The Webinar Manifesto

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Live blogging from Learning 2012

I had the opportunity to hear from Matthew Murdoch and Treion Muller,  the authors of The Webinar Manifesto. We definitely play for the same team when it comes to doing interactive live virtual training. You can join their revolution by signing the Manifesto.

Matthew and Treion covered 3 of the topics in the book during the session. Here are my notes with additional resources that I think support their points.

Don’t Default
Don’t simply use the default settings in your platform. Learn about all of tools available to make the session come alive. Think about how you could use them to to allow for maximum participation.

  1. Read the manual
  2. Apply the Manual
  3. Write your own manual

Shut Down the Ugly
Channel your inner marketer. Learn some basic graphic design rules and apply them to your communications and visuals.

  1. Email Invitations: Your invitations should look as good as your visuals for the presentation. Include a value proposition so learners know what they will get out of it. “The words you use should be just as beautiful as the graphics you use.” 9 Must-Have Components of Compelling Email Copy.
  2. Social Media: This is just as important as email. Again, don’t default. Make sure that you use a relevant branding image for the account and include links to make it easy for participants to register. Don’t post more than 3-4 times per week or it becomes noise. Try different benefit messages for wider appeal.
  3. Ban Ugly Slides: Limit the amount of text to a powerful phrase or two. Use relevant, teachable graphics. Here is an example of a PowerPoint makeover by Garr Reynolds of Presentation Zen.

Captivate or Alienate
Your visuals and the flow of your session must be dynamic. You are competing with email, texts, and Sudoku. These distractions will always be there, but you can create anticipation by using powerful images and well planned activities. I write about this in Is “Webinar a Dirty Word?

  1. Create Virtually Accountability:  Set the expectation for participating verbally, visually, and kinesthetically. Begin the session with a highly interactive inclusion activity and let participants know they will use chat or annotation tools to participate.
  2. Don’t Mute: Don’t silence participants. Invite verbal participation throughout the session.
  3. Set the stage: Let participants know that this is not your usual webinar. Participants may be called upon by name.
  4. Hang 10… count to ten after asking a question. Say out loud, “I’ll give you some time to think about it.”
  5. Visual: Open their eyes. Map it… where we are, where we are going… use graphics.
  6. Kinesthetic–Push: use the mouse, move around, Pull: Download. Play: Scavenger hunt. Come back and contribute. Never break for more than 5 minutes for an activity.

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