Webinars are perhaps the most powerful tool to increase your and your company’s visibility. Attracting new audiences is always important, and hosting an exciting event is one of the best ways to do it. But, of course, it is easier said than done.
The current market is oversaturated with many different webinars. With so much information everywhere, getting the attention of your desired audience is more challenging than ever. But don’t let that discourage you! If you have the proper knowledge and tools, you can easily host excellent webinars that will reach plenty of attendees.
Here are tips on how to get more participants for your next webinars.
Figure out who your audience is
The first and, perhaps, the most important step into getting more attendees is finding out who your public is. To reach more participants, you have to niche down. Nowadays, so much information is available. Therefore it is easy to get lost.
Did you know that the average person receives between 65 and 80 phone notifications a day? That is a lot. To survive, one must really think about what deserves their attention and what doesn’t.
It is important to be realistic – you won’t be able to attract every person in the world. That is why you have to define your audience. Go into a detailed profile consider what sets them apart from others. For example, you may target “students under twenty-five who live in smaller cities”.
Broad definitions such as “men from 30 to 45 years old” are useless.
Use education as a tool
If your webinars have some type of educational component to them, they are more likely to attract the interest of attendees. The idea is quite simple. Just imagine yourself – would you be interested in attending a webinar about a new product’s release? Unless you are already accustomed to it, probably not.
That is why it is so crucial to find something to attract your audience, and educational resources are one of the best ways to do it. People love to learn, so give them the opportunity to do it! Whether you are teaching your attendees how to use a specific tool, service, or product, make them feel like their time is well spent.
Pick your speakers carefully
If you really want to boost your webinar’s success, choosing a speaker that is not affiliated with your company is a good idea. Why? Like before, you have to realise people hate attending events that seem to be sales pitches.
But if you have external partners that aren’t directly associated with your company, your webinar will have more credibility. That, in turn, will attract more attendees. So how should you choose your speakers? There are many ways you can go.
Use the knowledge of researchers in the field, renowned consultants, and thought leaders. If they have real-life experience, they will add more value to your webinar. While it is good to use outside experts, you should also include professionals from your company.
Include exit-intent popups
Sure, popups can be annoying. But they can be really useful too. Exit-intent popups can effectively get the attention of your audience. However, they are not as intrusive as others often seem to be.
Just as your website’s visitor is about to leave, they will see a popup that features a registration to your webinar. This way, you can get more sign-ups with not too much hassle.
Don’t forget about a countdown timer
Another way of reaching more attendees is by creating a sense of urgency. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to use scandalous headlines or unrealistic offers. A countdown timer is the perfect tool to attract more sign-ups with little effort.
When the clock is ticking, you instinctively want to take some action. According to a case study, e-mails that feature countdown times have a 400% conversation rate. Not only do they inform your public when the webinar is going to start, but it also urges them to sign-up.
What is great, you can add them with almost any promotional materials you have. Whether you prefer to promote your event through your website or social media, a countdown timer can be easily included.
Choose a time that works best for your target group
The time and day of your webinar are of high importance. Even if you choose a topic and a speaker that interests your public, they won’t attend your event at a time that doesn’t suit them. If you wish to attract more attendees for your webinar, it is crucial to plan it at a time that fits your audience the best.
So how can you figure out what is the best choice? Well, it is pretty simple, actually. You have to ask your audience. Create a poll to see what would be the best day and time for your webinar. Furthermore, if you include your audience in the decision-making process, they will be more interested in participating.
Those who don’t want to make a poll can follow the advice of scientists. According to them, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are the best time to plan your event. Ideally, it should be hosted between 10 am to 11 am or 1 pm to 2 pm.
Whether it is your first time hosting a webinar or you are already a seasoned expert, reaching more attendees for your events is essential. The pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. Now, virtual events are considered a norm therefore fighting for the public’s attention is more intense than ever.
However, if you follow these steps, you are guaranteed to stand out in the crowd and make your public more excited about attending your webinars.
