Hosting a webinar comes with many responsibilities. You need to lead the discussion, moderate, and even keep track of the time. Webinars can be held for all types of subjects, so you may need to create a webinar script to keep up with the content! A webinar script helps to create fluid conversations while also keeping the webinar host on track.
A webinar script is a piece of dialogue, written before the webinar and is shared throughout the duration of the webinar. Your webinar should include an event agenda, any important talking points, and closing remarks. Webinar scripts are essentially roadmaps to the event. You can include timing and what order the speakers will speak in. Rather than going into the webinar blindly, the perfect webinar script will plan out exactly what you are going to say.
Webinars are important for keeping your attendees engaged throughout the event. Without a webinar script, the event can go off track and you will lose the attention of your guests. Webinar scripts help to keep your webinar focused, on track, and timely. You can also create your webinar script around the goals you set for the webinar, so you can easily track the webinar goals that you want to achieve!
When you begin to write your webinar script, you can write it in an online document or hand-write it in a notebook. However, writing it in an online document makes it so much easier to share with anyone that you need to share it with. These 6 tips will help you write the perfect webinar script for your event!
The introduction for your webinar sets the tone for the whole event! Within the introduction, you can introduce not only yourself but also your company and any guest speakers you have scheduled. When you introduce the guest speakers with a small introduction, it will give the guest speakers more time to present. Take the time to thank your audience for their attendance, as well as your guest speakers for taking the time to join the webinar. You can also touch upon what the webinar will be focused on, without going into too much detail.
Download our complete guide to virtual networking at events and learn how to grow your network through the screen
You don’t need to go into too much detail about what the webinar entails in the introduction, because you’re going to explain it in the webinar agenda. During this portion of the webinar, hosts can explain to the audience what they can expect from the webinar. Hosts can also outline what topics the speakers will cover during their speaking portion. Again, this saves time from the speakers introducing themselves and what they are going to be talking about, ultimately giving them more time to speak about those topics. Event hosts can also tell the audience how long each segment of the webinar will last, giving the audience a better understanding of how long the event as a whole will last! According to a study by Zippla, only 37% of workplace meetings actively use agendas.
The webinar goal and purpose are considered the “why” of the event. In order to grab the attention of your audience, you can have a list of bullet points of all of the topics you’re going to cover within the webinar. After stating the topics in the bulleted points, you can then begin to explain the benefits of the webinar and what your guests can take away from the event. Not only can your guests take away ideas from the webinar, but they can also take away topics to explore further after the webinar is over. If this is the case, express to the audience how they can go about finding their event takeaways once the webinar is over.
Once the introductions are over, the educational content that attracted your audience to your webinar can begin! The educational content can be any type, depending on your webinar goals and the type of speakers you have. Once you acquire your guest speakers, ask them to create a webinar script of their own ahead of time! This will keep your guests on track with what they’re talking about, so they won’t stray away from the topics at hand. The more guest speakers you have, and the more content you provide to them will be beneficial for everyone. When your guest speakers talk about their topics, encourage them to share their own personal stories to add a sense of personalization to your content. Audience members can relate to what the guest speakers are saying, creating those personal relationships that you should strive for in the business world.
Once all of the guest speakers have spoken, the host can begin the conclusion and Q&A session. According to Wyzowl, 92% of attendees want a live Q&A session included in the webinar. Before the Q&A session begins, you can recap the webinar as a whole! Be sure to recap any important ideas and takeaways the guests can walk away with. Keep this part short and sweet, as there may be many questions from the audience. If you choose to have an engagement activity, you can include a small quiz or a feedback session to allow webinar hosts to see how well the guests understood their presentations and if they learned something new.. Once this portion is completed, you can then begin the Q&A session! Q&A sessions allow your guests to voice any questions or concerns they may have; either because they didn’t understand an aspect of the webinar or because they have a question about something that wasn’t covered in the webinar. There may be guests who have all kinds of questions, so be sure to try your best to get to everyone who has a question. If time does run out before you can get to every question, you should have an option for guests to ask their questions at a later time.
First and foremost, you should thank your guests and guest speakers for attending your event! They took time out of their day to attend the webinar to learn more about the topics. Thanking them for attending can mean so much to your guests and your speakers. Next, you can then begin your closing statements, which can be the invitation for a call-to-action. If you wish to have a call-to-action button for your guests, be sure to add instructions on how they can go about doing that, and can be answering a post-event survey, polls, or giving any feedback. Once all of this has been discussed with your audience, you can then thank your guests again and everyone can go their separate ways!
Depending on the type of webinar you are hosting, there are several types of scripts that can be created. Below are a few examples, both formal and informal, of webinar scripts that you can use based on your company model. Feel free to use any of these webinar templates for your own company!
1. What is a webinar script, and why is it important?
A webinar script is a structured plan that outlines the content and flow of a webinar. It's important because it helps the presenter stay organized, maintain focus, and deliver a clear and engaging presentation.
2. Do I need a script for every webinar, or can I improvise?
While some experienced presenters can improvise effectively, having a script is highly recommended for most webinars to ensure a coherent and well-structured presentation.
3. How do I create an effective webinar script?
To create an effective script, start with a clear outline, define your key points, incorporate engaging content, and ensure a logical flow from start to finish.
4. Should I write my script word-for-word, or is an outline enough?
It depends on your comfort level and the complexity of the content. Some presenters prefer a detailed, word-for-word script, while others find an outline with key talking points more natural and flexible.
5. How can I make my webinar script engaging for the audience?
Incorporate storytelling, audience interaction, visuals, and engaging examples to keep your audience interested and involved throughout the webinar.
6. Can I include humor in my webinar script?
Yes, humor can be effective in engaging your audience, but use it judiciously and ensure it's appropriate for your topic and audience.
7. What's the ideal length for a webinar script?
The ideal length varies based on the webinar's purpose and audience. Generally, webinars range from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Ensure your script fits the allotted time without rushing.
8. Can I use a script while conducting live Q&A sessions during the webinar?
While a script is not typically used during Q&A sessions, it's essential to prepare for questions in advance and have key talking points ready to address a variety of queries.
9. How do I handle technical details and transitions in my script?
Include instructions for managing technical aspects like screen sharing, slides, or video clips in your script. Clearly mark transitions to ensure a smooth flow.
10. Can I make changes to my script on the fly during the webinar?
Yes, it's okay to make minor adjustments if needed, but practice and preparation will help you stick to the script and reduce the need for last-minute changes.
11. Are there resources or templates available for creating webinar scripts?
Yes, there are various webinar script templates and resources online that can serve as helpful starting points for structuring your script.
12. How can I practice and refine my webinar script for a polished presentation?
Practice delivering your script multiple times, consider recording yourself, and seek feedback from peers or colleagues to make improvements.
Creating a webinar script can help webinar hosts stay on track and stay focused when they’re hosting! You can include every aspect of your webinar on the script to ensure you don’t lose focus. The webinar script can be formal or informal, as long as you have all of the information you need. You can add any notes as needed, and this script can even include times for each segment of the webinar. This helps with keeping the webinar running in a timely manner, and nobody runs over their allotted time. Guests take time out of their day to attend your webinar, so when you have a script and you stick to it, the webinar can provide the guests with the most information possible in a timely manner!
Discover how Hubilo's Webinar+ can help you 2X your pipeline