Webinars vs. YouTube: what's the difference?

The wonderful world of the internet is a constantly evolving place and half - if not more - of the content on it is video content. With so many platforms to share information and knowledge on, you can't see the forest for the trees. There are many companies that host or post their webinars on YouTube. And why not, right? Or does it matter? We'll explain exactly what the difference is.

YouTube

YouTube videos are generally quite short. Sure, there are videos of an hour or more, but not nearly as many as those shorter than 10 minutes. Also, the videos on YouTube are not live and there is little interaction between the viewer and the broadcaster. Everybody can post a video on YouTube in a jiffy. You also see that the videos are mostly for entertainment purposes, think of music videos, vlogs, reviews, tutorials, and whatever you name it. It is a free and informal way to distribute videos.

Webinars

A webinar platform is specially created to host a presentation online, share knowledge, give product demos, and so on. A webinar is more formal than a YouTube video. You collect essential data through a registration page, such as names and email addresses. There are many opportunities to interact with viewers, whether your webinar is live or pre-recorded. 

There are multiple formats to choose from. Create a live experience with a live webinar and handle questions directly from the chat on camera, or choose an automated webinar. With an automated webinar, a recording plays on a set time and date, and in the meantime, you have the option to chat with attendees. With an on demand, the attendee chooses when to watch and you automatically follow up with a great offer after the webinar has ended. 

Webinars vs. YouTube 

Even though the on demand format for webinars is very similar to YouTube, webinars are very different. The main difference is that when you host a webinar, you have insight into who subscribes and who watches. It is super valuable to collect email addresses. With the interaction features, you gather even more information and feedback about the viewer. On YouTube, you only see the number of viewers and where they came from. If you want to measure conversion then webinars make this easier. Who among the viewers is most interested? Segment your subscriptions afterward by viewer or non-viewer. Then adjust your marketing funnel accordingly. All of this makes webinars much more personal and effective. 

In addition, you have many more opportunities for interaction during a webinar. Gauge viewer opinions in a poll, or add a quiz to test knowledge. The answers to these polls and quizzes also provide great insight into who your target audience is. Meanwhile, during live and automated webinars, keep in touch with attendees via live chat, or invite a moderator to take on this task.

In conclusion 

That YouTube and webinars are not the same thing is probably obvious. First, map out who your target group is and what the purpose is of the video before choosing a platform. The key points in a nutshell: 

• YouTube is suitable for shorter videos 

• Webinars are more formal

• On YouTube, people don't subscribe to your videos 

• With webinars, you measure who is watching and follow up easily 

• Webinars can be broadcasted live and are interactive

You now know the difference between webinars vs. YouTube. Do you want more insight into your target audience and follow up with them? Receive feedback and have interaction? Then, of course, we recommend webinars. Feel free to send a message via our live chat if you plan to start with webinars or start a free trial.

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