Despite sounding similar, webinars and webcasts are very different. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but both offer unique advantages and limitations for different types of presentations.

Here’s a closer look at when to use a webinar vs webcast, and condensed presenter tips based on the type of presentation.

Interaction: Webinars converse and webcasts broadcast

Webinars are built for two-way conversations. Real-time interaction between you and your audience makes webinars ideal for training sessions, panel discussions, or educational events.

If you’re hosting a webinar, you should have a range of tools available to keep your audience engaged, measure their interest, and offer them a platform to share their opinions.

Webcasts, on the other hand, are a one-way street — you talk and the audience listens. They’re great for broadcasting big announcements or launching products, allowing you to reach a broad audience without interruptions.

Audience expectations are also a key factor. Those who join a webcast anticipate a passive experience, while webinar attendees are often ready to participate.

Presenter tips

Webinars:

• Prepare questions or discussion topics to spark interaction.
• Familiarize yourself with interactive features like polls, Q&A, and chat.
• Designate a moderator to manage questions and keep the conversation flowing while you focus on presenting.

Webcasts:

• Have a clear presentation plan, since you won’t be able to use audience interaction to adapt as you go.
• Run through your presentation multiple times to ensure smooth delivery.
• Use high-quality visual aids to keep your audience engaged in the absence of real-time interaction.

Ideal applications: Webinars educate and webcasts announce

Webinars excel in educational and training settings thanks to their interactive nature. Two-way dialogue makes the session more engaging and personalized to the audience.

Real-time interactivity allows presenters to clarify questions on the spot, making them an excellent choice for marketing and sales presentations, expert-led Q&A sessions, courses, and product demos.

In contrast, webcasts are a powerful tool for sharing evergreen content and spreading information to a large audience.

A webcast is the best choice when your primary goal is broad dissemination of information. They are particularly effective for distributing content like onboarding materials, tutorials, recorded conference calls, and video panel discussions where audience input isn’t expected.

Presenter tips

Webinars:

• Integrate quizzes or small assignments to enhance the learning experience.
• Use real-world examples to better educate your audience. This is particularly useful in sales webinars.

Webcasts:

• Tease future content, such as upcoming webcasts, an online course, or new products.
• Since attendees can’t ask questions, provide resources to find additional information.

Audience engagement: Webinars think small and webcasts go big

Webinars often require attendees to register in advance, creating a controlled and intimate environment. This facilitates a sense of community among attendees and allows the presenter to tailor the presentation based on who’s attending.

The drawback is that unless the webinar is recorded, you can’t easily repeat the presentation for future audiences — even with recordings, you lose the key interactive features that make webinars more engaging in the first place.

Webcasts, on the other hand, are generally easier to access. There’s often no need to register or adhere to a schedule, making it accessible to more people.

Since webcasts are primarily a one-way communication medium, they’re easy to record and share, expanding their reach long after the live event has concluded. This makes webcasts ideal for situations where you’re aiming to reach the widest audience possible without the necessity for immediate feedback.

Presenter tips

Webinars:

• Personalize your presentation to the audience you know will be attending.
• Encourage audience members to share their own experiences or questions, fostering a sense of community.

Webcasts:

• Perform a thorough technical run-through in advance to check sound and multimedia. Glitches and other issues are more disruptive to large audiences.
• Encourage engagement by requesting questions in advance.

Scheduling commitment: Webinars take time and webcasts keep it short

Webinars can be longer — many expect to block off at least thirty minutes to an hour in their schedule. They are designed for real-time interaction, which naturally extends the duration. Audience members often come prepared for a longer session, expecting a deep dive into the subject matter.

Webcasts usually offer shorter, more streamlined experiences, focusing on quick and efficient delivery of information. These events are often pre-recorded with a tight script, making it easier to stick to run time.

These differences in time commitment reflect the inherent design and objectives of each format.

Presenter tips

Webinars:

• Experiment with breaking down a long presentation into smaller segments to allow time for audience questions or interactive activities.
• Have a clear agenda and communicate it at the beginning so that attendees know what to expect.

Webcasts:

• Get straight to the point. With limited time and one-way communication, it’s important to be concise.
• Consider skipping the Q&A segment to maintain a streamlined presentation.

Features: Webinars offer interactive tools and webcasts streamline information

Built-in features can greatly influence the experience for both presenters and attendees, making them a key differentiator between webinars and webcasts.

Webinar platforms often come packed with interactive tools designed to foster engagement and real-time interaction. Features like live polls, Q&A segments, whiteboard annotating, and file sharing are common.

These tools enrich the experience and provide a more dynamic and flexible environment. This makes webinars ideal for interactive sessions where immediate feedback or group participation is encouraged.

Conversely, webcasts prioritize a streamlined broadcasting experience over interactive elements. While the technology behind webcasts is designed for stability and reach, it often lacks the interactive bells and whistles that webinar solutions offer.

Presenter tips

Webinars:

• Don’t try to use every interactive feature available. Choose a few that best support your presentation.
• Use features like live polls or Q&A segments to break things up and keep the audience engaged.

Webcasts:

• Consider incorporating on-screen text or graphics to emphasize key points.
• At the end of the webcast, direct viewers to resources where they can learn more or get their questions answered.