Webinars vs. Workshops: Which Is Best for Your Business?

If you’ve spent any time on the internet in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed that businesses of all sizes are now using webinars and workshops to reach existing and potential clients. They are both great ways to expand your audience and grow your business. What you might not be sure of, however, is how the two differ and which one is the best choice for you at various stages in your business. Read on to learn more about webinars vs. workshops and how each one can serve your business.

What’s a Webinar?

A webinar is a short seminar or presentation that can be streamed online by viewers. They offer a collaborative and interactive way for businesses to connect with attendees and impart information. Participants usually register using an email address and join via a personalized link sent by the host. During the webinar, they can see and hear the presenter, view slides and other media, live chat, ask questions, and answer polls, etc. Presentations are often followed by live Q&A sessions where audiences can ask questions.

Related Reading: Best Types of Webinars for Internal Corporate Communication

What’s a Workshop?

A workshop is typically a brief, intensive educational program for a fairly small group. You can host workshops either online or in-person. Workshops tend to focus on specific techniques and skills in a particular field and give an in-depth look at a smaller area of focus.

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Webinar vs. Workshop: Similarities

Webinars and workshops are not interchangeable, but they do have some similarities. Both webinars and workshops are methods for businesses to share information with an audience. They can both be hosted by one person, a number of co-hosts, or even a larger panel. And both options leave the audience with key information and takeaways.

Furthermore, webinars and workshops can both be recorded and uploaded to a video host for on-demand viewing by past attendees and anyone who couldn't make the live event. With Viostream's branded galleries and security controls, you can host your video in a space unique to your business with full control over who has access to it. To see why Viostream is a top choice video host for businesses, start your free trial now.

Webinars vs. Workshops: Differences

Let’s take a closer look at the ways webinars and workshops differ.

• Webinars are exclusively online events, while workshops can happen online or in person. Furthermore, now that we have sophisticated methods of streaming media and webinar tools available to almost everyone, workshops can actually function as a hybrid of in-person and digital.
• Workshops focus on teaching and imparting information, while webinars are traditionally set up to teach and sell, and will almost always have a pitch at the end. You can also think of webinars as focusing on strategy, while workshops focus on tactics.
• Webinars are usually free, while workshops are often paid events.
• Webinars are targeted at wider, larger audiences. They are easily accessible to hundreds or thousands of audience members. Workshops are more intimate events that take a deeper dive into the material, so it can be hard to cater to a large audience.

How Do You Know Which One Is Right For Your Business?

Both options can serve any business, but here’s a breakdown of the benefits of each.

Webinars are a good choice when:

• You’re at a top-of-funnel stage. Most often, webinars are free or are offered at a very low cost. This reflects the type of content that is shared in webinars. Usually, you’ll be sharing content that you already have available in other formats on your website, blog, and so on.
• You want to keep it exclusively online. Webinars only take place online — hence the WEB in "webinar." This makes them a convenient option if you want to present remotely and have participants join you from all over the world. You can also choose to be visible on screen or use slides or pre-recorded material instead.
• You want a higher conversion rate. Webinars are a great strategy for converting readers into clients and customers. You can reach out to your entire mailing list about a webinar to include a large audience of people who have an idea about your business but want to hear more from you before they commit to a purchase.
• You want to establish yourself as an authority. Since a portion of your participants will be subscribers from your contact list, a webinar is a great opportunity to get a bit more in-depth on content. Plus, you get to present the material yourself, which is a great way to showcase a little personality and strengthen your company branding.
• You’re interested in leads. Webinars are fantastic for lead generation since participants usually supply their names and email addresses to register. They also bring in sales without having to hard sell.

Related Reading: How to Host a Great Webinar

Workshops are a good choice when:

• You’re sharing your most valuable information. Workshops generally cost more than webinars, so you’re more likely sharing material that you wouldn’t give away for free.
• You want a smaller crowd of VIPs. Because you’re sharing more valuable info, workshops are best for small, select audiences. They are great for people who have already purchased from you and are ready to take a deeper dive.
• You want the option to blend in-person and virtual events. Workshops can be held online, in person, or both. You can decide based on the material you will be sharing and where your attendees are located.

How Viostream Can Help

Both webinars and workshops can provide value for your business. If you need help creating, managing, and sharing high-quality videos for your workshops or webinars, Viostream can help. Our platform boasts unique features such as branded video galleries and robust platform analytics. Using our site also improves security, privacy, and compliance by keeping sensitive data safe — a benefit you won't get with free online platforms like YouTube.

Contact our customer support team to learn more about how your enterprise can utilize our video streaming platform to build a stronger brand and grow your audience. Or, if you're ready to try the Viostream platform risk free, start your free trial now.