What have often been viewed as a relic of the pandemic, Zoom webinars have recently come back into focus as an affordable and convenient way to gather colleagues and distribute information. Over the past month, Yale Conferences & Events managed the logistics for two webinars, the Eradicate Tractional Retinal Detachment (TRD) Webinar: Session 1 and the Annual Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility at Yale (ACIR). In the current climate of reduced funding and dwindling budgets, virtual events are an affordable option to move forward with plans, as travel, catering, venue rental fees, print materials, and décor are not needed.
Webinars also offer the option of more flexible scheduling, as there are fewer scheduling conflicts because a physical location is not needed. You also have the opportunity to reach thousands of people, from around the world, so you are able to distribute your message to a wider audience with no space or budgetary limits. It is also, by far, the most sustainable event option!
Difference between Zoom webinar and Zoom Meeting
Zoom webinars and Zoom meetings have different capabilities and the specifics of the virtual event should be considered carefully when deciding between the two options. The main difference between webinars and meetings are the visibility and involvement of the audience. In a webinar, audience members are hidden from each other and panelists, they may or may not be able to chat, and prior registration is needed to access the event. Zoom meetings allow for participation via a chat, by unmuting, and cameras can be on or off.
As a rule of thumb, webinars should be used for larger events, in excess of 25 people, or when security or disruptions are a concern. Meeting may be used when audience participation is encouraged, the event is internal, or when simple recording of an in-person event is taking place. Another key difference with Zoom webinar is that there is a Q&A feature, which allows for organized discussion outside of the rapid-paced Chat.
