In the age of distributed communities and digital-first experiences, connection doesn’t just happen in forums or feeds—it also happens in real-time, face-to-face (albeit virtually) conversations. Webinars have emerged as one of the most powerful tools in the modern community builder’s toolkit, offering a high-engagement format that combines value delivery with direct interaction.
At their core, webinars are structured online seminars—events designed to educate, inform, or activate your community through live or on-demand sessions. But when used strategically, they go far beyond broadcasting information. They become spaces for storytelling, collective learning, and co-creation. They humanise your brand, amplify member voices, and turn passive audiences into active participants.
This article explores how webinars can support community building, what formats work best, and how to design them with intentionality and impact.
What are webinars in the context of community building?
Webinars are live or recorded online sessions designed to bring members together around a shared topic. Unlike static content like blog posts or newsletters, webinars offer real-time interaction, visual storytelling, and the chance for two-way engagement.
In a community setting, webinars are typically used for:
Knowledge sharing and education
Product updates or walkthroughs
Fireside chats with experts or members
Live Q&A sessions
Member onboarding or orientation
Collaborative workshops or feedback sessions
While the structure may resemble traditional webinars in marketing or education, the key difference in community building is participation. Webinars here are not one-way lectures—they’re invitations to connect.
Why webinars work so well in communities
1. They offer real-time connection
Communities often operate asynchronously—posts, replies, threads, and messages. Webinars cut through that with immediacy. They allow members to gather, see faces, hear voices, and feel part of something happening now.
This live energy builds intimacy, trust, and momentum.
2. They scale intimacy
Unlike large in-person events, webinars can be hosted frequently, with lower cost and higher accessibility. They scale your ability to deliver high-value, high-touch experiences to a global member base—without sacrificing depth.
Even small, 20-person sessions can feel like meaningful moments of connection.
3. They reinforce community purpose
Webinars bring focus to shared goals. Whether you're exploring a relevant topic, unveiling a new feature, or hosting a community-led conversation, each session reinforces what your community stands for and why it exists.
Over time, these rituals help shape the culture and identity of the space.
4. They surface voices and expertise
Featuring members, partners, or domain experts turns a webinar into a stage for knowledge exchange. It decentralises leadership, spotlights underrepresented voices, and makes the community feel co-owned.
This is especially powerful in professional, creator, or learning-driven communities.
5. They generate reusable content
Webinars are content machines. With a bit of post-production, a single session can yield:
A full video recording
Short clips for social media
Audio snippets or podcasts
Summary blog posts
Visual quote cards
Member testimonials
This makes webinars a strategic investment for both engagement and content marketing.
Types of webinars for community building
Educational sessions and deep dives
Offer actionable value through tutorials, how-tos, or thematic deep dives. Ideal for communities centred on learning, tools, or professional growth.
Examples:
“How to optimise your writing workflow”
“Understanding the new platform analytics”
“Masterclass: From idea to launch in 10 days”
Community spotlights and stories
Feature members or user journeys in a casual conversation or interview format. This builds social proof, inspires others, and fosters emotional connection.
Examples:
“Meet the makers: Creator showcase”
“How Sam built a 5,000-member local network”
“From member to moderator: A journey”
Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions
Invite a founder, product lead, or expert to answer live questions. These are low-prep, high-engagement formats that create transparency and build trust.
Examples:
“AMA with the product team: What’s next for Q3?”
“Ask a member: How to grow a niche newsletter”
“Live feedback with our UX designer”
Onboarding or orientation webinars
Support new members with live walk-throughs, welcome sessions, or onboarding events. This human touch can dramatically increase retention and early engagement.
Examples:
“Welcome to the community: What to know and where to start”
“First 30 days: How to get the most value here”
Feedback or co-creation sessions
Use webinars to gather real-time input on new features, community initiatives, or upcoming events. This builds a culture of shared ownership.
Examples:
“Help us shape our 2025 roadmap”
“What content do you want next month?”
