# Webinars as a Key Marketing Strategy

Webinars are a key strategy for almost [every marketer](https://www.on24.com/press-releases/global-report-shows-use-of-webinars-triples-driving-digital-first-engagement-across-industries/). They’re popular because webinars can effectively turn an audience into leads and customers. In turn, this makes webinar marketing a crucial aspect for many businesses.

In this blog, we'll explore how to market a [webinar you're hosting](/content/learn/host-webinar/index.html). We’ll start by covering why webinar marketing is crucial and then give you step-by-step instructions for building a high-converting webinar promotion plan. By the end, you will have all the information and tools you need to confidently hit your company's goals.

## **5 reasons why webinar marketing is important**

Here's why [webinars](/content/learn/what-is-a-webinar/index.html) are such a hit among marketers:

1. **Expand your reach with fewer costs**  
   Webinar marketing helps you reach a wider audience. Unlike in-person events, webinars can be attended by individuals from all over the world. This allows you to connect with a larger group of like-minded people. You can share your expertise and showcase your products or services to these individuals. [Free webinar tools](/content/learn/best-free-webinar-software/index.html) can help you grow your audience without worrying about location or travel costs.

2. **Increased engagement**  
   Webinars are a perfect platform for creating _engagement_. With features like live polls, Q&A sessions, and chat discussions, you turn a typical one-way presentation into a dynamic two-way conversation. People love being part of something interactive! When your audience can ask questions, share opinions, and participate in real-time, they feel more involved and invested in what you're sharing. This active involvement keeps people interested throughout the session, which is much harder to achieve with passive content like blogs or videos.

3. **Generate high-quality leads**  
   Webinars are an excellent tool for [lead generation](/content/learn/webinar-lead-generation/index.html). When someone registers for your webinar, they're essentially raising their hand and saying, "I’m interested in what you have to say!" You’re offering them value upfront—whether it’s expert knowledge, tips, or insights—and in exchange, they give you their contact information.

4. **Acquire data**  
   Webinars provide a wealth of valuable data about your audience. When someone registers for your webinar, you can collect information like their name, email address, and company. You can also ask specific questions to learn more about their interests and needs. During the webinar, track their engagement, like how long attendees stay and what questions they ask. Analyzing this data helps you understand your audience better. For example, use [lead scoring](/content/learn/how-to-use-hubspot-integration#lead-scoring-and-routing/index.html) to identify and inform your sales team about the most interested leads.

5. **Showcase your expertise**  
   Hosting webinars lets you demonstrate your knowledge. Dive deep into topics that matter to your audience. This not only educates your viewers but also shows that you know what you’re talking about. When they see you as an expert, they are more likely to trust your brand, leading to stronger relationships and more business opportunities.

## **Creating a webinar marketing plan**

A successful webinar marketing plan broadly has four stages: pre-webinar planning, webinar promotion, webinar execution, and post-webinar marketing. This section reviews each stage of digital marketing and explains what’s needed to make them successful.

### **Pre-webinar planning**

Extensive planning is essential for webinars. A successful webinar marketing plan relies on [checklists](/content/learn/webinar-planning-checklist/index.html) and pre-planning activities. These are discussed in detail.

#### **Understanding your customers = understanding your content**  
   Knowing your audience is key to creating a webinar that resonates. This means understanding what your audience likes, wants, and struggles with. Consult subject-matter experts like employees working on your products or key customers. Get data from apps you might already use, like Google Analytics, your CRM, or your social media channels. If all else fails, look at our list of [17 B2B Webinar Ideas](/content/learn/b2b-webinar-ideas/index.html) for inspiration.

#### **Knowing your goals**  
   What do you want from this webinar? Is it [more sales](/content/learn/sales-webinars/index.html)? Is it building an audience? Is it purely informational? Having clear goals will help you better target your content to the right people at the right time.

#### **Identifying KPIs that matter**  
   Common [webinar KPIs](/content/learn/webinar-kpis/index.html) include increasing click-through rates (CTRs), total registrations, total attendees, and conversions. Tracking your most important KPIs helps you see what works and what needs improvement.

### **Webinar promotion**

An effective webinar promotion plan involves several steps:

#### **Driving registrations**  
   After you confirm the [date and time](/content/learn/best-time-and-day-to-host-webinar/index.html), setting up a high-converting registration page is crucial for driving sign-ups. A good [webinar registration page](/content/learn/build-webinar-registration-page/index.html) has a snappy headline, a concise and helpful description, and branded visuals.

#### **Create promotional assets**  
   The ideal forums to promote your webinar depend on your audience. Most marketers prefer email as it converts [27% more](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/webinar-stats) than any other channel. Here’s a list of tactics:
 - **Segment your customers.** Organize email lists based on the customer’s buyer stage.
 - **Create professional, attention-grabbing headlines.** Highlight what attendees can expect.
 - **Share behind-the-scenes updates** to build hype.

#### **Involve your sales and wider teams**  
   Webinars serve your entire company. Input from these teams can help build great content and ensure consistent messaging.

#### **Co-promoting with guest speakers**  
   If you have [guest speakers](/content/webinar-glossary/guest-speaker/index.html), co-promoting with them can bring new sign-ups to your webinar.

#### **Tap into social media**  
   Use paid social media advertising to improve reach among targeted segments. Encourage registrants to promote your webinar by providing tools for easy social sharing.

### **Webinar execution**

Your webinar should live up to, or even exceed, your audience’s expectations. Here’s how:

#### **Getting ready for the webinar**  
   Prepare beforehand with rehearsals and conduct dry runs. Clean up your background to make it look professional.

#### **Presenting the Webinar**  
   Use tools like slide decks, [polls](/content/learn/webinar-poll-questions/index.html), chats, and well-placed CTAs to create a compelling webinar.

### **Post webinar marketing**

The goal of post-webinar activities is to nurture your relationship with your attendees. Start with a “thank you” email immediately after the webinar wraps up. Include the on-demand recording link for those who couldn't attend. Conduct a [post-webinar survey](/content/learn/post-webinar-survey-questions/index.html) to gather feedback.

#### **Reuse content**  
   [Repurposing your webinar](/content/learn/repurpose-webinar/index.html) makes it easy to create more marketing assets to support the post-webinar marketing stage.

## **How to measure the success of webinar marketing**

### **Number of registrations**  
   Track this to identify what works and what needs improvement.

### **Source of webinar registrations**  
   The [analytics](/content/learn/webinar-analytics/index.html) in your webinar platform should show how attendees found your webinar.

### **Attendance rate**  
   A good attendance rate is around [35-45%](https://webinarninja.com/blog/webinar-attendees/#What_is_the_Webinar_Attendance_Rate).

### **Conversion rate**  
   This helps you see how effective your webinar is at driving action. Use the [Webinar ROI calculator](/content/learn/webinar-roi-calculator/index.html) to determine the success of your webinar.

## **Webinar marketing tools: why you should use Contrast**

Contrast stands out as the top choice for lively, compelling, and authentic webinars. **Key features include:**
- Unlimited seats
- Modern chat interface
- Engaging Q&A and poll features
- Custom branding
- Rich analytics and reporting

## **Conclusion**

Webinars can be a powerful asset for your marketing plans. They offer marketers massive reach paired with high-quality lead generation. When executed well, webinars create meaningful engagement and build trust with your audience.