Webinar vs. webcast – what are they and when should you use them?

Table of contents

1. What is a webinar?
2. What is a webcast?
3. What should you use?
4. Leverage Digital Samba's video conferencing API and SDK for powerful webinars and webcasts

What you’re trying to effectively communicate, how many people are attending, who they are, and what supporting materials you need to get your point across. But to truly get the most out of your webinar or webcast you need to first know what “webinar” or “webcast” means and when they’re most effective.

What is a webinar?

A webinar is an online seminar designed for interactive engagement. It allows presenters to communicate with an audience in real-time, fostering active participation through tools like chat, Q&A, and polls.

Characteristics of a webinar

• Interactive and live: Webinars typically accommodate up to 1,000 participants and offer engagement tools such as virtual whiteboards, screen sharing, and live polling.
• Global reach: Attendees can join from any device, no matter their location.
• Recording capabilities: Sessions can be saved for later access, enabling the creation of "evergreen webinars."
• Host-controlled: Presenters have full control over the event, ensuring a structured and focused session.

When to use a webinar

Webinars are ideal for scenarios requiring live interaction. For instance:

• Training sessions: Walk teams through new processes with real-time Q&A.
• Product demos: Showcase features, gather feedback, and engage directly with your audience.
• Thought leadership events: Share insights and build authority while fostering interaction.

A 2023 study by HubSpot revealed that 73% of B2B marketers find webinars to be one of the best ways to generate high-quality leads. Their interactive nature makes them an invaluable tool for businesses looking to connect meaningfully with their audience.

What is a webcast?

In contrast, a webcast is a one-way broadcast aimed at sharing information with a large audience without interactivity. Think of it as an online equivalent of a TV broadcast. However, unlike a webinar, webcasting is characterised by a host (or hosts) simply broadcasting their presentation without any engagement from their audience. A large audience can view the webcast online from any device, but they can’t interact with their presenter.

Characteristics of a webcast

• Scalable: Suitable for audiences of tens of thousands.
• One-to-many format: A single presenter streams content to viewers without interaction.
• Platform-agnostic: Often integrated into platforms like YouTube, Facebook Live, or company websites.
• Passive viewing: While attendees can consume the content, they cannot actively participate.

When to use a webcast

Webcasts excel in scenarios requiring mass communication, such as:

• Corporate announcements: Deliver company-wide updates to a global workforce.
• Live events: Broadcast conferences, music festivals, or panel discussions to a remote audience.
• Educational content: Share recorded TED-style talks or other high-value content to a wider audience.

According to Cisco's Visual Networking Index, video streaming, including live streaming, was projected to account for 82% of all consumer internet traffic by 2022. This highlights the growing dominance of video as a medium for communication and entertainment, further emphasising the popularity of webcasts as an effective way to reach large audiences.

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What should you use?

Choosing between a webinar and a webcast depends on your event's goals and audience needs. Both formats have unique strengths, making them suited for specific use cases. Let’s delve deeper into when you should opt for each.

Webinar: When interaction is key

Webinars are ideal for scenarios requiring live engagement and real-time interaction with your audience. They are designed to foster a more intimate and collaborative environment, enabling participants to ask questions, share insights, and provide immediate feedback. Use webinars for:

• Training sessions: Walk through processes step-by-step, answer questions on the spot, and utilise tools like whiteboards and screen sharing.
• Product launches and demonstrations: Showcase your offering interactively, gather live feedback through polls, and address attendee questions directly.
• Thought leadership events: Engage with your audience, discuss industry trends, and position your organisation as a leader in its field.

Webinars are particularly effective for building relationships with your audience and leaving a lasting impression, making them an essential tool for education, marketing, and customer engagement.

Webcast: When scalability and reach matter

Webcasts are the go-to format for mass communication, where interactivity is not a priority. They allow you to broadcast your message to a large audience efficiently, ensuring accessibility across geographies. Use webcasts for:

• Corporate announcements: Share updates with thousands of employees or stakeholders globally in one seamless stream.
• Conferences and panels: Extend the reach of in-person events by broadcasting them to online audiences.
• Public-facing events: Increase visibility by streaming your content live on platforms like YouTube or embedding it on your website.

Webcasts shine when you want to amplify your message to a broader audience, ensuring everyone has access to your content regardless of location.

Combining formats: A real-world example

Sometimes, blending the strengths of both webinars and webcasts can maximise impact. For instance, Digital Samba partnered with Deal Matrix for their Global Pitch competition, a hybrid event that demonstrated the versatility of these formats:

• The jury interacted live with start-ups in a webinar, fostering meaningful engagement and discussion.
• Simultaneously, the event was webcast globally on Facebook, enabling thousands of viewers to watch the competition unfold in real-time.

This hybrid approach ensured both engagement and accessibility, proving that webinars and webcasts can complement each other to achieve broader goals.

How to decide?

Ask yourself these questions when deciding which format to use:

1. Do I need audience interaction? Choose webinars if live feedback, discussions, or collaboration are important.
2. How large is my audience? For large-scale events with thousands of viewers, webcasts provide the scalability needed.
3. What’s the goal of my event? If it's education, marketing, or engagement, webinars are ideal. Webcasts are more effective for announcements or broadcasts.

Both webinars and webcasts are powerful tools, and the right choice depends on your objectives and audience expectations. With Digital Samba’s versatile video conferencing solutions, you can confidently choose either—or both—to create memorable online events.

Leverage Digital Samba's video conferencing API and SDK for powerful webinars and webcasts

Digital Samba’s technology empowers businesses to deliver impactful webinars and webcasts with high-definition video quality, robust interactivity, and secure hosting.

Why choose Digital Samba?

• Customisable experiences: Embed interactive tools like live Q&A, polls, and video streaming into your platform.
• Scalable solutions: Host intimate webinars or stream webcasts to thousands without compromising on quality.
• GDPR compliance: Ensure data security with EU-hosted, end-to-end encrypted services.
• Integration-ready: Use our API and SDK to incorporate webinars and webcasts into your software seamlessly.

Imagine hosting a webinar to demonstrate your latest product, enabling live polling and Q&A for real-time feedback. Or think of a webcast broadcasting a corporate event to thousands, ensuring every team member feels connected. With Digital Samba, you can achieve both effortlessly.