What does webinar mean?

A webinar combines the accessibility of the web with the interactivity of a seminar, allowing people to connect in real-time or pre-recorded sessions on various topics and industries. Webinars are especially popular for businesses aiming to train or educate teams, engage prospective clients, or facilitate workshops. They are also widely adopted in educational institutions and corporate environments to provide valuable content to students, employees, or potential customers remotely. Here at Simply Academy, we make use of this technology in order to teach a number of our remote courses, including our CeMAP Webinar course. 

Unlike traditional face-to-face seminars, webinars enable users to connect from anywhere with an internet connection, making them highly versatile and practical. The rise of remote learning and virtual communication has further fueled the popularity of webinars as a flexible, scalable solution that reaches broader audiences without the need for physical proximity. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, webinars have become an essential tool for companies and educators alike, creating impactful learning experiences in both formal and informal settings.

What is a webinar like?

Typically, webinars are designed to simulate an in-person learning experience as closely as possible, offering an interactive, engaging environment online. A webinar session usually includes a presenter who shares information using multimedia tools like slides, videos, and live demonstrations. Attendees can watch, listen, and, in many cases, participate by asking questions through a chat or Q&A feature.

Once invited, attendees receive a link to access the webinar platform. It’s advisable to check your setup a few minutes before the webinar begins as you may need to install specific software or updates. During the training course session, you can expect the presenter to lead the discussion, often with opportunities for interaction through polling, chat, or live Q&A. Advanced webinar platforms may also offer features like breakout rooms and real-time feedback polls, enhancing the interactivity and value of the experience.

What are webinars used for?

From remote learning and internal training purposes to capturing sales leads, webinars are used for all kinds of purposes in a number of different sectors and industries. The following are the most popular uses for webinars.

Virtual teaching 

Webinars are ideal for educational purposes and can be utilised by schools, colleges, universities and adult learning centres alike to provide live and remote virtual lessons, module lectures, demonstrations and training courses over the internet. Designed to simulate physical lecture hall/classroom situations, most webinar software allows tutors/hosts to use a number of different learning aids, from slideshow presentations and videos to interactive games and real-time Q&A capabilities. These can promote engagement and help to build a virtual environment that best emulates face-to-face learning.

Internal training

Whether you want to upskill members of your business or run onboarding training sessions for new staff members, webinars can offer businesses far more flexibility and efficiency when it comes to inhouse learning and development.

In the 21st century there is no need for awkward full-day staff training sessions or off-site upskilling days with external tutors. While these forms of training are sometimes valuable, they are not always required. For this reason, more and more businesses are using webinars for training purposes. From pre-recorded webinars ideal for the orientation of new starters to live upskilling workshops for other members of staff, webinars are a fantastic learning tool for businesses.

Generate new leads

Aside from educational purposes, webinars can also be used to drum up business. High quality sales leads can be generated by running and presenting well-thought-out webinars that pertain to topics relevant to your business.

By presenting yourself and your business as experts in your field and producing interesting and informative (typically free-of-charge) webinars, potential customers who like what they hear are more likely to visit your website or simply get in touch to enquire about your services.

Why use webinars? 

Webinars provide significant value in education and training, creating accessible, interactive, and cost-effective learning experiences. Whether for professional qualifications, career advancement, or skill-building, webinars allow learners to gain essential insights from industry experts from any location. With a user-friendly setup and comprehensive features, they have become a go-to solution for delivering quality education that simulates the benefits of face-to-face training without the limitations of physical location.

For Simply Academy, webinars form a core part of our approach to delivering top-tier financial qualifications and training programs. By connecting students with experienced tutors in real-time, we ensure interactive learning that includes Q&As, multimedia presentations, and dynamic course materials—all designed to help students excel in their chosen financial careers.