Running a Live Webinar

There’s a big difference between knowing what to say on a webinar and actually saying it well in front of a live audience.

I spent decades in higher education, and even experienced professors get nervous before lectures. But live webinars bring an energy that pre-recorded content can’t match. The chat is active. The questions are real. The connection with your audience is immediate.

This lesson covers the practical side of delivering a live webinar — the stuff that isn’t about your script or your offer, but about showing up as a confident presenter.

Platform Options

Zoom — The default. Reliable, everyone knows it. Downsides: looks like a business meeting, webinar features require a paid add-on.

Demio — Built specifically for marketing webinars. Cleaner interface, better engagement features. This is what I’d recommend for most course creators.

WebinarJam — Heavy-duty option for large audiences. More features than most people need.

GoHighLevel — If you’re already using GHL, their webinar funnels keep everything in one ecosystem.

StreamYard — Browser-based live streaming studio with professional overlays and multi-platform broadcasting. Great for webinars that double as social content. No built-in registration, so pair it with a landing page tool.

For your first few webinars, pick whatever’s easiest. You can migrate later.

Slide Design That Keeps Attention

One idea per slide. If you’re making three points, use three slides.

Dark backgrounds. White backgrounds with lots of text create eye fatigue. Dark gray or navy with light text looks professional and reduces fatigue.

Large text. 40-point minimum for body text. 60+ for headlines. If you have to squint, it’s too small.

Minimal text. Slides support what you’re saying — they shouldn’t duplicate it. If people can get all the value from your slides without listening, you’ve put too much text on them.

Consistent design. Same colors, same fonts throughout. This isn’t about being fancy — it’s about reducing visual friction.

Handling Live Q&A

Turn objections into sales. “Does this work for [specific situation]?” really means “I’m interested but not sure this is for me.” Answer substantively, then bridge to your offer.

Don’t fear tough questions. If you don’t know something, say so. “That’s a great question. I don’t have a specific answer, but here’s how I’d think about it…” Honesty builds trust.

Save pricing questions for the pitch. If someone asks about price early, defer: “I’ll cover all the details including investment in just a few minutes.”

The “Don’t Stop” Rule

If you mess up, keep going.

Forgot what comes next? Pause, check your notes, continue.

Said something wrong? Correct it and move on.

Technical glitch? Handle it with humor and work around it.

Attendees can’t see your script. They only know what you actually say. A smooth recovery looks more professional than perfect delivery of mediocre content.

Practical Tips

• Have water nearby — dry mouth is real when talking for an hour
• Stand or sit up straight — posture affects your energy and voice
• Look at the camera — not your screen. When you look at the camera, they see you looking at them
• Vary your energy — quiet intensity for important points, casual for stories. Silence after important points lets them land
• Acknowledge the chat — reference specific comments. “Sarah just said she’s been struggling with this for two years — that’s exactly why we’re covering it today”

Handling Technical Hiccups

Things will go wrong. Have a backup plan.

• Can you continue without slides if they freeze?
• Do you have a phone hotspot if your internet drops?
• Have you tested everything 24 hours before?

Test your entire presentation at least once before the live event. Check audio, video, slides, screen sharing, and any interactive features.

For broader presentation skills — on-camera presence, energy, delivery — see Produce Your Course Videos.

Your content matters. Your offer matters. But how you show up and deliver matters too. Don’t let weak presentation undermine strong strategy.