely missing out on one of the most effective marketing tools available today. Webinars are interactive, informative, and cost-effective. Due to their online nature, webinars can reach anyone with internet access instead of in-person events that require attendees to travel to a physical location. 

It’s not enough, though, to simply have webinar content in your marketing toolbox. Your virtual presentation has to stand out and deserves professional-level video and audio production. To better understand what it takes to produce high-quality webinar content, make sure to check out our guide below. 

What Is Required For a Webinar? 

A basic webinar doesn’t require much more than a baseline computer or laptop from a technical perspective. Attendees only need internet access and audio devices to hear the presentation. The audio device can be the internet-connected device’s built-in speakers or a pair of headphones or earbuds. If there’s an interactive component to the webinar, they will also need a microphone. This shouldn’t be a hurdle, though, as the rise of virtual meetings has led to the inclusion of microphones in many of the devices that also supply audio. 

Hosting a webinar requires the same equipment an attendee needs with a few additions. The host or producer will need to use webinar software that allows them to present to attendees. They may also need a webcam if they plan on making themselves visible during the presentation. 

Of course, these requirements are just for a basic slide-show style presentation with only one speaker. If you’re looking to include subject matter experts for a Q-and-A session, as an example, you’ll need to procure your SMEs well ahead of time and make sure they have the necessary tools, too.  

The more people who present or attend may also necessitate a dedicated partner to handle any technical issues that arise. While most webinar software is fairly intuitive at this point, common issues like audio that isn’t syncing with the video or malfunctioning equipment are bound to occur at some point. Having someone focuses solely on those types of issues can better ensure they don’t detract from your presentation. 

How Much Does It Cost to Produce a Webinar? 

There are a variety of costs that go into producing a high-quality webinar. The first and most obvious is the cost of the webinar software itself.  

While there are examples of free webinar software, they are typically limited in features and the number of people who can attend. Most webinar software companies also know that these events tend not to be one-offs. This allows them to offer subscription plans that provide better features than their free plans and include unlimited hosts or attendees. You can expect to spend between $150 to $500 per month for professional-level webinar software. 

If you already have a computer, headphones, webcam, and microphone, which is possible, you won’t have to spend anything additional on equipment. If you’re starting from scratch, though, you can expect to spend around $500 total on these necessary tools. That price can shoot much higher if you decide to go with top-tier equipment or have unique needs for your presentation. 

Promotion of your webinar is the last significant charge to consider. Many marketing experts suggest spending around half of your budget on promotion. Ideally, you should focus on a mix of advertising channels, such as social media, pay-per-click, and third-party advertising services.  

There are ways to reduce costs. Learning video and audio production techniques, for example, can serve as an investment in your business as those skills will add consistent value to your webinars. Since the webinar is mostly a visual and audio experience, it makes sense to learn and develop those skills yourself to separate yourself from the competition. 

How Do You Create a Successful Webinar? 

Creating a successful webinar takes preparation, video, and audio production skills and a salesperson’s commitment. If you don’t have these qualities, it will be hard to end up with an engaging webinar. However, if you have those listed qualities, you should find a path to success by following this general formula: 

1. Know your audience. Your webinar’s topic should be compelling and intriguing to your target audience. 
2. Choose the right webinar platform. This may take some experimenting, but once you find the right one for your needs, stick with it. 
3. Pick the right date for your webinar. You want a date that’s convenient for your attendees but not so convenient; they’re okay with canceling last minute because they’ll catch the next tone. 
4. Purchase the right equipment for your needs. A lot of times, you can get by with the budget-picks on your preferred online review website, but don’t be afraid to invest in high-quality, reliable equipment. 
5. Promote your webinar. Utilize social media, SEO, and word-of-mouth to put your webinar marketing in front of your target audience. 
6. Interact with your audience. A 90-minute presentation of one speaker droning on and on won’t make people excited to tell others about your presentation. Incorporate question-and-answer sections throughout the webinar and be willing to improvise if your audience seems excited about a certain tangent. 
7. Rehearse your presentation. Practice makes perfect, and reading your script aloud will help you hear confusing passages or other issues better than just reading it silently. 
8. Engage afterward. When you follow up with your attendees, you can ask for feedback and incorporate it into future presentations. You can also reach out to those who couldn’t attend and make sure they have a link to or copy of a recording of the webinar. 

How Do You Create Webinar Content? 

To create an effective, engaging webinar, you’ll need video and audio production techniques to craft a multi-media presentation. Using video clips, interactive graphics, and audio components can help ensure you never lose your attendees’ attention.  That doesn’t mean you can’t use visual text in your presentation, but you should use it sparsely yet creatively whenever possible. 

Your webinar should speak to your creative spirit. If you’re stuck playing with simple tools than anyone can master in an afternoon, you’ll likely leave your audient wanting. So, it’s essential to develop and grow your production skills to build a unique presentation. 

Want to Learn How to Produce High-Quality Webinars? Enroll at The Media Schools!

The Media Schools of Colorado, Ohio, Illinois, and Miami, can help you learn video and audio production techniques that will benefit your webinar. Our classes are designed around the belief that anyone can develop these skills and build a lucrative career out of producing professional-quality webinars. 

To learn more about our production programs, fill out our online form, and we’ll reach out to you with additional information.