In this post, you\u2019re going to learn why and how to use webinars for employee training. You\u2019re also going to get some tips on how to make your online presentations more engaging.<\/p>\n
But first, let\u2019s see what a webinar is and how it works.<\/strong><\/p>\n A webinar is an online seminar, workshop or presentation. Hosts meet virtually with attendees at a predefined time to share knowledge and answer questions. Note that the term \u201cwebinar\u201d is sometimes used to describe online conferences and marketing events, too. But, here, we\u2019re going to focus on employee training webinars.<\/strong><\/p>\n Think, for example, the following scenarios where a company wants to:<\/strong><\/p>\n They all have something in common: it\u2019s difficult to gather those employees at the same time, at the same location. That\u2019s where training webinars come in handy. But there\u2019s more than that.<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s see in more detail how webinars can boost your learning and development efforts.<\/p>\n If you only use webinars when employees are in different locations, you\u2019re scratching the surface. Online employee training can replace – or support – your offline training (in-person conferences, written resources, etc.).<\/p>\n That\u2019s because training webinars help:<\/strong><\/p>\n From booking large venues to covering travel expenses, onsite conferences could hurt your budget. Think of the money you\u2019ll be saving if you move your training online.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll only need to set up your webinar software<\/strong> – it could be something like Zoom<\/a> or GoToMeeting<\/a> – and create an event that trainees can join remotely. Since you don\u2019t have to pay for travel and accommodation, you could even invite subject-matter experts to make sure your employees learn from the best.<\/strong><\/p>\n Onsite events usually involve tasks that have nothing to do with the actual learning, like making travel arrangements or preparing the venue.<\/p>\n With online training, you can skip all that.<\/strong> Scheduling a webinar is as quick as booking a meeting with your team. That lets you focus on what matters the most:<\/strong> preparing the content and the takeaways of the course.<\/em><\/p>\n Also, written training material needs constant updates which, again, takes time. But, when trainees communicate live with the instructor, they get relevant knowledge and answers on the spot. <\/strong><\/p>\n All this time you\u2019re saving means that employee training doesn\u2019t have to be a large, one-off event you\u2019re planning for months. You can train employees as often as needed.<\/strong><\/p>\n Not everyone can attend day-long workshops.<\/strong> And even those who do, won\u2019t always feel comfortable networking or raising their hand to ask a question. Webinars make training feel more \u201cat home\u201d as employees can watch from wherever they are and use live chat to communicate with the instructor.<\/strong><\/p>\n Besides, due to high costs, conference tickets are usually a benefit for more senior employees. But why exclude the rest of your employees? Webinars are a cost-effective way to develop all employees\u2019 skills.<\/strong> They can largely impact your employee retention as 94% of employees say they\u2019d stay longer at a company if it helped them learn and grow<\/a>.<\/p>\n Interaction captures trainees\u2019 attention<\/strong>, namely 82% of employees<\/a> think interactive videos (including quizzes, additional material or even personalization) keep them more interested compared to traditional videos. That\u2019s particularly useful for topics that require full attention and understanding (call me compliance training<\/a>).<\/p>\n You don\u2019t want employees to see training as another box to tick; you want to make sure they\u2019re engaged. A live webinar prompts employees to participate which makes training more memorable<\/strong>, as opposed to simply reading a manual.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to forget about a webinar the moment the live session ends. Consider recording and storing the videos for future use.<\/strong><\/p>\n For example, a webinar about management skills might not be relevant for junior employees now but could be a useful resource once they get more experienced. Also, employees can access this on-demand webinar library to develop their skills or gain new knowledge at their own pace.<\/p>\n Host webinars, not just video calls! Whether you\u2019re training internal teams or external partners, training webinars can boost customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say that you noticed a decline in sales.<\/strong> You can quickly set up an online training session to provide your salespeople with new sales techniques they can apply right away.<\/p>\n You can also host a sales training webinar every month or quarter, where your employees will update their product and market knowledge. With those webinars, you make sure all salespeople get consistent training,<\/strong> without having to bring everyone in the same room. Also, in-between webinars, you can assign your teams some online sales training courses<\/strong><\/a> to make sure they refresh their knowledge.<\/p>\n Different people and different teams have unique training needs. But, conferences appeal to a larger audience, so they leave little or no room for flexibility<\/strong> when it comes to presentations and takeaways. Instead, training webinars target specific skills and goals.<\/p>\n For example, one sales team might need to develop negotiation skills while another should focus on relationship building. Don\u2019t give your employees generic training just for the sake of it.