1. Webinar :
Webinar is a type of web conferencing. It is just like a seminar over the web. Webinars are useful for seminars, lectures, workshops or product and service demonstrations. In webinar shared screens, question-and-answer sessions and topic discussion are some of the interactive features also it enables presentations by multiple speakers to large audiences. Here in webinar restrictions can be in place so that they can not interact or see each other. Webinars are typically one way but now a days two ways is also happening.
Some examples of webinar tools are Zoho meeting, GoToWebinar, Zoom, Click meeting, Livestorm etc.
Advantages of Webinars :
- Interaction and questions allowed
- More engagement
- Anonymous participation is possible
- Easy to evaluate and store presented content
- Teaching and learning friendly environment
- Wider Reach
Disadvantages of Webinars :
- Less interaction between speaker and participant
- Business firewalls, slow Internet speeds, system configurations incompatible can cause problem
- Browser compatibility issue may arise
- Lack of Environmental Control
- Lack of Body Language
2. Video Conference :
Video conferencing is a visual communication session conducted between two or more parties irrespective of their locations. It allows face to face meeting through video enabled devices with video conference application/software. It is useful for holding meetings, business deals, private video chats, content sharing and interviewing job candidates. It is considered as subset of web calling technology. It allows two-way real-time video and/or audio communication and both the ends should have special equipment for successful connectivity for a successful video conference.
Some examples of video conferencing tools are Microsoft team, zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts Meet, Jabber etc.
Advantages of Video Conference :
- Enable the Digital Workforce
- Simplify Management and Usability
- Rally Communication and Culture
- Increase Communication Reliability
- Improve Value and Reduce Redundancy
Disadvantages of Video Conferences :
- Lack of personal interaction:
- Technical problems
- International time zones
- High cost of setup
- Network instability and time lag
Difference between Webinar and Video Conference :
| S.NO. | WEBINAR | VIDEO CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | Webinar is a type of web conferencing. | Video conferencing is a visual communication session conducted between two or more parties irrespective of their locations. |
| 02. | Webinars are useful for seminars, lectures, workshops or product and service demonstrations. | Video conference is useful for routine meetings, business deals, private video chats, content sharing and interviewing job candidates. |
| 03. | Main purpose of webinar is presentation and sharing of data. | Main purpose of video conference is communication and collaborations. |
| 04. | In general webinar event type is public. | In general video conference type is private. |
| 05. | It is good for marketing and demonstrations. | It is good for panel discussions and negations. |
| 06. | It can support unlimited audience size. | It can support limited audience by its software capacity. |
| 07. | In webinar participants listen to the presenter and can not ask question directly. | In video conferencing every participant is a presenter and every presenter is a participant. |
| 08. | Presenters does not see participants in webinar. | Here everyone see to each other. |
| 09. | Here you pay only for web conference software. | Here you pay for video conference software and special equipment. |
| 10. | Webinar has a one way communication. | Video conference has a two way communication. |
| 11. | It is good for large audience set. | It is good for small audience set. |
| 12. | In webinar no requirement of any special equipment to maintain communication. | In webinar there is requirement of special equipment to maintain communication. |
| 13. | Some examples of webinar tools are Zoho meeting, GoToWebinar, Zoom, Click meeting, Livestorm etc. | Some examples of video conferencing tools are Microsoft team, zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts Meet, Jabber etc. |