20 Powerful Webinar Statistics You Should Know in 2023
Webinars — short for web seminars — have proven to be a highly effective tool in online marketing. Thanks to the possibility of integrating video and other elements to increase audience engagement, they are now widely used to build brand awareness.
According to webinar statistics, many also use them as a training and educational tool. They’re also a popular form of web conferencing for employees and business partners.
Even if you’re already somewhat familiar with this type of online presentation, our overview of the most recent statistics will introduce you to some essential data you should know.
Top Webinar Statistics (Editor’s Choice)
- The webinar market is projected to reach $800 million by 2023.
- An average webinar lasts between 39 and 60 minutes.
- People are unlikely to attend more than one webinar per week.
- 93% of people attend webinars from their computers.
- On average, hosting a webinar costs between $3,000 and $5,000.
- 58% of B2B marketers use webinars as a promotional tool.
- B2B marketers generate from 500 to 1,000 leads per webinar.
- Email is the most effective tool in webinar marketing.
Essential Webinar Statistics
The webinar industry is an interesting niche with great potential. While webinars might not generate a lot of money for organizers, they can still be very beneficial. This section will discuss the essential stats that showcase the current state of this online presentation format.
1. The webinar market size is expected to reach $800 million by 2023.
(MarketWatch)
Compared to other types of digital content, the webinar market isn’t yet that profitable. However, industry analytics predict the market will continue to grow in the coming years.
From $547 million in 2015, it’s projected to rise to $800 million by 2023 — a 46.2% increase.
These webinar revenue statistics date from before the COVID-19 pandemic. With people worldwide spending more time at home, video conferencing has recently seen a massive rise. For this reason, webinars could easily reach the $800 million mark even before 2023.
2. The software and technology industry produces most webinars.
(GoToWebinar)
Software and technology webinars are most represented across industries (26%). They’re followed by financial services (12%) and consulting (11%). Industries like real estate, travel and tourism, and non-profit produce the least webinar content — 2% or less.
3. The average webinar duration is 39–60 minutes.
(BrightTALK, WorkCast)
Different sources on webinar duration report different results.
BrightTALK’s large study suggests that the average length of a webinar is 39 minutes. At the same time, WorkCast’s data shows that most webinars go on for around 60 minutes.
4. 44% of attendees prefer webinars to run no longer than 45 minutes.
(BigMarker)
In today’s digital era, audiences don’t have a particularly long attention span. They’re typically looking for short yet meaningful content, and this also applies to webinars.
Webinar engagement statistics reveal that almost half (44%) of all attendees prefer live events to run no longer than 45 minutes. What’s more, 41% believe 30 minutes is the optimal duration of a webinar.
5. The average webinar conversion rate is 55%.
(Noisy Little Monkey)
Creating a buzz around a webinar and attracting attendees isn’t easy.
Despite a great marketing strategy and quality content, almost half of registered attendees won’t show up for the actual live event.
Depending on the type of webinar, conversion rates can vary, too. Communication webinars have the highest conversion rate (68.8%), while educational events have the lowest (36.8%).
6. People are unlikely to commit to more than one webinar per week.
(BigMarker)
Not all webinars are light and entertaining — most comprise lots of info that requires the attendees’ undivided attention. Unless they have to do it for work, people usually seek out webinars to keep themselves engaged and learn something new in their free time.
But leisure time is scarce and valuable, so people tend not to go overboard with webinars. According to webinar attendance statistics, most people will only sign up for one live event per week.
7. 32% of webinar attendees are only engaged when the host is passionate about the topic.
(BigMarker)
The host’s energy and interest in the topic reflect on the attendees’ engagement.
For 32% of webinar audiences, this is the most important factor. Other crucial elements include the content’s relevance to the topic (38%) and the use of visuals (15%).
8. 92% of attendees want a live Q&A session before the end of the webinar.
(BigMarker)
Webinar analytics show that an overwhelming majority of attendees prefer events that have a Q&A session at the end. Many of them are already familiar with the webinar’s content, so answering their questions helps ensure they get the most out of the event. More importantly, this also increases the likelihood of them signing up for the host’s future webinars.
