The webinar/webcast player offers 2 possibilities to engage participants: ask a question and live chat. Below is explained how and when to choose which option.
Use live chat or ask a question?
With ‘live chat’ participants can ask questions in a chat box below the video screen in the webinar player. The question remains visible in the participant’s chat box, which expects an answer just like a normal chat. All chat questions arrive in a special editing tool for moderators, the Moderator App.
In ‘Ask a question’ a participant asks a question that, after being sent, is no longer visible in his or her player. This question ends up in the Moderator App or is e-mailed to a pre-set e-mail address, after which the receiver can answer the question at any time.
‘Live chat’ is particularly recommended when a lot of interaction is required during the session. Live chat’ requires serious preparation; a good estimate must be made in advance of the number of expected questions. The capacity of the moderators needs to be adjusted to this, so that all questions are answered in time. Live chat stimulates interaction, increases involvement and gets the most out of the webinar by far.
‘Ask a question’ is a more simple way of engaging with participants. Because answers do not have to be given immediately, there is more room to take the time for this. This can be beneficial in a number of cases, for example when difficult questions are expected or when many questions are expected during the webinar and the capacity of the moderators cannot be adjusted to this.
In the editing tool for moderators, the Moderator App, all questions that are asked during the broadcast will appear. Multiple moderators can work together in this application during and after the broadcast. Questions can be answered in different ways:
- A written answer to the participant;
- Forwarding to the speaker(s) to be dealt with live during the broadcast;
- After the broadcast via the moderator application, as the e-mail address of the person asking the question is known in the system.
It is important to state at the start of the broadcast how questions will be dealt with. This is especially important for ‘ask a question’, because these questions can be answered in various ways and at various times. Indicate how long this will take or whether they will not be dealt with (in part) because they are addressed to a guest speaker, for example. If possible, try to answer all the questions asked; this gives a positive impression.
Tip: A live chat is not possible with on-demand, but ‘ask a question’ can be used here. Giving participants the opportunity to ask questions in this way increases engagement and is therefore highly recommended. These questions are e-mailed to a specified e-mail address.