“Open design review: Your ideas, live”
Best practices for hosting community-focused webinars
Prioritise interactivity
Don’t default to slide decks and monologues. Use polls, chat prompts, breakout rooms, or live Q&A to make the audience part of the session. Even simple acknowledgements (“Drop a yes in the chat if this resonates”) can drive energy and connection.
Feature community voices
Bring members on stage—either as panellists, spotlight guests, or live question askers. This shifts the tone from broadcast to conversation and reinforces that the community is shaped by its people.
Keep it concise and consistent
Aim for a tight 30 to 60-minute format. Start and end on time. And consider establishing a rhythm—e.g. “Webinar Wednesdays” or a monthly series. Consistency builds habit.
Follow up with value
Always send a follow-up email or post:
Link to the recording
Summary or key takeaways
Highlighted member contributions
Call to action (join a thread, vote, sign up)
This turns the session into an ongoing conversation, not just a one-off event.
Optimise for accessibility
Ensure replays are available. Add captions or transcripts where possible. Vary timing to accommodate global time zones. These steps expand reach and reinforce inclusion.
Tools for hosting webinars
There are a wide range of platforms suited to different needs:
Zoom: Reliable and familiar, great for breakout rooms
Riverside or StreamYard: High-quality video, ideal for panels and content creation
Bevy or Hopin: Designed specifically for community and event management
YouTube Live or LinkedIn Live: Great for discoverability and audience growth
Slack or Discord integrations: Useful for informal, low-lift sessions within community platforms
Choose tools based on the nature of your community, expected attendance, and desired level of interaction.
Challenges to watch out for
Low turnout
It happens. Focus on quality of engagement, not just quantity. Record and repurpose content so no effort is wasted.
Overproducing
You don’t need TV-level production to make an impact. A simple, well-run session with strong content and authentic voices is often more effective than a highly polished but impersonal event.
Speaker fatigue
Avoid relying on the same internal experts. Rotate guests, invite members, or co-host with partners to keep things fresh and inclusive.
Final thoughts
Webinars are more than a tactic—they’re a format for connection. They bring rhythm, visibility, and voice to your community. Done with care and purpose, they transform your members from observers into collaborators, learners, and leaders.
In a world where attention is fleeting and content is endless, live interaction still holds a unique power. Webinars tap into that power—not just to inform, but to ignite. They remind your community that behind every post, every profile, every question—is a human being ready to listen, learn, and contribute. And sometimes, all it takes is one good conversation to bring a community to life.
FAQs: Webinars for community building
How do I choose the right webinar topic for my community?
Start by listening to your community. Common questions, repeated themes in discussions, or gaps in existing resources are strong indicators of what members want to learn. You can also run polls or surveys to let members vote on future webinar topics. Align your topics with your community’s core purpose, member goals, and current challenges.
What is the ideal duration for a community webinar?
Most community-focused webinars perform best when they are between 30 to 60 minutes long. This timeframe allows enough room for value delivery and interaction without overwhelming attendees. If your format includes breakout rooms or extended Q&A, going up to 75 minutes can work—just be clear about timing in your invites.
Should community webinars be live, on-demand, or both?
Both formats serve different purposes. Live webinars create real-time engagement and stronger connection, while on-demand replays offer flexibility and wider access. Ideally, host live sessions but always record and make replays available with supporting resources like summaries or transcripts to maximise reach and longevity.
How do I promote webinars within a community?
Effective promotion includes:
Announcements via pinned posts or email newsletters
In-app or platform notifications
Visual reminders (e.g. banners or countdown timers)
Social media posts and member tagging
Adding to a public calendar or event hub
Consistent reminders across multiple channels help boost attendance and awareness.
What tools can I use to analyse the success of a community webinar?
Post-webinar analytics should cover both quantitative and qualitative insights. Use:
Attendance and registration data
Drop-off points and session duration
Poll results and chat participation
Follow-up survey responses
Number of replay views or content shares
This data helps refine future topics, formats, and timing for better engagement and impact.