9. Q&A sessions are also the most engaging webinar tool.
(ON24)
According to webinar effectiveness statistics, 82% of attendees cite Q&A sessions as the most interesting part of the webinar experience. For 67% of them, downloadable resources are essential to a webinar’s effectiveness. Surveys are also important for 32% of attendees.
10. 93% of people attend webinars from their computers.
(MegaMeeting)
Despite smartphones’ ever-growing popularity, most attendees view webinars on their computers. A recent MegaMeeting webinar benchmarks report shows that only 7% of people attend live events from their phones.
The majority of computer users (86%) have Windows, while 14% use Apple’s Mac. As for smartphone users, 71.4% have an iPhone and 28.6% an Android phone.
With Windows being the most popular operating system among webinar attendees, it’s no surprise that Microsoft Edge is their preferred browser — 45% of people use it to access webinars. Chrome is in a close second with 39%, and Firefox ranks third with 10%.
11. On average, hosting a webinar costs between $3,000 and $5,000.
(MyOwnConference)
Hosting a professional webinar can cost up to $5,000, webinar statistics from 2020 show.
These costs can include speaker fees (especially when inviting a high-profile speaker), promotional costs, software license, etc. However, it’s important to remember that the money invested won’t necessarily reflect on the webinar’s quality and effectiveness.
Many professionals have started with very low-budget webinars and gained popularity thanks to being well-informed, passionate about the topic, and strategic about the content.
Key Webinar Statistics for Marketers
As with any type of digital content that requires an audience — in this case, most often a live one — webinar marketing is key. Enticing users to sign up for a webinar isn’t that difficult, but having them actually attend an event can be tricky. This section aimed at marketers will discuss the main aspects of webinar promotion and examine how to best engage audiences.
12. The most successful webinars start promotion at least 15 days in advance.
(ON24)
The promotional cycle’s length can have a significant impact on webinar attendance rates.
Research has consistently shown that webinars that start promotion 15 or more days in advance draw the largest audiences. The key is to strategize the campaign and give people enough time to register. It’s also essential to intensify the publicity as the date approaches.
13. 24% of attendees register for a webinar 15+ days before the event.
(ON24)
While 23% of the attendees will register on the day of the webinar, 30% will do so up to a week in advance. However, webinars should always have a long promotional cycle, as the remaining 47% of attendees will register very early.
Webinar usage statistics show that 23% will do it 8–14 days in advance, and 24% of “early birds” will sign up 15 days or more before the webinar. As such, if a host starts promoting their event too late, they could lose a significant portion of their potential audience.
14. 58% of B2B marketers use webinars as a promotional tool.
(Content Marketing Institute, GoToWebinar)
Presenting business opportunities and starting collaborations has become much easier thanks to webinars. Almost 6 in 10 business-to-business (B2B) marketers say they use webinars for promotion. What’s more, 73% say this is their go-to way for generating leads.
15. According to webinar marketing statistics, B2B marketers generate 500 to 1,000 leads per event.
(GoToWebinar)
B2B marketers are constantly looking for new ways to engage potential customers and convert them successfully. Webinars provide an immersive experience, making them the ideal tool for that. Responding to a recent survey, 57% of B2B marketers said they planned to organize even more webinars in the future.
16. The best time to host a webinar is midweek before or after the lunch hour.
(LiveWebinar)
People’s ability to absorb new information increases and decreases throughout the week. They’re readjusting to work on Mondays, while the upcoming weekend is all they can think about on Fridays. Therefore, it is best to schedule a webinar in the middle of the week — on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.
As for the ideal time of day, researchers cite the hour before lunch (between 11 am and 12 pm) and the hour after lunch (between 1 pm and 2 pm). At these times, people are least tired and in their full working mindset.
17. Wednesday is the best day for promoting a webinar, stats show.
(Smart Insights)
According to research, the majority of webinar registrations come in on the first three days of the week. Most are submitted on Wednesdays (23%), which is why experts believe this is the best day to send out a promotional email to potential attendees.
Choosing the right time to promote the event is crucial for the webinar’s attendance rate. As a rule, it’s best to avoid sending reminders on Fridays and weekends. That’s because most people will postpone reading and responding until Monday and eventually forget about them.
