Lessons Learned from Conducting Webinars

I have conducted a few Webinars now so the time has come to document some lessons learned.

I have conducted webinars both live, and recorded. I prefer recorded, but it still requires a lot of work because it has to be even more polished and professional.

My live Webinars that I do to promote my consultancy work and products I use MeetingBurner.com and I have done Webinars for other people they have typically used Gotomeeting.com. I like MeetingBurner.com because it is affordable and easy to use.

I've created this braindump list, and might revisit it in the future if anyone wants me to elaborate any of the points, and as I learn more.

Webinar Lessons Learned

• If you are just using slides then use presentation mode and share the full screen. Drop your screen resolution down to the recording level you are going to use.
• This helps prevent issues with screen resizing that I've seen happen with GotoMeeting (i.e. people watching only see the top left of your screen)
• If you are switching between apps etc. then use your normal resolution but share only a portion of the screen at the resolution you want people to see e.g. 1280x720
• Use a good microphone
• Test the audio quality from your microphone using Audacity or your screen recording tool
• If you use a headset mic then position it to avoid breathing noises as much as possible (test for this using audacity)
• Practice the audio level you need to speak at to get a consistent sound throughout the Webinar
• I now use a Blue Yeti and have it on a microphone stand rather than the desk stand to avoid 'desk bashing' 'mouse moving' or 'keyboard noise'
• Practice
• Know what you are going to say
• Run it through at least once
• Logistics
• Set the expectations at the start of the webinar for logistics e.g. use chat for questions, I won't support you for sound, this will be recorded etc. etc.
• Maintain a checklist of logistics for your webinar and keep it up to date e.g. anything you learn in the webinar - add to the checklist so you don't forget

Recorded Webinar Lessons Learned

• Use a recorded webinar if you are not going to answer people's questions verbally
• Use a script. This helps it stay to time and make sure you get your message across clearly.
• Edit the recording to remove uhms, ahs etc.
• Say it adhoc, write it down, create slides around content, repeat
• Add more slides than you would if you were presenting because you need to keep the visual elements moving. So don't use bulleted slides, use a slide per bullet. Keep the visuals changing every 30 seconds or so.
• Use a good microphone. I know use a Blue Yeti and have it on a microphone stand rather than the desk stand to avoid 'desk bashing' 'mouse moving' or 'keyboard noise'

Live Webinar Lessons Learned

• Play music During the setup before you star the meeting
• Play this so that the microphone you will use picks it up - this is a good test that your audio is working
• Practice - this helps create more slides than normal and so you know what the timing will be
• Have a recording of your practice session so that if it all goes wrong you can at least upload the practice session to youtube
• Create a local recording as well as any Webinar hosting recording. Your local recording will be better quality.
• Talk
• even if you are fiddling trying to solve a problem e.g. your microphone slipped, or you are answering a chat message of someone on the webinar
• the audience don't know what is going on, you have to tell them

MeetingBurner Lessons Learned

• Configure your account prior to any meetings
• Use the "My Account" tab to edit all your defaults
• Ensure your meeting room URL sends the message you want, amend it to your company name if you want to brand it as your company.
• Edit your profile if you want to brand your page with your company logo
• Configure your default Meeting Room settings (I've listed the important ones below)
• I don't:
• show the participant list
• because people can be anonymous if they want to
• take the meeting temperature
• it would only distract me
• have screen sharing only mode
• because I want people to be able to chat and use headsets
• I do:
• Allow chat 
• becuase I want people to interact and help each other with sound issues etc. while I get on with the webinar
• Enable full size recordings
• This is incredibly important and I think should be the default, but it isn't so make sure you set it.
• Show the listen button
• because I want people to use computer speakers and headsets
• Require Registration
• so I can contact people
• Allow sms reminders
• set Sharing Quality to "Best Quality"
• The screen portion doesn't show sizes so have a size window on your screen so you can tell what size to make your sharing window - I setup Camtasia Studio to record a portion of the screen of the correct resolution then use the Camtasia Studio on screen recording guide to size my MeetingBurner window.
• Make sure you switch screen sharing on before you start - add this to your checklist

My Current CheckList

• Meeting Creation and promotion
• Created Meeting
• Added meeting to my calendar
• Sent Invites
• Tweeted
• Blogged
• Double Check Meeting configuration
• Recording at high res
• Capture Emails and Names
• Created Intro Slides
• Logistics slides
• Practiced content
• On the day
• Retweet webinar existence with sign up link and time
• Conducted Test Meeting
• Checked Audio
• Checked Recording
• Checked transmission
• Cheat sheets printed
• Cheat sheets visible on screen but outside recording area
• Prior to meeting start - 10 to 15 minutes prior to meeting
• Start meeting
• Start Recording on MeetingBurner
• Start Recording on Camtasia Studio
• Play music so it can be picked up through the microphone
• In chat window say "Can you hear the music?"
• In chat window say "Can you see the slides?"
• Be quiet, but welcome people and answer any questions in chat
• Periodically say "We will be starting in X minutes"
• End of meeting
• Thank everyone
• Stay on to answer chat for a while
• Finish on time
• Stop meetingburner recording
• Stop local recording