Webinar vs Webcast: What's the Difference?

Hangouts and other online conferences are commonplace for many productive companies. Finally, a few more things have appeared that make development even more efficient - online broadcasts and webinars.

What is a webcast?

A webcast or webcast is an online event that involves the transmission of information to the general public.

Main features of webcasts

Some of the most important features of webcasting include:

• one-way route for information;
• one or more people perform in front of thousands of visitors;
• broadcast online or pre-recorded;
• does not involve any interaction.

The main difference from the webinar format is the number of people and interactive features.

When to use webcasts

This online communication is useful if you need to provide information such as reports, table discussions or similar.

What is a webinar?

A webinar is an interactive seminar conducted by means of remote interaction. The greatest attention is paid to the possibilities of submitting information with feedback and the exchange of ideas.

Webinar Features

The most significant features include:

• interaction with a large but small audience (up to a thousand people);
• use of interactive elements;
• mostly live events;
• recording and sharing.

These events are designed to reach fewer people than with webcast tools and get them into action.

When to Use Webinars

Webinars are a great tool to introduce some new features or topics that need to be demonstrated and discussed immediately.

What is the difference between webinars and webcasts?

Summarizing the above information, we can identify fundamental differences between the two options. Differences include:

• features - general concepts do not coincide;
• implementation - use cases have different purposes and are executed in different ways;
• audience size - webcasts are expected to be viewed by a wider audience;
• interaction levels – webinars engage in action, while webcasts only inform.

Thus, when comparing a webcast and a webinar, we find that they are completely different.

Pros and cons…

Each form of communication has its own advantages and disadvantages. We highlight the following pros and cons for business.

…webinars

Pros:

• enable instant clarification of controversial issues;
• let them know your audience better;
• more efficient for data collection;
• presentations are more dynamic;
• can be recorded and shared.

Minuses:

• require more preparation;
• time-bound events.

Depending on your purpose, it can serve better or worse, so you should carefully consider its features.

…webcasts

Pros:

• go to the general public;
• they are easier to share;
• are not tied to time;
• have fewer time limits.

Minuses:

• offer no interaction;
• limited data collection capabilities.

These characteristics make it harder to grab and hold viewers' attention, so even more precise planning is required.

How to choose what is better to use?

When choosing between these two options, keep the main goal in mind: do you need more to connect with your audience, or do you want to connect with more people? This will determine your direction.

Generally, both tools mentioned are useful and popular. The main principle to follow is not the mainstream, but the most useful features that these options provide. And finally, if you are in doubt about which is better, combine their use for the most impressive results.