How to Host a Webinar That Teaches and Sells Without Being Salesy

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

So, you’ve decided to host a webinar that teaches and sells, but you want to avoid that dreaded “salesy” vibe. 

We gotta say, that’s pretty smart of you! 

The truth is: People often perceive webinars as pushy, manipulative, and lacking the valuable knowledge they were seeking. 

But, by removing the “salesy” vibe and focusing on genuinely helping your audience, you can make them feel like the time they’ve spent attending your webinar was well worth it. 

In fact, they might even leave with a smile on their face and a strong desire to take action!

To learn how to host a webinar that keeps your audience engaged, entertained, and ready to buy, all while avoiding the overbearing sales pitch, keep on reading! 

1. Know Your Audience

The first step is pretty obvious: Before you start planning your webinar, you need to take some time to understand who your audience is. 

Precisely, you need to figure out what their pain points, goals, and aspirations are.

For example, if you’re hosting a webinar on healthy eating, consider whether your audience is made up of fitness enthusiasts or busy parents. 

If your audience is made up of fitness enthusiasts, you could provide them with tips for optimizing performance and guidance on specific dietary requirements. 

In the case of busy parents, you could cover the topics of meal planning and recipes for quick but nutritious meals for those with hectic schedules looking to save time. 

This kind of knowledge will allow you to create targeted content that speaks directly to the needs of your audience.

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2. Craft an Irresistible Title

The title of your webinar is the first impression you make, so you need to make it count!

In other words, the title of your webinar should be catchy and attention-grabbing, and it should communicate the value your audience will gain from attending. 

Avoid generic titles like “Learn How to Eat Healthy.” Instead, go for something like “Mastering the Art of Guilt-Free Snacking: Delicious and Nutritious Bites for Busy Bees.” 

See the difference?

Also, tools such as a video editor can be used to create pre-recorded video segments that are integrated into the webinar. These segments can include introductions, animated graphics, video clips, and other visual elements that enhance the presentation. 

3. Engage with Humor

Humor is the secret ingredient to keeping your audience engaged and entertained. 

Injecting some lightheartedness into your webinar will not only make it enjoyable but also help create a memorable experience.

A couple of things that you could do are:

• Share relatable anecdotes
• Use funny visuals like memes
• Throw in a well-timed joke
• Incorporate humorous quizzes to encourage interaction (e.g., “What’s Your Time Management Spirit Animal?”. We know, it sounds silly, but BuzzFeed has got plenty of these to inspire you, and they’re doing just fine with their audience!)

Of course, you still want to keep things relevant and respectful, even with humor!

And remember: Laughter is contagious, and it can help your audience remember and connect with your message long after the webinar ends.

4. Give Storytelling a Try

Stories have a way of captivating audiences and creating emotional connections, and you could benefit from incorporating storytelling techniques into your webinar to make it more relatable and memorable.

For example, if you’re hosting a webinar on time management, you could share a personal story about a time when poor time management led to a hilarious disaster. 

This not only keeps your audience engaged but also demonstrates that you understand their struggles and have practical solutions to offer.

That makes sense, right?

SEE ALSO: 8 Tips for Using Videos Can Engage Your Audience

5. Offer Valuable, Actionable tips

Your webinar should be a treasure trove of practical tips and insights that your audience can implement immediately. 

While it may be tempting to keep your best secrets for yourself, we’d advise you to be generous with your knowledge, as your audience can tell when you’re gatekeeping.

If you’re wondering, “But, how do I strike a balance between giving away valuable content and leaving room for making a sale, then?”

Well, you can always provide your audience a taste of what you have to offer and then offer more in-depth guidance and support post-webinar. 

Share some pro tips they can try right away, and they’ll be itching for more knowledge from you!

6. Provide Interactive Elements

Interactive elements involve your audience in the discussion, creating a sense of community and making them feel valued.

For this reason, you should try to incorporate them to build trust and establish yourself as an authority in your field.

Providing interactive elements can be as simple as asking thought-provoking questions or conducting live polls. 

Encourage participants to share their thoughts and experiences in the chatbox, and be sure to acknowledge and respond to their contributions.

7. Make the Pitch Natural

Okay, so we’ve reached the moment of truth—the sales pitch. 

But fear not, my friend! The key here is to make your pitch feel natural and genuinely helpful rather than pushy or desperate.

Before making your offer, reinforce the value you’ve already provided during the webinar. Remind your audience of the transformation they can achieve by implementing what they’ve learned. 

Then, and only then, present your product or service as the logical next step to help them achieve their goals.

Remember, the pitch is just a continuation of the value you’ve already delivered, not an abrupt turn into “sales mode.”

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have the tools to host a webinar that educates, entertains, and sells without being salesy. 

Just don’t forget to follow up with your attendees after your webinar by sending them a personalized email, thanking them for joining, and summarizing the key takeaways!

Now go ahead, share your knowledge, make some sales, and have a blast along the way!

You’ve got this!