Introducing Webinars in Microsoft Teams
How many webinars have you participated in since 2020? The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote and hybrid workplaces led to an increase in webinars. After numerous restrictions were introduced, resulting in teams being unable to meet in person, people turned to the webinars format for events, collaboration, and networking. While the remote work experiment increased the popularity of webinars, this was no one-hit-wonder. The global webinar market is expected to continue its rise over the next few years.
Throughout the pandemic, Microsoft Teams continued to make a major impact in this new remote and hybrid workplace era. In May, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Teams will support interactive webinars for up to 1,000 attendees. With Teams webinars, users will have an effective and efficient solution that will support the same controls as standard Teams meetings, allowing users the ability to access attendee reports and transport the data to CRM applications after the webinar.
Until this move by Microsoft Teams, the majority of businesses and organizations have used either Skype to host webinars or applications like GoToWebinar (along with others). If there are so many other applications available to host webinars, why would workplaces want to use the Teams webinar solution?
What Can Webinars Do?
By now, the majority of us are aware of what a webinar is, and how they work. Some of the functionalities that workplaces can get while hosting a webinar in Microsoft Teams include the following:
- Organizers can invite up to 1,000 people to attend the webinar
- Up to 10,000 people can be invited to the webinar for a view-only experience
- Polls
- Chat and video control
- Interactive slides
Why should Teams be used to host webinars?
There are several webinar solutions that your colleagues are probably already using. However, if Microsoft 365 technology is used in any area of your business, using the features offered in the Microsoft Teams webinar platform will come with many benefits, such as its ability to integrate with your other applications and technology.
Cost-Effective
If you already have a Microsoft 365 license, you will not have to pay anything to use Microsoft Teams webinars. You will not have to spend money on licenses for third-party webinar solutions that will the same things that Microsoft Teams Webinars do.
Easy Integration
Not only is Microsoft Teams Webinars a cost-effective option for those who are already using Microsoft 365, but using this solution will allow you to easily integrate into other technology and solutions you are using.
If you are using Microsoft tools to support processes and strategies in one or more of your departments, using Teams webinars will make things so much easier. For example, reports that share information about who attended the webinars can be transported into other Microsoft applications. After this information is transported into other applications, follow-up emails can be automated and sent to individuals based on their attendance. There are other possible integrations.
Greater Control
The control aspect of Microsoft Teams Webinars is where Webinars separates itself from the others. If you are the moderator of a webinar, it is important that you are able to obtain and maintain full control of the webinar. One of the ways Microsoft Teams Webinars allows moderators to be in control is in the recording of the webinar. As the moderator, you are able to dictate when the webinar begins and ends.
Greater Security
Using certain webinar platforms can present multiple security risks for businesses of all sizes, especially when there are many attendees and valuable information is being shared, in terms of who attends, sharing information, and the fact that people can take screenshots of your content. If your business or organization is already using Microsoft 365 and has set up specific security measures, those security measures will also apply to Teams webinars. If your business or organization uses a webinar solution you are not familiar with and one whose security controls you cannot adjust, you will not have the level of control or security you will find in Teams webinars.
Seamless Experience
If your employees are already spending most of their working days using a variety of Microsoft applications it will be much easier for them to run a webinar from a platform they are already accustomed to using.
Webinars in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft has made it easy for all its users to host a webinar. The steps to hosting a webinar in Microsoft Teams are similar to the steps that users take to host a Teams meeting. As you may be aware, MS Teams has sophisticated and advanced features that are only available under this platform. Today, more people are still working remotely, in a hybrid environment, or are part of teams that are spread across the globe.
Microsoft Teams makes it easier for businesses and organizations to connect to all their employees, bring their teams together, and effectively communicate and collaborate. With Microsoft Teams Webinars, businesses and organizations will be able to promote their products, services, and other content using a full-scale platform that provides them with the level of control they need. Prospective customers, vendors, and employees can all participate in Webinars that are hosted in Microsoft Teams.
Webinars have proven to be among the most effective platforms for hosting online events. Webinars allow individuals to lead in the field and have direct contact with their target audience. Webinars can save businesses and organizations a significant amount of time and money – webinars allow businesses and organizations to speak to attendees who are located across the globe, and no one has to travel to attend the event. Webinars allow businesses and organizations to reach thousands of people at once.
Is your business or organization is interested in exploring Microsoft Teams Webinars? We understand it can be difficult to know where to start as you attempt to make the transition. Many businesses and organizations will say one of the hardest things about webinars is getting started, but it does not have to be this way for your business. Contact Network Security Associates today to find out how we can help you.