Tips for Running a Smooth Webinar or Virtual ILT: Lessons learned from a Webinar Gone Awry

By Lisa Ramsey

Did you happen to catch ASTD’s webinar ISD for the Synchronous Environment, presented by Nanette Miner of The Training Doctor?

With over 900 attendees, Nanette’s wonderful presentation on how to create active and engaging virtual training was broadsided by a single attendee who forgot to mute their phone. While Nanette kept the presentation light-hearted, the rest of us were forced to struggle to hear her over personal conversations and loud muzak.

Granted there were some ASTD technical issues complicating the issue, but there are take-away lessons we can all learn from.

So what you can you do to ensure your virtual training gets off to the right start and stays there?

Regardless of the webinar tool you are using, consider these tips:

• Know your webinar tool – Take time to become familiar with the software tool you are using. Many work the same, but each has it’s own unique set of tools, features, and quirks.
• Enlist the help of a web moderator – Find a webinar expert within your company to field technical questions (via chat) so you can remain focused on the content of your presentation.
• Mute all participants – For groups larger than five, don’t use phone lines. Most webinar systems allow presenter audio through computer speakers, so using phone lines is unnecessary. If phones are unavoidable, mute all lines, so you remain in control.
• Set rules in advance – Before beginning, set the ground rules you’ll be using throughout your presentation. Here are a few examples:
• Phone lines – Remind attendees that all phone lines are muted.
• Communicating with the presenter – Instruct attendees to communicate with the presenter or web moderator using the webinar “chat” function.
• Questions – Explain that questions are welcome, but they may be answered near the end of the presentation. Additionally, consider positing the Q&A to a share point at a later date.
• Display how to get help – On every slide of your presentation, display how attendees can get technical help during the session. Consider using a simple statement such as, “For technical help during this training, call 1-800-555-5555 or use the chat function.” This is also helpful to include in your training email invitation or reminder.

Lastly…be a good attendee. We’re all attendees at some point. When you are, be sure to mute your own phone line, even if the presenter doesn’t ask you to!

This article was written by Lisa Ramsey, VP Membership Central Ohio ASTD. Lisa is an Instructional Designer based in Columbus, OH. lisa@llramsey.net