<\/strong> Provide them with actionable tips that are meaningful for their work.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t always have to hire a professional instructor to run a webinar; your own employees could do the trick<\/strong>.<\/p>\n For example, let\u2019s say you want to implement inVision to your design team but already have a colleague who\u2019s an expert user. They could host a training session for the team.<\/strong> Why would you pick them over an external instructor, though? Because this is an opportunity to show your employees you trust them and acknowledge their skills.<\/p>\n Also, if you hire remote employees, it\u2019s a good idea to ask their peers to onboard them online.<\/strong> This way, it\u2019ll be easier for them to get to know each other and feel part of the team.<\/p>\n Just because a webinar is easier to set up compared to a conference, it doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t put any thought into how you organize it. <\/strong><\/p>\n Here are some tips to guide you on how to do a webinar your employees will find useful – and enjoy:<\/p>\n A webinar can turn into a regular lecture if trainees and instructors have no interaction. Pick webinar software that allows participants to communicate in real time<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n For example, live chat and polls can be useful if you want to run a Q&A session. With screen sharing and file sharing features, instructors can get into detail and provide additional resources. Digital whiteboards and screen highlighters can also give the effect of a real classroom.<\/strong><\/p>\n When organizing training webinars, be mindful of employees\u2019 work schedules, especially if attendees are in different locations. Try to find a time that\u2019s convenient for everyone and consider recording the session for those who can\u2019t join the live event. <\/strong><\/p>\n You should also think about how a webinar fits with their overall workload.<\/p>\n It might not be the best idea to train developers on soft skills right before a big product release. Likewise, an important compliance training session might not capture employees\u2019 attention on a Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n It might be easier to host an online training session than an onsite conference. But, still, the perfect webinar<\/a> won\u2019t be organized on its own.<\/p>\n Check whether your instructor and all employees have access to the webinar platform and help with any technical issues they may face.<\/strong> To build up engagement, send a reminder a few days before. You could also have a dry run on the previous day to make sure that everything flows smoothly.<\/p>\n Think about an instructor who stops their presentation to look for an article they mentioned or a survey they cited. Long pauses or distractions can make employees lose interest.<\/strong> It doesn\u2019t mean the entire presentation should be scripted, but a little preparation can go a long way.<\/p>\n For example, sync with the instructor to make sure you give trainees useful resources – you could even send some material beforehand to get them familiar with the topic of the webinar.<\/p>\n Webinars are one way to train employees, but they don\u2019t have to be the only way. <\/strong><\/p>\n Complement webinars with follow-up quizzes to refresh trainees\u2019 memory<\/strong> and offer additional resources for those who want to dig deeper.<\/p>\n You could also assign specific tasks to employees so that they apply their newly-acquired knowledge on the job. With this way of blended learning<\/strong><\/a>, your employees also do their reinforcement training!<\/p>\n Assess your webinar attendees with a powerful tool! You\u2019re now ready to start planning your first webinar for training employees.<\/p>\nWhat are training webinars?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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8 reasons you should use webinars in employee training<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Reduce training costs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Save time and resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Support inclusion and accessibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Boost employee engagement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Repurpose your training content<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/b>Choose a training platform that users consistently rank #1.
\nTalentLMS integrates with all the videoconferencing tools you love!![\"Create](\"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/CTA.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nImprove customer retention<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Customize your employee training programs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Aim for better employee relationships<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/webinars.png\")
<\/p>\nTips for hosting great training webinars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Add interactive elements<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Accommodate different time zones\/schedules<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t forget the logistics<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Prepare your material in advance<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Create blended learning experiences<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/b>TalentLMS integrates with all the videoconferencing tools you already use.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nLights. Camera. Action! – Ready for your webinar training?<\/strong><\/h2>\n