Youtube live or Webinar? Which one is effective?

Youtube live or Webinar? Which one is effective? | Beginner’s guide

Posted August 25, 2020

Since the beginning of this pandemic, several events have been dropped everywhere throughout the world, and waking up to the updates on the consequences of this pandemic has become the new typical. Since numerous places across the globe have actualized “stay-at-home” orders, businesses and companies of all sizes have been compelled to shut down their physical shops and definitely limit services.

With clients incapable to wander out, visit shops, and attend events, having an advanced mode of reaching people is a higher priority in this current situation. Companies have immediately pondered what techniques would be the right fit to continue operations despite the inevitable consequences of this pandemic.

With the advancement of technology, companies are now utilizing social media and webinar platforms to sustain their business ventures without risking their employees’ security and health. Though it is a bit futuristic, big and small businesses are now embracing virtual events which by nature can allow their audience to experience the same thing as if it were on real gatherings.

In this course, we will continue to cover the nature, pros, and cons of online meetings which can help you to choose which one will be effective for your business.

What is the webinar?

Some of you might encounter this term “webinar” while scrolling your timeline, and because you think it’s just a typical term, you continue scrolling through your timeline. You miss the opportunity to know the significance of webinars in your business is especially this time of the pandemic.

So what is a webinar? In a nutshell, a webinar is an online event where web activities or web meetings can happen in real-time. A typical webinar usually includes a speaker or group of speakers talking about specific matters with their numerous audiences.

With that being said, the webinar also allows its audience to engage in a question and answer portions, polls, and surveys.

What is Webcasting?

Online collaborative services, specifically webcasting is becoming an increasingly popular mode of organizations to host live events and connect with their audience. You might be familiar with this term but we’re pretty sure things are not clear for you of what really webcasting is.

So what exactly is webcasting? Or web-based broadcasting? In simple terms, Webcasting is a media presentation which can be held online using streaming technologies to distribute sort of information to simultaneous audiences.

But this is only a gist of webcasting definition, as we continue this course we will focus on streaming media platforms to help you choose what would be the most effective one for your business. To simplify, I will break down these platforms into 2 sections.

Live streaming using social media platforms

These streaming media technologies are the least expensive option you may use in hosting your event. Most likely it would only cost you a cell phone and fast internet connection.

These platforms are also better for reaching your audience conveniently, that is to say, with almost billions using these social media platforms, you can have wide reach as well as a great influence to your listeners and viewers.

Facebook and Instagram live allow you to utilize its features such as microphones and audio signals for better presentation. It also allows feeds and comments in real-time from your audience making your presentation somehow interactive.

As well as Facebook and Instagram, Youtube is likewise a great platform to use in webcasting. YouTube garnered so much popularity because it is free to use and it has flexible features.

Unlike other platforms, Youtube doesn’t require a long registration process. A Youtube account will be your first and last thing to provide and viola! You can now make your own youtube live event.

As most of the people are sticking around on this website to watch various presentations and videos, your Youtube live might be the next interest of the simultaneous audience. With the simple utilization of these platform settings, you can host your event successfully without making too much effort to get your audiences.

Webcasting using robust platforms

GoToMeeting, Zoom, Webex, and skype are some of the most used platforms in webcasting. Unlike social media, these platforms allow you to have a more decent presentation for instance by using visual contents such as powerpoints and video playback.

It also provides Q&A sections, polls, and surveys as well as private chat rooms. With that being said, you can be more flexible using these features resulting in a more decent presentation and eventually will build your professional image.

One of the platforms that are best for webinars is JetWebinar. A seamless, high-quality webinar platform that is best for large scale events due to its limitless capacity for attendees. Your webinar will be downloaded directly to the cloud making it accessible to all types of devices.

What are the advantages?

Advantages of webinar

Any webinar platform has an embedded mode for visual presentations such as photos, powerpoints, videos, as well as other features like private chat rooms, QandA section, polls, and surveys. Also, webinars can be really flexible in terms of making an appealing and pleasant presentation.

With special webinar customization tools, you can change the background of your webinar room and you can add some banners and add logos as well. These features allow presenters to display and offer a decent presentation to their audience.

