Zoom Meeting vs Webinar: How to Be the Perfect Host for Both

What’s the difference between Zoom meeting vs webinar? And how can you be the perfect host for both?

Have you ever sat down in a Zoom meeting or webinar that bore you to death? Was it because of the poor slide presentations? The host’s lack of energy? Or was it because of some technical issues on the host’s end?

Don’t make the same mistakes. We listed actionable tips below so you can ace your presentation, may that be on Zoom meeting or webinar. 

When it comes to hosting online meetings, there’s actually not much difference in Zoom meeting vs webinar!

[Related: Common Struggles Of Working From Home And How To Deal With Them]

Zoom Meeting VS Webinar: What’s the Difference?

Zoom meeting vs webinar are similar in many ways, but they also have some key differences. 

Description

Zoom Meetings

Zoom meetings are ideal for hosting interactive sessions, where the host expects participation from the attendees. It’s more like an actual meeting in an office setting where everyone can contribute, share ideas, and raise questions. 

Webinar

Think of webinars as lecture auditoriums. It’s perfect for large audiences that are open to the public. The attendees are not expected to participate, although the host/s can allow questions at a certain time. In a webinar, the audience expects the host and panel of experts and professionals to give talks and presentations. 

[Related: 8 Ways To Handle Naughty Student Behavior In Online Classes]

Best Used for

Zoom Meetings

Another difference between Zoom meetings vs webinar is on how they are used. You can use Zoom meetings for small to large group meetings. It’s also best for a one-on-one meeting with a teammate, client, employee, or customer. It is also ideal for training sessions, sales meetings, team collaboration, or virtual parties. 

Webinar

Webinars, on the other hand, are perfect for accommodating a large group of people. It’s for large events where the host expects more than 50 attendees. It’s best used for educational lectures and quarterly meetings. 

Typically Used by

Zoom Meetings

Training groups, employees, and small startups can use Zoom meetings to communicate with each other. It’s a great tool for weekly meetings, too. Life coaches, consultants, real estate agents, and HR professionals can also use Zoom meetings. 

Webinars

SVPs, C-suites, and upper management can use webinars when giving company updates, quarterly sales reports, or organizational changes. It is also suitable for event hosts who expect thousands of attendees. 

Educators and other professionals may also opt for webinars when giving out a lecture, course, or talk. 

[Interesting: How To Maintain Strict Classroom Guidelines In Online Classes]

Zoom Meeting VS Webinar: Preparation

When it comes to preparation, Zoom meeting vs webinar are twins. 

Pick a topic or idea

Zoom Meeting

Whether it is a small Zoom meeting or a large webinar you are organizing, selecting a topic to discuss is a must. You don’t want to talk about random things and have everyone’s mind wandering off. 

For example, if you are to set up a Zoom meeting for your team, prepare the topics that you need to talk about. Are you going to discuss the decrease in revenue, chasing deadlines, or hiring more people?

It helps if you jot down the things that need to be addressed in the meeting. 

Webinar

In webinars, you must select a highly specific topic. Instead of talking about marketing strategies, which is a very wide topic, focus on content marketing strategies, or better yet, how to create compelling content.

Select the best speakers

Zoom Meetings

Are you using Zoom to train newly hired employees? Or perhaps you’re using Zoom to teach a small group of students. If you’re picking someone else to lead the meeting, make sure to select the best speaker—someone who knows how to connect with the attendees and is not afraid of public speaking. 

 Webinars

Attendees sign up for webinars because they believe that they’ll be loaded with new knowledge and insights they have never heard before after the session. That’s why you need to invite speakers who are experts, knowledgeable, and reputable to their fields. 

Whomever you choose to speak for your webinar, make sure they’re confident in speaking publicly and on camera. They must know how to grab and retain the attendees’ attention.

Selecting the best speakers is especially important for fielding unexpected questions from attendees.

[Read: 15 Resources To Boost Teacher ICT Skills For Better Learning]

Consider the format

Zoom Meetings

As mentioned earlier, listing the topics you need to discuss in a Zoom meeting is essential. That way, you don’t go blabbing about random things that might not make sense. 

Aside from listing the things you need to address, you must also know how to deliver them in proper order. For example, when hosting a quarterly meeting with your company, you can discuss things in this order:

Company achievements > sales, customer service, customer base

Company improvements >  new hires, app improvements, workplace renovations

Workplace issues > complaints, resolutions

Acknowledgment

And if you are to discuss management issues, you can address the problem in this order:

The problem >  the solution > implementation.

Webinar

After choosing a specific topic for your webinar, the next step is to select the format of how you deliver it. Would it be in a style of question and answer? Will a single presenter introduce the speakers? 

Promotion

Zoom meetings vs webinar both need promotion, especially if you want to invite as many people as possible. If you need people to sign up for your Zoom meeting or webinar, you need to publicize it. 

For Zoom meetings, you can invite potential attendees via email. This makes sure all the attendees are people you have connections with to avoid Zoombombing. 

On the other hand, you can promote your webinars through social media platforms, blog posts, or newsletters.

Prepare your slides

When giving lectures, courses, talks, it’s important to keep the audience engaged, curious, and excited. Instead of reading scripts and outlines, why not create slides instead. 

And no, we don’t ever recommend 57 slides. You don’t need that much just to execute your points. Your slides must be brief but concise. Remember, good communication isn’t what you say but what others take away. 

Say less in your slides, but make it count.

[Read: Five Doable Tips To Boost Student Participation In An Online Class]

Zoom Meeting VS Webinar: Technical Considerations

What good is there in your presentation if your audience can’t hear you or see you? Absolutely none. That’s why all your devices must work properly. 

Here are some technical considerations when setting up your Zoom meeting or webinar:

Select the right platform

There are several platforms for online meetings and webinars now, but one of the most prominent platforms is Zoom. You can set up a standard Zoom meeting (~1,000 attendees) or Zoom webinar (~10,000 attendees).

Use high-resolution camera

Your camera’s quality can also make or break your meeting or webinar. Most high-end laptops have a built-in high-resolution camera. But if your camera’s quality is poor, we recommend buying a cabled external camera. 

Use high-quality microphone

Bad audio can ruin your Zoom meeting or webinar. Although laptops have built-in microphones, they don’t always work as good as cabled headset microphones. 

That said, invest in high-quality cabled headset microphones with noise-cancelling features, so the attendees can hear you loud and clear.

Prepare Backup batteries

Power outage can happen anytime, so make sure to prepare backup batteries (or inverter generator) to keep you powered in case of blackouts.

Organize your studio space

If you are hosting a meeting or webinar from your home office, ensure that your pets, kids, or neighbors don’t interfere or make any noise during the call. Clean up your studio space and remove anything from the background that can distract you or the attendees. 

Conclusion

Although Zoom meeting vs webinar has some differences, the preparation is almost alike. By following the tips above, you can be a perfect host for both. 

Related Questions

Can Zoom be used for webinars?

Yes. The Zoom Webinar feature can be added to your existing premium account as a paid add-on. It is also available in Pro and higher subscriptions.

Can you live stream Zoom meetings and webinars in streaming services?

Yes. You may live stream your meeting via Facebook, YouTube, Workplace by Facebook, and other streaming services.

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