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Create an automated webinar

With WebinarGeek you can broadcast automated webinars. An automated webinar is a pre-recorded webinar that’s broadcasted as if it were live.

Stefan avatar
Written by Stefan
Updated this week

With WebinarGeek it’s possible to broadcast automated webinars. An automated webinar is a pre-recorded webinar that’s broadcasted as if it were live, Yes, you read that right. As if it were live.

Attendees will experience a live webinar, while in reality they’re watching a recording. You as the host can kick back and relax during the broadcast. However, it is possible to directly answer viewer questions in the chat.

There are two options to create a new automated webinar, below we’ll explain them both.

Learn more about creating automated webinars here!

Live webinar to automated webinar

When you want to use a live webinar recording in WebinarGeek, you can easily use it as an automated webinar. To do this, follow the steps below:

  1. Click on your live webinar.

  2. Scroll to 'Broadcasts' and choose 'Options' > 'Create automated webinar' next to the broadcast you’d like to convert to an automated webinar.

  3. Click on 'Convert webinar'.

Using a live webinar recording to create an automated webinar

A new webinar will be created, the video, registration page, interactions, presentation and video injections will all be copied. The only thing you need to do is set the date and time.

Please note! An automated webinar plays prerecorded footage, so slides and speaker notes will not be copied over to the automated webinar.

The interactions and slides you’ve used during the live webinar will be started in the automated webinar on the same moment. You can change the timestamps for the interactions, as well as plan new interactions.

Discover more tips to save time and reuse your content here!

As soon as you click on 'Create automated webinar' you’ll get an overview of the data that will be used.

Here you have the option to copy the registration link of the live webinar. When you no longer use the registration page for the live webinar, you can use the link for the automated webinar. There would be no need to share a new link.

Please note! If you keep the registration link for the automated webinar, the live webinar will no longer be reachable through that link. This is because we change the link to the registration page of the live webinar by adding '-old'.

Create new webinar and select/add a recording

  1. In the main menu, click on '+ New webinar' to create a new webinar.

  2. Select automated webinar, give the webinar a title, create a broadcast schedule and click ‘Create webinar’.

  3. After creating the webinar you’ll continue to the next step of the webinar wizard. Navigate to the ‘Webinar’ section.

  4. Click on ‘Webinar page’ to select/add a recording for the webinar.

Use an existing or uploaded video

You can also choose to use a live webinar recording or previously uploaded video from your ‘Videos’ list.

  1. At the top of the webinar wizard click on 'Webinar'.

  2. Select a video under 'Import video' and remember to save.

Importing an existing video

If using a live webinar recording, interactions and the presentation you used during the live webinar will be copied, just like during the creation of an automated webinar from a live webinar.

Please note! Always test the recording by clicking on 'Test the webinar' after recording in the webinar dashboard.

Use an external video

  1. At the top of the webinar wizard, click on 'Webinar'.

  2. Under 'External video URL' you have the option to add the webinar recording. This can be a YouTube or any other URL, as long as the file is .MP4 format (preferably using x264 video and AAC audio).

  3. Paste your URL at 'External video URL' and don’t forget to click 'Save'. Click here for more information about using external videos.

Adding an external video URL

Please note! Always test the recording by clicking on 'Test the webinar' after recording in the webinar dashboard.

Change existing live webinar to automated webinar

You have scheduled a live webinar, but the presenter is not available at the scheduled time. What you can do is change your live webinar to an automated webinar. To do this, follow the steps below.

  1. Select the specific webinar you want to edit.

  2. Click on 'Edit webinar'.

  3. Navigate to the 'General' section.

  4. Under 'Live' you see ‘Edit’. Click 'Edit', adjust the webinar type and click 'Save'. Make sure to also add the recording to your automated webinar. Click here for the instructions.

Changing the webinar type of an existing webinar

Copying the Q&A from a live to an automated webinar

You can easily copy the Q&A of a live to be present on an automated webinar:

  1. Find the live webinar you want to convert to an automated webinar

  2. Click 'Options'

  3. Click 'Create as automated webinar'

  4. Click the 'Copy Q&A from live recording' checkbox

  5. Click the new webinar

The webinar with the Q&A has now been created. You can configure it further by following these steps:

  1. Click 'Edit Webinar'

  2. Click 'Webinar'

  3. Click 'Q&A'

Keywords: automatically, automatic, evergreen

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