Updated May 20th, 2025 by AddEvent
Are you tired of hosting webinars to crickets? Do you feel like you’re talking to yourself while staring at an empty chat box? Many people struggle with getting attendees to show up to their virtual events. But with a few tweaks, you can increase your webinar success and get people to show up.
First and foremost, let’s address the elephant in the room: your webinar topic. Is it something that people actually want to learn about? Are you offering valuable information that will benefit your audience? If not, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. People are more likely to attend a webinar that aligns with their interests and provides them with something valuable.
Next, let’s talk about promotion. Are you letting people know about your webinar? It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people assume that just because they put the event on their calendar, people will automatically know about it. But just like a tree falling in the forest, if a webinar is scheduled and no one knows about it, did it really happen? The answer is no. So ensure you’re promoting your webinar everywhere: social media, email, your website, and shouting from the rooftop.
Even if people register for your webinar, they might forget to show up. That’s why it’s crucial to make it as easy as possible for them to remember. Adding these add to calendar links or buttons in your confirmation and reminder emails lets attendees save the date to their preferred calendar — Google, Outlook, Apple, and more — with just one click. This simple step increases the chances they’ll actually show up when the time comes. Tools like AddEvent make this process seamless and user-friendly, so your webinar stays top of mind and on their schedule.
Another critical factor in increasing webinar attendance is the timing of your webinar. Are you scheduling your webinar at a convenient time for your audience? If you’re scheduling it during working hours, you’ll have a tough time getting people to attend if it isn’t work-related. If it is work-related, is it at a time that people are typically in meetings? What about your audience’s geographic location? Are they spread out or do they fall within one time zone? These are all key considerations you need to consider when deciding the day and time of your webinar.
One of the biggest reasons people don’t attend webinars is because they’re boring. How do you make your webinars less boring? Try interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions. This will keep your attendees engaged and excited to be at your webinar.
Another great way to increase engagement is hosting a webinar with a panel discussion or a guest speaker. Not only will this provide your attendees with various perspectives, but it will also make your webinar more exciting and dynamic.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of incentives. Offer your attendees something for showing up, whether it’s a free download, a discount code, or even a chance to win a prize. People are more likely to attend your webinar if they know they’ll get something out of it.
Increasing webinar attendance is all about aligning your content with your audience’s interests, promoting your event, scheduling it at a convenient time, engaging your attendees, and offering incentives. Follow these steps, and you’ll be on your way to webinar success in no time. Remember, even if you don’t get as many attendees as you hoped, at least you’ll have someone to talk to in the chat box.
Ideally, start promoting your webinar at least 2–3 weeks in advance. This gives your audience time to plan, register, and add it to their calendars. Don’t forget to send reminders as the date approaches — especially 24 hours and 1 hour before the event.
Incorporate interactive elements like live polls, Q&As, quizzes, and chats. Use visuals to support your content and consider including guest speakers or panelists to add variety and energy.
Yes! When people add an event to their calendar, they’re much more likely to attend. Including Add to Calendar buttons in your emails, confirmation pages, and reminders keeps your webinar top of mind and increases actual attendance.