Webinars aren’t dead: why they still work (and how to do them right)

Jul 27

While everyone’s busy trying to outsmart the algorithm or plan 30 days of Reels, webinars are quietly doing what most content can’t: holding attention long enough to build trust and make a sale.

If you’ve been wondering whether webinars still work, especially if your audience is small or your offer isn’t flashy, the answer is yes. But only if you structure them right.

In this post, we’ll walk through why webinars still work in 2025, what makes a modern webinar convert, and how to create one that doesn’t feel outdated, overwhelming, or overly salesy.

Why webinars still work in 2025

Most free content is consumed passively. People scroll, skim, save it for later, and rarely come back. A webinar creates focused attention – something you need if you’re trying to sell a digital product, course, or service.

Here’s why webinars still work:

They create a structured, distraction-free container to explain your offer in context.
They give you the space to teach one meaningful shift or insight without overwhelming.
They let people see how you think and communicate, which is a fast-track to trust.

If you’ve been promoting a great offer and feel like your audience just doesn’t "get it," a webinar can bridge the gap in a way a static sales page or short-form post simply can’t.

How Webinars Help You Grow Your Email List

One of the biggest overlooked benefits of webinars is how effective they are at building a targeted, engaged email list of potential buyers.

Every person who registers for your webinar is giving you more than just an email address. They’re showing genuine interest in a specific topic you teach.

That makes them way more likely to engage with your follow-up emails or buy from you than someone who grabbed a generic freebie.

Here’s why webinars grow better lists:

Focused topic = qualified leads. People sign up because they care about the outcome you’re teaching.
Built-in urgency. Even if it’s evergreen, the event-style structure gives people a reason to sign up now.
Fewer freebie hoarders. Unlike PDF downloads, webinars require time investment, so you attract people who are more serious.
Immediate nurture opportunity. The follow-up sequence feels timely and relevant because they just spent 30-45 minutes with you.

If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of growing your list but not seeing results, this could be the missing piece.

A few ways to promote your webinar:

Email your list. More than once. Send an invite, a reminder, and a last-chance message. Use curiosity or a clear benefit to hook interest.

Add it to your social bio and pinned posts. Make it the first thing people see when they land on your Instagram or Threads profile.
Talk about it in your Stories. Use a countdown sticker or poll to boost engagement and get DMs going.
Mention it in your newsletter. Add it to the P.S. or as the main CTA, depending on the week.
Partner with someone. If you have biz friends or affiliates with aligned audiences, offer to run a training or webinar swap. People have to sign up to get the training.

Keep it simple. Focus on the outcome your audience wants and make the signup process easy.

Webinar Best practices that work right now

Outdated webinars tend to be long, fluffy, and manipulative. You know the ones – 15 minutes of backstory, vague promises, and pitches that feel like they should have been thrown out with the trash… in 2015.

Modern webinars are sharper. More intentional, less performative.

Here’s what’s working now:

30 to 45 minutes max, with a clear structure
A single, focused topic or takeaway
Teaching that delivers actual clarity and value, not just surface-level value
A natural segue into the offer (ideally framed as a next step)
Follow-up emails that extend the conversation, not just repeat the pitch

Your audience doesn’t need to be “convinced”. They need to understand how your offer solves a problem they care about, and a good webinar does exactly that.

Types of webinars: pick the right format for you and your audience

There’s no one "right" way to run a webinar and the list below isn’t the end-all be-all, but it has the most common ones.

Choose a format that fits your energy, your offer, and the way your audience likes to engage.

Live Workshop
Works well for launches when you want a surge of real-time energy and questions. Expect slightly lower attendance but higher engagement.

Pre-Recorded Webinar
Ideal for evergreen funnels or if your schedule isn’t predictable. The key here is to make it feel fresh and personal, not robotic or overly polished.

Voice-Only or Slides-Only
If you’re not into video, no problem. Plenty of webinars convert just fine with slides and voiceover only. Keep the visuals clean and support what you’re saying.

Live Product Demo or Teardown
Great for tools, templates, or trainings where seeing the "how" makes the difference. This can be casual, conversational, and highly effective.

No matter which you choose, focus on clarity, connection, and simplicity.

How to create a modern webinar that converts without feeling salesy

Webinars work when they’re clear, relevant, and easy to follow. Not when they’re packed with jargon or forced urgency.

Here are a few best practices to make your webinar feel modern and effective:

Start strong.
Open with a clear promise. Tell people exactly what they’ll walk away with, and why it matters.

Teach something useful.
Choose one shift, framework, or insight your audience needs to understand in order to be ready for your offer.

Keep your slides clean.
No paragraphs. Use visuals, headlines, and space to support what you’re saying, not replace it.

Don’t hide the pitch.
You don’t need a hard sell. Just connect the dots: here’s the problem, here’s what we just covered, and here’s how my offer helps.

Follow up with context.
Send a short sequence of emails that helps people take the next step. Don’t rely on a single webinar to do all the work.

Remember – your goal isn’t to convince people to buy. It’s to show them that you understand their problem and have a clear, thoughtful solution.

Why you should still use webinars to sell your digital offer

There’s no shortage of ways to promote a product online, but most of them require a huge volume of content or an audience that’s already warmed up.

Webinars are especially useful if:

You have a smaller audience and want to make the most of it
You’re tired of launching on social media with little return
You want to explain something that doesn’t translate well in a Reel or carousel

They’re not just for big launches or big lists. They’re for anyone who wants to:

Build real trust without showing up daily
Create a scalable, repeatable sales asset
Sell with context instead of hype

A good webinar can be an amazing way to kick off your live launch, or it can work quietly in the background while you get back to creating, serving, or just living your life.

Ready to create a webinar that actually sells?

I’m putting the final touches on Webinars That Sell – a course and template kit to help you create a webinar that actually converts without making you want to crawl under a blanket.

You’ll learn how to structure your webinar, what to say (and when), how to promote it without being pushy, and how to sell your offer in a way that feels simple and sustainable.

Plus it will include:

✅ Slide templates that are easy to customize (several styles available)
✅ Email copy you can tweak and send in minutes
✅ A full step-by-step playbook so you never have to guess what to do next
✅ Practical tips for delivering confidently on camera or off

And so much more!