With almost 4 billion users on the internet, a webinar is one of the greatest virtual events to reach an audience from remote and far places. With that being said, Webinars are not limited to specific areas only but also can reach people across borders and seas!

Webinars are financially savvy. Hosting a Webinar, won’t require too much cost from you! In fact, hosting a webinar is one of the cheapest. Since it is online you won’t spend a significant amount of money to sustain your event.

Advantages of Webcasting

Webcasting is financially savvy. Who would want to spend a significant amount of money? In light of the fact that everybody is continually searching for helpful ways to save money on costs, webcasting is unquestionably a more financially savvy approach to host and stream an event.

With just the cost of internet service subscription, audiences can use applications on their mobile phones to stream online.

Webcasting can access audiences across the globe. Since it utilizes the internet as its foundation, webcasting permits the speaker or moderator to get countless watchers simultaneously.

Most of your target audience uses the internet most of the time and to this degree, webcasting can expose your event to all of the internet users. Webcasting allows you to tune in from anyplace and at any time.

You don’t need a cozy place to live stream, whether on your couch or bed as long as you get the most updated webcasts. In addition, Webcasts are a convenient and innovative way of sharing and storing important information that can be easily accessed by your audience.

Why do we need a webinar and webcasting?

It is not surprising why businesses and companies of all sizes are utilizing online collaborative services. Initially, it is their main mode of communicating with their audience and lastly, it is a tool for growing their business.

But what we don’t usually recognize is the significance of these virtual events in the lives of normal people. These online services, though ignored by many, provides us with the latest and necessary information we need to know.

In a nutshell, these online collaborative services don’t only provide its purpose to businesses, organizations, and companies but most importantly these can be a better means for disseminating necessary information to keep everyone informed.

Difference between Webinar and Webcasting?

Characteristics of webinars

Webinars are “few-to-many” events where a speaker or group of speakers presents their content to its attendees.
Webinars can be accessed by its attendees across the globe
One unique aspect of the webinar is that it is highly interactive. It has embedded features such as private chat rooms, screen sharing, polls, and surveys.
Webinars can be recorded and can be streamed in HD quality

Characteristics of webcasting

Webcasts can reach a large number of attendees.
Webcasts can be in the format of Facebook and Youtube live.
Webcasts can be used as electronic learning tools where students can freely stream through social media platforms.
No significant interactions are happening during the broadcast.

In a nutshell, a webinar is best likely to be used in information-sharing as well as promoting services, conducting seminars and workshops. It prompts interactive engagement between the presenter and its audience.

Webcasting on the other hand is best likely to be utilized in having corporate events such as announcements, conferences, or some trivial presentations.

What are the disadvantages?

Disadvantages of webinar

One of the principal drawbacks of webinars is the absence of coordination and cooperation between the speaker and the audience. Since everything is directed on the web, participants might be occupied with distractions around them.

Due to technical difficulties, moderators’ performance might have interfered. Since your audience is using various means to connect with your event i.e computers, laptops with different working frameworks, and web associations, compatibility might be a concern at a time.

A webinar can only happen for a limited time, there might be restrictions to access a replay or no replay by any means.

Non-verbal communication is absent on webinars. There is no applauding or handshakes which prompts the absence of eagerness.

Disadvantages of Webcasting

One of the major drawbacks of webcasting using social media platforms is its annoying ads. Your audience might find it inconvenient and eventually leave your event.

Webcasting is not a good means for interaction and engagement. Though the audience can comment on a designated comment box, it might not be addressed by the presenter due to several limitations.

Webcasting solely relies on internet connection. If you happened to have a poor internet connection, this might get some trouble in your presentation.

You might experience audio disruptions, lags, and video interference. Webcasting is not easy as you may think, having poor audio and the visual display will cause significant drawbacks on your performance.

Conclusion

It is still up to you on which is likely to be utilized in hosting your event, but lastly, I need you to remember these key aspects to consider in choosing your format. If you are to share significant content regarding business, workshops, or seminars that need interactive engagement from your audience, you must consider using webinars than webcasting.

Otherwise, if you will share some educational, trivial, and corporate announcements that don’t need significant interactions, webcasting is the best way to go.

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Dianne Vimmel