Maximising Webinar Attendance: Best Times, Strategies, and Insights

Over the past six years, I've hosted hundreds webinars and seen firsthand how powerful webinars can be for connecting with people globally. Many brands now use webinars to engage their top prospects from all corners of the internet.

However, hosting a successful webinar isn't easy. It requires thorough planning, an engaging topic, and a compelling presentation. One of the most critical factors is choosing the right time to host your webinar.

Is There a Perfect Time for a Webinar?

How do you maximize attendance when your audience is spread across different time zones?

In this post, I analyze data from thousands of webinars to determine when to host your webinar for maximum impact.

Why Webinar Timing Matters

The key to a successful webinar is effective planning, and timing is crucial. Research confirms that the time of your webinar significantly impacts attendance. If you’re investing time and money in hosting a webinar, you want to ensure it attracts as many people as possible.

Different days and times offer varying levels of success, so it's essential to find what works best for your target audience.

Best Days to Host a Webinar

Based on ON24’s 2020 Webinar Benchmark report, mid-week is ideal for webinars. Here's the breakdown:

• Monday – 9%
• Tuesday – 25%
• Wednesday – 26%
• Thursday – 28%
• Friday – 9%
• Saturday/Sunday – 4%

Mid-week webinars work best because Monday is often a "catch-up" day, and by Friday, many people are already thinking about the weekend. However, no one day fits every audience, so it’s wise to test different days.

Best Time to Host a Webinar

The ON24 report suggests that 11 a.m. AEST is the best time to run a webinar. This time avoids schedule conflicts across different regions and is early enough to accommodate participants from Europe and Asia.

Here’s the percentage breakdown of webinars by time:

• 6 a.m. AEST – 5%
• 7 a.m. – 6%
• 8 a.m. – 8%
• 9 a.m. – 9%
• 10 a.m. – 12%
• 11 a.m. – 17%
• 12 p.m. – 10%
• 1 p.m. – 5%

Scheduling webinars mid-morning can capture the most participants, but consider testing times that align with your specific audience's habits.

How Long Should a Webinar Last?

According to recent data, the average webinar lasts 56 minutes. However, the length can vary depending on your topic and audience. Most webinars run for about an hour, but you should include a Q&A session, which often increases audience engagement and leads.

5 Tips to Maximize Webinar Attendance

1. Pick a Time that Works Across Time Zones: Scheduling your webinar mid-morning (around 11 a.m. AEST) tends to yield the best results across different regions.
2. Promote in Advance: Most attendees register at least eight days before a webinar. Email is the most effective way to promote, with Tuesday through Thursday being prime days.
3. Engage Your Audience: Use engagement tools like Q&As, polls, and multimedia to keep your audience hooked and improve conversions.
4. Offer Replays or On-Demand Versions: Not everyone can attend live. Offering a replay or on-demand version can significantly boost your audience.
5. Test and Refine: Each audience is different, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different days, times, and formats to find what works best for your audience.

Conclusion: Timing and Strategy Are Everything!

By optimizing the timing of your webinar and providing engaging content, you can attract more attendees and increase your leads. The key is to develop a data-driven strategy tailored to your audience.

Schedule your free consultation to start building your webinar sales-generating webinar in no time.