Even before the COVID-19 pandemic saw millions confined to their homes, we saw a marked upswing in webinars, virtual conferences, and online trainings, which made sense given the way that online teaching makes information accessible to so many more people than in-person events ever could. And now that virtual trainings will become — and likely remain — the norm for the remainder of this year, it’s more important than ever to learn not only how to make an effective online training happen, but also what’s needed to assure these virtual events yield actual results.
At XR Brands, we’ve seen the power of online events in action in part because of the daily live #ScrewTaboo trainings that our resident sex educator and brand ambassador Josh Ortiz hosts online. Josh and the team have learned a lot over the last few months and we want to share with you some tips and advice for how to make your online trainings feel fun, engaging and useful to both your brand and your audience.
Don’t be afraid to get out there, get online, and get your audience learning from home with virtual trainings!
What is a virtual training and why do you want to do one?
Virtual trainings, sometimes referred to as webinars, take teaching events online and allow attendees from anywhere with an Internet connection to learn from the comfort and safety of their homes or offices. Taking trainings online has a range of benefits, pandemic or not, and are considered more accessible and affordable than in-person events, and there is a range of software available that lets you interact with your audience in personal and engaging ways.
Now, of course, the element of safety has come into play and virtual trainings allow our industry to maintain safety of staff, colleagues and customers while making customer support and education a priority. The bonus of digital events is the ability to host live and offer recordings later, which makes these trainings available to more people regardless of time zone and accommodates everyone’s schedule and availability – something that has become less predictable and harder to manage over the last few months.
How do you create an effective virtual training?
Some of the keys to virtual training success are the same as those that one would apply to an in-person event: do your homework, keep up to date on research, know your stuff, and respect the attention span of your audience (bored people tend to check out!). Virtual trainings come with the additional challenge of not being in the same space as your attendees, so you can’t always see their faces and feed off their energy. This can be especially unnerving if you are already camera shy or uncomfortable with the digital medium.
I have seen, in our own virtual events, how Josh keeps things fresh by not taking himself too seriously. He laughs, ad-libs, and has fun — even when there are flubs — and that allows his passion for the topics to really show through. Remember, if you are excited and having fun with it, your audience will, too. Hosting trainings has the additional benefit of education; there’s more to it than simply selling a product and attendees remain especially engaged when they’re receiving enlightening information and support beyond the product. People like to learn — they don’t always like to feel like you are trying to sell them something.
How can attendees get the most out of a virtual training?
For attendees, it can be easy to feel like a passive viewer during a live online event but if you really want to maximize your benefit, be sure to ask questions and engage with your presenter. This can feel challenging because, more so than during in-person events, it can feel like you are “interrupting,” but believe me, presenters want to hear from you! It’s not easy for someone leading an online training to gauge audience interest and asking questions is a sure-fire way to let them know that you are onboard while ensuring you leave the training with all the information you need. Virtual trainings happen in a variety of formats, so be sure to find out at the beginning of the event if there is a chat function or moderator available to whom you can write or send questions.
Taking your business into the future with virtual events
Now more than ever we all need to be willing to adjust, adapt and pivot our business models to fit the current climate. When we can’t go to our audiences physically, we need to make sure they experience the same level of passion and intention virtually. As awkward as it may feel in the beginning, embrace this new format the best you can — it gets easier the more you do it.
Face-to-face trainings will eventually return, of course, so we like to consider digital events to be enhancements, not total replacements. Recorded online events allow stores and staff to re-watch, replay, and continue to learn long after the training takes place, which has high value; you’ll become a resource for your customers and help support them as they adjust, adapt and grow their businesses, too.
Don’t be afraid to get out there, get online, and get your audience learning from home with virtual trainings!
Rebecca Weinberg is the president of XR Brands.
