Do you remember when people would physically go to a venue, sit in front of a speaker, and listen to what they had to say?

Nowadays, you can find any information you want online. Few people will waste time getting all dressed up when they can stream anything from the comfort of their beds. However, viewers still want the same exhilarating experience of watching a speaker live.

Thus, the virtual and real worlds are integrated into an online experience called webinars. Anyone from anywhere in the world can join your webinar.

They can ask any question they’d like.

They can interact with the speaker and get immediate feedback.

They can even record the entire thing and watch it again and again.

Webinars create endless opportunities to build viewer relationships. They allow you to provide information in a fun way. The only question left is: how do you make your webinar profitable?

Are Webinars Outdated?

When first considering webinars, you might question if they are as outdated as the seminars they’re based on. This has been true to some degree.

The more the Internet has evolved, the less people are looking for social interaction. Even if it’s as easy as clicking on a link and pressing play. Most viewers would rather look for a video they can watch in private at their own pace.

There has been a recent change, however. The use of social media has created a strong sense of isolation online. More users are looking for ways to interact on a deeper level, using the same devices that isolated them.

While a webinar may seem old-fashioned, it’s stuck around for so long because it works.

The dread of joining a live stream may delay some users. But once the speaker starts talking, the audience listens. It’s an age-old tradition to sit in groups around a single speaker.

In school, we learn to sit as a class and listen to what the teacher is saying. Then we grow up and start using technology for everything.

But that habit of sitting and listening never disappears.

That’s why webinars will always be popular. We may fight it, but the urge to take in what a speaker says is in our blood!

How Does a Webinar Work?

Whether it’s dressed up in a fancy term like “webcast,” “virtual event,” or “web lecture,” they all refer to the same concept. A web seminar, now known as a “webinar,” is a live video stream of a speaker or multiple speakers. The audience size may vary, but there are always viewers watching.

Whatever topic you can think of, there’s a webinar about it.

Your webinar can last as long as you’d like it to, as long as viewers keep watching.

The longest recorded webinar lasted over 21 hours! Though, we doubt the average Internet user will sit through a webinar that long!

A webinar can be hosted through any web browser, social media network, blog, or website.

Most webinars happen in real-time to give audiences the complete experience. They can, however, be pre-recorded for later release. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram have built-in live streaming options for their users.

Although many platforms take care of the video, the audio side of webinars is another story. If you’re lucky, your network allows the speaker to receive instant feedback. Otherwise, you’ll need an alternative option that allows viewers to send through questions in real-time.

As long as there’s a video with sound and a person talking, you’ve got yourself a webinar. Though a good webinar isn’t always profitable. It’s a completely different challenge to make an income through webinars!

How Do Webinars Make Money?

Innovative webinars have been produced for as long as the term “webinar” has been around. Though not all of these actually make the speaker or business money. A webinar must use one or more of the following methods to generate revenue:

  • Convert to a paid webinar;
  • Use product demo webinars as a form of revenue boosting;
  • Sell online courses through webinars.

 
The most common way a webinar can make you money is through limited free access. A free webinar can generate passive income through user views. But selling tickets is a sure-fire way to make a large amount from a single webinar.

Webinars can even sell VIP tickets that allow users to stay online afterwards. This grants them access to chat with the speaker(s) directly.

Presenting product demos and tutorials is another great technique webinars use to make money. Consumers have grown wary of purchasing products online. Too many scams have put fear into the hearts of potential clients. That’s why a product demo is the perfect way to create trust between you and your audience.

People can easily see what the product looks like and how it works in real life.

The other way to go is through online courses. A webinar can act as a lecture and provide the necessary information to pass the course. When a user finishes the webinar, they can immediately start answering questions. You can either monetize the access to the webinar, the course, or both!

While these are great ways to earn money, more effort is needed to build a truly profitable webinar.

Earn Money with Webinars

The best webinars start with people who can grab your attention. Regardless of the topic at hand. They could be talking about velcro straps, but you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat. In fact, you’ll make a stop at the grocery store just to get some Velcro yourself. Who knows when you might need it?

This is how powerful a webinar can be. It elevates an influencer’s skill and places them in the spotlight. With hundreds of curious consumers watching, all waiting for the opportunity to buy a worthy product.

88% of consumers have already admitted that an influencer inspired them to buy a product. Why not take advantage of this sales opportunity?

Building up great content and forming proper promotion strategies takes effort. But you can steadily reach your desired income through webinars. As long as you listen to the following steps on how to make money with webinars!

How to Make a Great Webinar

If you’re looking for the right way to make a webinar, that’s also profitable, consider the following factors:

  • The content, product, or niche;
  • The target audience;
  • The potential reach;
  • The speakers’ way of talking and body language;
  • The promotion platforms utilized.

 
An effective webinar provides content or promotes products that are valuable. There needs to be a really good reason for someone to sit still through an entire webinar.

Whichever niche you decide on, your input should be unique and helpful. Research your content and find a problem that viewers often come across within it. If you can find a solution, you’re golden!

