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Zoom Webinar 101

Zoom is an audio-video cloud platform for conferencing, chatting, and interacting that feels like a real gathering. It’s relatively easy to use.

Use of this platform is very flexible. The duration is up to you.

Why Use Zoom or Other Webinar Platforms

  • Interactive space best suited for exchanging ideas.
  • Reach niche audiences and use in direct marketing campaigns.
  • Easily recorded and shared on other platforms.

What Makes This Platform

  • Interact with polls, chat, emojis, and breakout rooms.
  • Stream on Facebook Live simultaneously.
  • Mute-all feature, waiting room, and other participant controls make presenting and facilitating easier.
  • Rehearse screen shares.
  • The webinar host is the only one who can stream it to Facebook. Make sure they have the proper permissions and know how to share to your page in advance.

What Breaks This Platform

  • Bad internet connection.
  • Extra security makes logging in more tedious.
  • Not spur-of-the-moment; participants must download and prepare beforehand.
  • Facebook Live shares don’t include some interactive features like polls.
  • Once you hit share on Facebook, you’re sharing. Make sure it’s the last think you do before moving Zoom to be publicly viewable or your Facebook audience will get a glimpse of you getting ready.

Pro Tip

Lighting is important—and you can also add Michigan Tech Zoom backgrounds to up your presentation game.

Examples

  • Design Expo 2020
  • CTL and IDEA Hub discussions
  • VPR Zoom Q&As

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to our University Marketing and Communications social media staff at social@mtu.edu with any questions.

What is Facebook Live?

Up-close image of a person holding their cellphone. On the screen of the phone is the login page for the app Facebook.

Facebook Live allows you to interact with your community by broadcasting video in real time from your phone or computer. Answer questions about campus life, take viewers on a lab tour, or share a special event, like Winter Carnival kickoff.

The ideal duration for a Facebook Live is 20 minutes. Lives are limited to four hours on a mobile device, and eight on other kinds of media set-ups, but unless you’re streaming a webinar or other programming, plan your event to be long enough to get people watching but not so long it bores them.

Why Use Facebook Live

  • Feature events and show spaces, people, or equipment.
  • Reach alumni and student families.
  • Build up your Facebook page.
  • Embed videos on department and project websites.

What Makes This Platform

  • Engage with a real, live audience.
  • Promote early across all your social media.
  • Frame your shot.
  • Do a dress rehearsal.

What Breaks This Platform

  • Bad internet connection.
  • Too long, viewers drop off.
  • Rude comments (enlist a team member to monitor in real time).
  • Be aware of ambient noise in your surroundings.

Pro Tip

Repurpose successful Lives by posting them to your YouTube channel.

Examples

Questions?

Reach out to University Marketing and Communications social media team for help at social@mtu.edu.

Instructions on Facebook Live from Facebook