8 Tips To Host Online Training Webinars For Your Global Workforce

8 Tips To Host Online Training Webinars For Your Global Workforce
Summary: Are you ready to host your first live online training event? In this article, I'll share 8 tips to host winning online training webinars for your geographically dispersed employees.

How To Host Online Training Webinars For Your Global Workforce

Online training webinars create an emotional connection with your corporate learners. They have the power to express their opinions and ask questions in real time, as well as interact with their co-workers in order to share personal experiences. This makes them the perfect online training tool for your worldwide workforce. Here are 8 tips to host online training webinars for your global workforce.

1. Research Employees' Expectations, Needs, And Preferences

Every employee brings unique knowledge and experience to the organization. That's the beauty of tapping into a global talent pool. You get a good mix of backgrounds, abilities, and work-related skills. However, it also makes it more challenging to host an online training webinar that caters to everyone. This is why it's essential to research your employees and identify their needs and personal preferences. What performance gaps do they need to work on? How are they going to access the webinar? What goals are they trying to achieve? These are all questions to address through surveys, eLearning assessments, interviews, and polls.

2. Create A Complementary Social Media Campaign

Effective online training webinars require active participation. The host is there to present information and guide the conversation. However, employees should also have the chance to voice their opinions and ideas. Thus, you may want to create a complementary social media campaign to foster an open dialogue. Set up a dedicated social media group for the event, or create a memorable hashtag. In addition, you might consider an online discussion or corporate eLearning blog where employees can post their thoughts during the event or when watching the playback feed.

3. Choose The Right Video Conferencing Platform

You need a feature-rich video conferencing platform to conduct a successful online training webinar. It should be able to accommodate the ideal number of participants and have built-in communication tools. This gives you the power to interact with your employees directly without having to rely on a third-party platform. You must also pay close attention to the pricing structure and what the cost entails. For example, do you have to pay a monthly subscription fee? Does the vendor charge extra for support services?

4. Invite Guest Hosts

Guest hosts bring their own experiences and know-how to the table. Even if you're a Subject Matter Expert in your own right, it's wise to offer different perspectives. You may even find suitable guest speakers within your organization, such as department heads who are well-versed on company policy or have mastered specific tasks. Create a hosting schedule so that everyone can research their topic and develop an outline or script. Then promote the speaker's unique expertise and background in your webinar marketing materials.

5. Use Visual Aids To Improve Comprehension

No online training webinar is truly complete without eye-catching visuals to improve comprehension. For example, charts and infographics that feature notable stats or trends. You can also include photos, graphics, and other visual aids that foster an emotional connection. Just make sure to avoid visuals that are culturally specific. For instance, icons that are recognizable in one region but may be misconstrued in another. The goal is to improve understanding and knowledge retention without offending your global employees.

6. Create A Script And An Outline

A successful online training webinar starts with a succinct script, or an outline. There may be times when you venture off script to address an employee's question or explore an interesting idea. However, the outline helps you stay on track and cover the key takeaways. Enlist the help of your Subject Matter Expert to include the need-to-know information and use the best terminology for your corporate learners. For instance, should you keep it conversational, or err on the side of professionalism? Scripts also make it easier to translate your online training course for international audiences.

7. Do A Test Run

Does your script strike the right tone? Are you taking advantage of the features your video conferencing platform has to offer? Do your visuals appear in the right order during the online presentation? A test run gives you the opportunity to iron out any issues before you go live. Pretend you're hosting a packed house and go through all the motions. Take notes as you go along, focusing on any glitches or areas for improvement. For instance, the script has a few sticking points that you need to work on to enhance understanding. You may also invite a select group of employees to attend your test round in order to get their feedback. Ask questions after the fact or conduct surveys that reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your online training webinar. If there is plenty of room for improvement, you can always host a follow-up webinar event to ensure that all issues have been remedied.

8. Record The Online Training Webinar For Later Viewing

Certain employees may not be able to attend the live event. They have busy schedules or have to contend different time zones. For example, 7pm GMT is an ideal time for your European staff, but employees in Sydney, Australia will miss out on the benefits due to the time difference. For this reason, you should record the webinar for later viewing. This also allows attendees to use the online training webinar for future reference. As an example, they can revisit certain portions of the event to refresh their memory of the topic or when they are stuck in the middle of a work task.

Hosting an online training webinar does take time, careful planning, and the right resources. However, these interactive live events offer employees a broad range of benefits, from creating a more positive corporate eLearning culture to fostering powerful partnerships with their peers.

Do you want to host a memorable online training webinar without spending a small fortune on web conferencing software tools? Read the article Top 6 Open Source Web Conferencing Software Tools For eLearning Professionals to discover the best open source web conferencing software options that are flexible and free.

Originally published on April 29, 2017