The target audience varies greatly from the potential reach of your webinars. While you might aim your webinar at a certain group, you could lose out on alternative traffic. Often, when a publisher decides on a set audience, they isolate their content from others.

Be confident in your webinar by promoting it to viewers you wouldn’t have considered before.

This is as simple as promoting on more social media networks and platforms. For example, Facebook and LinkedIn are used more by businesses and professionals. But you can still promote your party planning courses and clothing lines on them!

The most important factor in a webinar is the speakers themselves. Your content could be the most interesting thing on the planet, but a boring speaker will ruin it.

Take note of the methods influencers use. Many of them manage to persuade their viewers into buying anything! Even if it’s a completely ridiculous item that has no purpose. The viewer bought it because it was worth the experience they had with the influencer.

Best Practices for Your Webinar

While a webinar may grab the attention of online viewers, there are still best practices that the webinar must follow.

From the best length for a webinar, to how you should present, these best practices will earn you the big bucks:

  • Send out reminder emails to attendees;
  • Keep your webinars under 60 minutes;
  • Always show up early;
  • Start 2 minutes after the set time;
  • Allow time for a Q&A portion;
  • Create an interesting introduction and a clear conclusion.

 
When it comes to inviting viewers to a webinar, your header and subject line change the game. Make it something catchy. A line that shows users what it’s about without giving away the point completely.

It doesn’t hurt to send out a courteous reminder for your webinars. A simple email reminding attendees of the time and place will do!

As for the webinar itself, the best length is exactly one hour. No more, no less. This gives enough time to cover a topic without losing the audience’s interest.

Make sure that you’re ready at least 10 minutes before the actual video. Just in case some unforeseen disaster occurs that you need to fix!

Once the webinar begins, wait at least 2 minutes before starting with the topic at hand. This gives time for late viewers to join in but still caters to those who arrived on time.

Make sure to leave time open for your viewers to ask questions. Open communication like this cements viewer relationships. Attendees will watch more webinars if they feel included in their first one.

Free vs. Paid Webinars

A webinar can go one of two routes. Either it’s free to use or it requires a payment for full access. That might not seem very important, but it greatly affects the possible types of income.

A webinar that requires you to pay can charge a larger amount per ticket. Additional VIP tickets and Q&A access further increase the overall revenue. A paid webinar can generate a large sum of money in a single session. The more webinars you have lined up, the more you can make. Though this doesn’t ensure product sales will increase after the webinar.

When it comes to increasing product sales, it’s better to go the route of free webinars. Online product demos, tutorials, and how-tos are all examples of free webinars. Anyone can view the webinar at no charge. But they still have to buy the product if they want to use it themselves.

Free webinars need more promotion than paid webinars. Publishers will employ multiple social networks to advertise their webinars. To increase revenue when offering free webinars, you need as many monetization options as you can find.

Platforms like Instagram and YouTube have built-in monetization tools. Though certain requirements are needed before you’re allowed to monetize your accounts. That’s why it’s better to use a platform like ConvertSocial. ConvertSocial is a tool that allows you to monetize any popular network, such as:

 

How to Make Your Webinar Profitable

If you’re looking for easy ways to earn money with webinars, then consider affiliate marketing. Those looking to make money online have probably heard of affiliate marketing. But for the sake of those who haven’t, affiliate marketing is the mutual exchange between a publisher and an advertiser.

The affiliate company has products that need to be advertised. While the publisher has free ad space on their blogs and accounts to promote such products. The publisher is then compensated for every viewer who clicks on an ad or buys something.

The affiliate network provides unique referral links to each publisher. This ensures each publisher is paid correctly.

Using affiliate marketing within your webinars ensures a truly profitable business. If you connect with the right affiliate and put in the hard work, you can secure your future. It can be a hassle to find an affiliate by yourself. Rather, go through a platform such as Admitad Partner Network.

Admitad is a vital tool for connecting with a complementary affiliate. Admitad Partner Network creates a safe space for affiliates and publishers to connect. Through Admitad, you could be advertising for major brands, such as:

 
The affiliate market has become a multi-billion dollar industry and keeps on growing. Combining affiliate marketing with audiences from webinars can create a strong income source.

However, make sure you’re willing to put in the effort. Affiliate marketing is no walk in the park, but it’s worth it once you’ve made your foundation!

Conclusion

Webinars are better for publishers who have good social skills. Beyond public speaking, a publisher must know how to keep an audience’s attention. Then they need to answer questions on the spot and respond calmly to negative feedback. It takes a strong backbone. Some witty comments here and there help too.

If human interaction isn’t your forte, there are tons of online jobs that don’t require any interaction at all. If you are trying to earn money with webinars, make sure you have something to fall back on. While webinars can generate a decent income, it won’t be enough for months on end.

Research something you can do to generate passive income. Either way, more revenue couldn’t hurt, right? At least if either the webinars or passive income traffic is slow, the other will compensate that month. Earning money online is a balancing act. You’ve got to change as much as the Internet does, or you’ll be left behind!