A common question we get here at StealthSeminar is, “What is a live webinar?” Is it live, or is it recorded? There are actually two answers to this question.
One answer is that a live automated webinar can be presented live and recorded using our automated webinar service, so it can be used multiple times. Essentially, that’s turning one webinar into unlimited webinars.
The other answer is that it’s a webinar that is loaded into our automated webinar software that appears to your audience as if it were live, even though it’s been recorded earlier.
Confused? Don’t be. Because in this post, we’re breaking things down and you’ll learn:
- What is a live webinar?
- Tips on how to address questions that may come up in your presentation?
- Is automated webinar unethical?
Live Automated Webinar – Performed Live
When you log into our webinar software, you have the option to create a webinar and present it live to your registered webinar attendees at a predetermined date and time chosen by you. We integrate with YouTube Live and Ustream.tv, and both platforms allow you to record your webinar while you present it.
You will promote your webinar event to your audience and give them a unique link to your registration pages where they can sign up to attend the upcoming online events. In the days and weeks leading up to the live event, you can send your webinar audience a series of reminder emails to show up.
Then, when it’s time, you’ll go live and share your amazing presentation slides, and while you’re delivering your brilliance to the audience, your webinar will be recorded.
After the event ends, you can take that recording and send a link to the replay to your current audience of people who registered for the event but may have missed it. Or you can share it again “live” with completely new audience members.
Live Automated Webinar – Pre-recorded
Let’s say you have a webinar recorded with YouTube or Ustream.tv, or one that you’ve recorded in some other way. As long as the webinar recording is in a standard video format such as MP4, FLV, MOV, etc., you can load it into StealthSeminar and present it to your audience as if it were live.
The way it works is similar to that of live events.
Again, you will send a unique link to people who want to register for your event. They will select a date and time from a list of options you create to schedule webinar attendance, and they will show up to your webinar session at the time they choose to watch your presentation.
They can engage with your pre-recorded webinars in real-time through chat, adding comments as the video plays, similar to live chat during live streaming. Then, after it ends, just like with one performed live, you can send a replay link or some other follow-up correspondence.
Now, you might be thinking – but isn’t that lying or unethical to make it seem like a presentation is performed live when in fact, it is an automated webinar?
We believe it is up to you to decide your company’s own ethics. With that said, you don’t want to use phrases like “we’re live” when in fact, you’re presenting a webinar recorded in advance. Because yes, that would be lying.
With our webinar platform, you can make your on-demand webinars appear as live as you want them to. But, if you’re more comfortable being completely transparent, you can simply explain to your audience that it’s a recorded presentation that they are viewing.
The truth is that live automated webinars are becoming more popular for both companies and audiences because of the availability it provides to both parties.
More attendees can choose dates and times they want to view presentations, which gives them more freedom based on their own schedules. People hosting webinars, on the other hand, enjoy the freedom and flexibility of being able to use one solid video with webinar recording software over and over again.
Pre-recorded Webinar Doesn’t Have to Mean You Don’t Engage With Your Audience
When your only option is to present a webinar live, it puts a lot of pressure on you. You have to perfect your presentation ahead of time, set up a webinar room, lock in a time and date, choose the right webinar tools, and everything has to be working perfectly while you present. On top of everything else, you’ll need to address comments as they come in.
The trouble is so much can go wrong while you’re hosting live webinars. Your technology and internet connection can fail, and attendees might not be able to show up. You could get sick and be unable to deliver your optimal performance. Answering questions could derail your presentation. The list goes on and on.
However, when you deliver an automated webinar to your target audience as if it was live, your audience gets the best of both live and automated webinars. They can view a polished presentation and still engage with the content by adding questions and comments in real-time while it plays, just like in live webinars.
What about questions that come up during your presentation? How do you address them?
While you might not be able to address questions live while your webinar is playing, it doesn’t mean that you can’t answer them at all.
After your audience has viewed one of your automated webinars, you can then follow up with them personally addressing any questions, comments, or concerns they may have mentioned during the viewing.
Not only does this help you build a better relationship directly with your potential customer, but audience interaction can also give you insights you might not have had if they couldn’t have attended your live webinar during a designated date and time.
As time goes on, you’ll also get to know the common questions your audience is going to ask, and you can create a new pre-recorded webinar addressing those very issues.
Taking this simple step gives you another easy opportunity to show off your expertise, and will let your audience know you genuinely care about their questions and concerns.
Using a Live Automated Webinar Opens Your Company Up to New Possibilities
When you deliver live automated webinars, you can offer several dates and times for your audience to view them. In fact, you can run them as frequently as you desire. Our starter plan allows for unlimited events each month, with 150 attendees per event. And you can upload as many as 100 unique recorded webinars with the starter plan!
Picture this – you set up times for every 15 minutes, even late at night, for your automated webinars to be accessed. You set up some hyper-targeted ads on Facebook that direct potential customers to your registration page.
You also have landing pages and autoresponder emails in place, complete with a compelling call to action, so if anyone registers and/or watches the webinar, they can buy whatever you’re pitching at the end and have it delivered instantly.
Then, you go to bed knowing everything can run on autopilot. The next morning, you wake up to dozens of people buying your products or services because while you were sleeping, they registered for and attended your live automated webinar. How amazing would that be for your business?
Suddenly, you have a way to make money without even needing to be there. Can you imagine the possibilities that can open up for you if you can generate income regularly with one or more stellar automated webinars?
Knowing you have money coming in can give you the freedom and flexibility to hire a team, create new products and services, expand your current offerings, and so much more.
Is a Live Automated Webinar Right For You?
We believe live automated webinars can work for every industry. Our clients have seen amazing results using our software. However, we know the proof is in the proverbial pudding. We’re betting that soon after you start using it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t implement it into your sales funnel sooner! Learn more about growing your business with our webinar recording software here.
