Online Course Vs Webinar – Use this guide to determine if an online course or webinar could help your company achieve its goals. With the popularity of virtual learning, it is easy to mix different methods such as webinars and online courses. Both strategies are easy to adapt to eLearning content because they offer a virtual way to acquire skills and knowledge. However, it’s important to define the difference between an online course and a webinar to determine which one best suits your brand’s needs and goals. The purpose of each method is to serve different audiences and help companies achieve their event goals. Choosing the wrong eLearning method can cause your audience to miss your message, which prevents you from achieving your goals and objectives with your virtual event. Let’s take a look and learn what each virtual event involves, how they differ, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. What is a Webinar? A webinar, or web seminar, is a live educational session using video conferencing or live chat to enable communication between the audience and the presenter. It covers a wide range of topics, often followed by a live Q&A session with the audience at the end. Although webinars are free, the purpose is to promote premium services, new product launches, or updated features. You can expect webinar topics to match the goals of the sponsoring company. Many companies host webinars to attract new customers or provide general information on a specific topic. Webinar presentations are usually live, but can also be pre-recorded. They last 30 to 60 minutes and are intended for a wide audience. While different types of webinars may offer PD or continuing education points, you rarely receive certification or credit for the webinar. Photo by Anna Shvets What is online education? Online courses go deep into specific topics and provide a more in-depth knowledge, similar to your college education experience. The structure of an online course mimics a traditional college class divided into modules, lessons, or units. Also known as eLearning or online training, e-courses often require payment to access the content. Online courses are designed for groups of people learning about a specific topic and can take days, weeks, or even months to complete. Participants often receive some type of certification or credit after completing an eLearning course. There may be live streaming components and interactive tools that allow participants to interact with their instructors and other course members. The difference between Webinars and online courses As you can see, it is easy to mix the two eLearning methods because they both provide a virtual opportunity to convey important information. Both require an Internet connection and some level of communication. Both methods can be used for a variety of purposes, such as training sessions, onboarding, and professional development. They are perfect for social media marketing and landing page promotion and building email lists for upcoming online events. Whether it’s a webinar or an online course, both can help your brand generate high-quality leads that can help convert attendees into new customers. However, there are significant differences in the format and structure of webinars and online courses that make them more suited to the needs of specific audiences. Let’s take a look at the differences between webinars and online courses so you can prepare to choose the right format for your next virtual event. ENJOYING THIS BLOG? WATCH THE EXPLAINER VIDEO ON YOUTUBE! FORMAT DIFFERENCES eLearning format refers to the length and availability of online educational opportunities. Webinars and online courses come in different formats, and your choice depends on the needs of your audience. Webinar Format Online Course Format Last Live Online Session 30-60 Minutes Lecture-style Presentation Broad Topics Usually Free or Inexpensive to Attend Webinar content is available to those unable to attend and is often shareable. Divided into modules or classes Can last days, weeks, or months In-depth class content Topic-specific Usually charges a fee for content Online course content is only available to class registrants not those who register in the class Can communicate with other participants without webcam Webinars. best for short information, while online courses allow for an in-depth look at the topic. Webinars provide an opportunity to answer questions immediately, while participants may have to write down their questions to ask the facilitator in the course later. STRUCTURE STRUCTURE The structure refers to how each online session will flow. Because webinars and online courses take different amounts of time to complete, they need to be designed and paced differently to achieve flow and engagement. Webinar Structure Online Course Structure Opening: The webinar moderator introduces the event and communicates expectations. The topic and purpose of the online seminar. Presentation: This is the core of the online webinar. The topic is thoroughly covered with a subtle introduction to webinar marketing. This is where the Powerpoint presentation or screen share will appear. Closing: The moderator will summarize the topics covered, emphasize key points, and allow webinar participants to ask questions. Monitoring: After the webinar, most hosts will share a recording or transcript of the live webinar for reference or for those who registered but were unable to attend. Learning Objectives: This is where the main points and objectives are explained to the audience. There is also an introduction. Content Delivery: Learning resources, downloadable PDFs, video webcasts, appendices, and other interactive learning tools are available. They are usually divided into modules and presented in stages. Assessment: Many paid courses have a certification at the end of each course, especially if the goal of the eLearning course is certification or certification. Follow-up: The host will distribute the credentials by email to the participants and conduct a study survey. If you need to know whether or not the participants have understood the content you have delivered, online course evaluation allows. At the same time, webinars may not have the same capabilities as deep archive data. On the other hand, many online courses do not offer video conferencing features, meaning that participants may feel isolated or disconnected from the instructor. Webinar features tend to be more engaging and allow participants to connect with the webinar host and attendees on a deeper level. WEBINAR & PROMOTION The cost of hosting a virtual event refers to the capital required to develop and launch the webinar or online course for your target audience. Generally, both formats have a cost associated with content creation and a strong marketing strategy. A single webinar is generally more expensive to produce than a single online course. The cost is different for participants depending on the two methods. Many companies offer free webinars for lead generation because they are inexpensive to generate. On the other hand, online courses are a great way to not only attract new leads but generate revenue for your brand. Let’s take a look at the cost difference between producing your own webinar or your own online course. Webinar Costs & Planning Online Course Costs & Planning Costs between $200 and $10,000 to plan and execute a one-hour webinar Average 4-6 weeks to plan Most of the costs come from the webinar preparation work, followed by the webinar platform software and tools Can be redistributed as OnDemand content Costs between $5,000 and $10,000 to plan and implement a one-hour course Average 80-280 hours to fully develop Most of the cost comes from the work of creating educational content , followed by affordable LMS pricing for new audiences While both types of online learning can help your business generate revenue, online courses can be easily updated and used. . Meanwhile, the live webinar needs to be updated and re-hosted. Webinar attendees, on the other hand, have access to the recording for a longer period of time. Meanwhile, online courses often limit access to materials for the duration of the course. Photo by RODNAE Productions The Pros and Cons of Webinars and Online Courses Which eLearning method you choose depends on the needs of your audience and your brand. Both types of online courses have their own merits, so how do you know which one is right for you? Check out the pros and cons of each method to help you determine which one is best for your virtual event goals. Webinar Pros Webinar Cons Works with limited resources Cheap and accessible Easy to access in real-time Effective solutions for simple topics Live events and Live Q&A Attractive video presentations and interactive whiteboards
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