A webinar is a seminar that people listen to and watch on the web, via their computer, while a teleseminar involves listening only, via phone or computer. A webinar is also sometimes called a webcast. When multiple presenters are involved in the same show, it may be called a web conference instead of a webinar or webcast. Many cost nothing to attend, as they are designed to funnel potential customers into a sales process. Others are purely educational events, with attendance fees.

Whatever you call it, and whether it’s free or paid, this is a multimedia format that involves watching and listening simultaneously. Because images typically need to be created ahead of time and arranged in order, it requires more preparation than a teleseminar. Add more preparation time due to the need to become familiar with the technology.

However, on the plus side, it has the potential to engage and inform listeners not only with words but also with images. So, let’s see how to make the most of the strengths of this means of communication. What can you do to keep participants engaged from the beginning to the end of your webinar program?

Six keys to livelier web presentations

1. Interactivity. Get the most out of the webinar interface by planning at least two audience polls during your talk. Have a confederate log in to check the poll numbers for you and announce them to both you and the group. This keeps the communication two-way, to a degree, and the vibe spontaneous rather than canned.

2. Enough slides to keep things moving. A good rule of thumb is one slide per minute. If you have a number of points to make about a topic, present slides that represent one point at a time rather than keeping one slide containing all the points for many minutes.

3. Minimal vignettes. A conference that is a succession of vignettes acquires a boring and predictable rhythm. Instead of filling slide after slide with bullet points, consider questions, charts, graphs, photos, or images that encapsulate your topic or suggest your point without directly summarizing it.

4. Suspense. Since people attend webinars on their computer, participants are always tempted to multitask or get carried away with the presentation. At least once during your talk, mention something engaging that you’ll talk about later to help keep them on the same page.

5. Questions in reserve. Participants appreciate that you give them the opportunity to ask questions. But they don’t always jump when invited. Have several questions in reserve to avoid long silences and help shy people work up the courage to speak up. Introduce your dummy questions by saying (sincerely) “I’m often asked about…” or “Here’s a question…”

6. Unexpected start, strong ending. Start with a bold statement, a surprising statistic, an eye-opening incident, or something else with impact. When the time is up, don’t be speechless, but end with a forceful summary of your advice or your bold statement. Plan your final to follow the question and answer period.

By using these tips to create an animated online presentation, your webinar has a much better chance of achieving its goals: participants learned as planned or moved closer to becoming your paying customers.