Hello friends,
Many thanks for reading The Quest, your weekly round-up of tips and insights to help you design and lead exceptional online sessions that your group members will love.❤️
Let’s jump right in!
Did you catch the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games on Friday?
It was incredible! Despite the rain, they managed to put on a show that wowed not one but two audiences:
One was the live audience watching the barges and shows in their wet plastic ponchos.
The other was the record 29 million people watching from home.
The home audience got a special show.
They followed a historical French character running through some of Paris’ most iconic sites through different periods of history.
Like in this clever scene where the torch guy was running through the Louvre and joined figures from the paintings to watch the ceremony.
It was designed perfectly to captivate us sitting at home. And it connected the home audience to what was happening for the live audience while creating a memorable watching experience.
Where am I going with all of this?
If you deliver online workshops or webinars you also need to design for two audiences: those joining live and those catching the replay.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
When leading an online workshop, most people design solely for the live audience.
But guess what? The bigger audience is often the people who catch the replay.
I checked the stats on my last five workshops: only 30% of the people who signed up actually attended live.
Now, this doesn’t mean the other 70% all watched the replay. But if your workshop topic is valuable, a lot of them will.
The problem is, if you don’t think about your replay audience, you miss a big opportunity to engage them and deliver value.
So, how do you design for both live and replay audiences?
Here’s what’s been working for me:
1. 👋 Acknowledge Both Audiences
At the start of the session, I welcome the live audience. Then, I look straight into the camera and welcome the replay viewers. It’s a small gesture, but it makes a huge difference.
People watching the recording feel seen and are more likely to stay engaged.
Someone recently wrote to me: “How lovely of you, @Gwyn Wansbrough, to say Hi to people watching the recording, like myself. Really made me feel thought of!”
2. ✍️ Design with the Replay Audience in Mind
Think about your replay audience’s perspective. What will they see on the screen? How will they experience the session? Try to adapt activities so they can participate too.
This way, they’re more likely to follow along and get the full value of your session, even if they weren’t there live.
3. 🎥 Record a Breakout Session
Breakouts are often the highlight of live online workshops. But the replay audience misses out on them completely. In my last session, I recorded myself with a breakout partner in the main room (with their permission, of course).
This way, the replay viewers got a peek into what happens in smaller groups, making their experience feel more like the live one.
Designing for both audiences is something I’m still figuring out. It’s a work in progress, but these steps have really helped. And the Paris opening ceremony gave me a bunch of new ideas.
What about you? How do you design your live sessions for both live and replay audiences? What makes you feel thought of when you watch a replay?
Hit reply to this email or the conversation over on LinkedIn here.
This Week’s Facilitator Finds 💪
1/ Nadia Chaney’s Toolsi – An amazing on-demand “trainer in your pocket” from one of the best facilitators I know for community arts facilitators.
2/ Scott Meyer’s Chipp – Check out how he uses AI to help break the ice when kicking off workshops with his new AI tool.
3/ Collato Check-In Meeting Questions – A bank of 87 check-in meeting questions – because you can never have too many:)
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
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Creatively yours,
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