18. Email is the most effective tool in webinar promotion.
(GoToWebinar)
For most types of digital content, social media is the number one tool in the promotional cycle. But when it comes to webinars, it’s all about emails.
According to webinar marketing statistics, 45% of marketers use emails to promote their upcoming live online events. What’s more, emails are responsible for 73% of all registrations. Social media doesn’t even rank as the second most effective promotional channel for webinars — that place is reserved for the company’s website.
19. Most hosts use videos to boost webinar engagement, statistics reveal.
(BloggingX)
In a recent survey that rated webinar elements based on their importance, videos ranked the highest. The participating webinar hosts assigned them an average rating of 7.8/10.
According to the survey, 56% of hosts broadcast live video, which they later make available for on-demand viewing. That way, those who signed up late can still view the webinar, but they don’t get to participate in the interactive elements like Q&A sessions and surveys.
20. There are five webinar metrics to determine an event’s success.
(WorkCast)
While attendance is important, there are other tools to measure a webinar’s effectiveness.
For most marketers, lead generation is the top priority. Even if a registered user doesn’t show up, the host still has their information, which they can use to generate leads.
Audience engagement and retention are also crucial. A simple survey can help quantify the former. As for the latter, most webinar hosting platforms provide the necessary insight by showing the host how many people stuck around until the very end of their presentation.
Increased brand awareness is significant for promotional webinars. One of the more important webinar metrics, it can be measured by looking at the brand’s social media accounts and the number of visits to the official website.
Finally, audience feedback is very handy. The hosts should encourage attendees to submit comments on the webinar, thus providing them with valuable information for future events.
Conclusion
Webinars might not be particularly profitable, but they can have many long-term benefits.
For one, they provide a relatively low-cost way for marketers to increase brand awareness and foster relationships with clients and business partners. Webinars are also an excellent platform for lecturers and educators looking to share knowledge in an engaging way.
With most people stuck at home due to the global pandemic, now might be the best time for webinars. As the world slowly adjusts to the new normal, more and more people will opt for this type of online interaction, helping drive the webinar industry revenue up. As a result, the market’s value should exceed $800 million in the next few years.
FAQ
How does a webinar work?
Web seminars, widely known as webinars, are a presentation format that combines lectures and workshops with video materials. They take place online, usually on a dedicated platform.
These interactive events are used in education, marketing, and business. Because they’re set online, webinars help cut the cost associated with physical workshops and conferences.
How long should a webinar last?
Depending on its content and audience, a webinar usually lasts between 39 and 60 minutes.
Contrary to what some say, long and exhaustive webinars aren’t always successful. In fact, experts agree it’s best to keep the duration at 30–45 minutes. With an engaged audience, a passionate host, and interactive elements, a webinar will succeed regardless of its length.
Are webinars effective?
Yes, webinars can be very effective, especially as a marketing tool.
According to research, 58% of B2B marketers use webinars for promotion. What’s more, 73% cite webinars as the best way to find good leads. A single webinar helps them generate anywhere between 500 and 1,000 leads, which they can then convert into customers or business partners.
What is a good webinar attendance rate?
On average, 55% of all people who sign up for a webinar end up actually attending. A specific webinar’s attendance largely depends on its topic. For example, 68.8% of registered users show up for communication webinars, while only 36.8% attend educational webinars.
As a rule, it’s best to expect that 35%–45% of those who signed up will attend the live event.
How do you measure the success of a webinar?
Standard methods to measure the success of a webinar include the following:
- Attendance rate — the percentage of registered users who attend the event
- Lead generation — the number of attendees who are also prospective customers
- Audience engagement — feedback from an audience survey after the event
- Audience retention — the percentage of attendees who watch the entire webinar
- Increased brand awareness — the number of social media interactions and website visits following the event
- Audience feedback — feedback in the form of comments from webinar attendees
How much does a webinar cost?
The cost of hosting a webinar can vary greatly. It depends on the kind of reach you want to have, the type of content you’re including, and the people you’re hiring to speak.
DIY webinars typically aren’t expensive. However, webinar statistics show that large-scale events with high-profile speakers can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000.
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