How to record a webinar in 2025: The essential guide

It takes time and effort to organize webinars and create compelling content for them. You would be remiss if you leveraged your webinars only once, to a single “live” audience of a lucky few.

By recording your event, you can make a far greater impact. These recordings can be repurposed and used for website content, advertising, training, lead generation, and more. This guide shows you how to record a webinar and benefit from your event long-term.

Why record a webinar?

Many of the benefits that come from webinars such as interactivity and live-chat functions are negated by recording them. However, there are several ways that saving a webinar for later can enhance your marketing strategy.

• Extended reach – By eliminating the barrier of time zones or busy schedules, you open the door for infinitely more people to enjoy your webinar
• Accessibility – Easily include features like subtitles, translations, and video descriptions so everyone can engage with the content
• Pause and replay – If your webinar includes complex topics, the ability to pause and take notes or listen back to a difficult section can make it easier to retain
• Unique interactivity – While recorded webinars don’t have as many ways to interact with speakers, FAQs, clickable resources, and chapter markers can be just as helpful
• Evergreen content – Keep using high-quality, impactful content for years to come by recording it and presenting it in different formats
• Easy repurposing – Recorded webinars can be spliced apart to create video teasers, marketing, and training material. You can even use the recording to create written content such as blog posts
• Lead generation – Send recordings of webinars to attendees to keep the topics fresh in their minds and encourage them to stay engaged with your brand
• Rewards – Offer access to past webinars to leads who provided their contact information or perform some other desired task
• Training and development – Some webinars include vital information about your company or a certain task. You can use recordings of it in training to ensure every member of your team is on the same page no matter when they were hired
• Thought leadership – Well-executed webinars position your company as an authority in your industry. Recording these sessions helps you build a library of authoritative content that can be shared over time
• Performance analysis – Watch your past webinars to flag areas for improvement and continue to optimize the process

Recording a webinar is a simple way to multiply the effectiveness of the event.

What tools are needed to record a webinar?

Recording a high-quality webinar involves a combination of software and hardware tools. The final product must be both polished and engaging. You can also bring extra tools on board to make your webinar stand out.

Hardware tools

• High-quality camera – Whether you’re using a webcam, phone, or professional camera, you need the picture to be clear and professional
• Microphone – Nothing is more distracting than bad sound, especially when your webinar includes important information and speakers
• Lighting – Even if your camera is top-of-the-line, bad lighting can make any recording look cheap. Look into a ring light or panel of LEDs
• Stable internet connection – Consider using a wired ethernet connection instead of Wifi to ensure nothing gets dropped

Software tools

• Webinar hosting platform – The base of any good webinar is its platform. This will be how you share the broadcast originally, and may have the remaining tools built-in, or integrated with them
• Recording software – Most webinar hosting platforms have built-in recording features. However, you can also use dedicated software like OBS Studio or Camtasia for advanced recording capabilities
• Video editing software – You might want to just post your webinar as is, but editing software can take the recording to the next level. Editors can trim out any mishaps, enhance the presentation, or add your team’s branding

Enhancing the experience

• Engagement tools – Draw your audience in through polls, Q&As, breakout rooms, and live chats
• Analytics tools – Finding out what sections of a webinar kept audiences engaged, who is logging on, and more, can help you design the perfect recording to meet your target audience where they are

The best webinar hosting platforms will include many, if not all, of these tools in one.

Best practices for recording a webinar

When you record a webinar, everything that happens during it is preserved. Everything should be just right so you can be proud of the work you’re sharing. Here are some tips from experts to get the perfect take.

Tip one: Practice, practice, practice

Technical issues and confusion can put an end to your webinar right away. Take the time to run through the webinar before cameras are rolling to resolve any problems that come up, and make sure your speakers are prepared.

Having a script prepared in advance for hosts to follow will keep everything on time and help them stay on topic. You shouldn’t be hearing any information for the first time with the world watching.

Tip two: Have a backup

All the planning in the world can’t fight against freak accidents. Make sure you have backup equipment available in case your technology fails during the webinar. This might be an extra camera, an emergency internet connection, or a local hard drive recording a webinar in real time.

Tip three: Automate everything you can

Webinars are often a period of intense activity and stress. Using automation for admin tasks is a great way to free up time to focus on the logistics of recording.

This might be handling registrations, email communication to participants, and even scheduling posts on your social media. Some hosting platforms come with automation built in, but you can also use additional software if needed.

Webinar recording tips for different devices

Depending on the size of your organization, there are several devices you may be recording your webinar on. Each of these tools has its requirements for recording and using webinar content.

Desktop/laptop

One of the most common webinar tools is a computer. Broadcasting and recording a webinar on your desktop or laptop is ultra-streamlined because you can have your software running in the background with no additional connectors or steps.

For simplicity, make sure you’ve chosen software that has built-in recording features. This means you don’t need to worry about your recording until after the webinar is finished.

Consider investing in an aftermarket webcam and microphone to keep your production professional and ensure your recording is high-quality. Keep your desktop organized and exit out of any extra programs on your computer so the recording goes smoothly and there’s nothing to distract or ruin your take.

Smartphones/tablets

With the improvements made in smartphone cameras and mobile data, recording a webinar on your phone or tablet is more convenient and feasible than ever before. Make sure to clean your camera lens before recording and use a tripod or stabilizer for a steady shot.

Also, be aware of any noise or distracting background activity that could affect the audio quality. Plug in your phone and ensure there’s ample space in your camera roll for the recording to be saved. There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a webinar and realizing there was no space to keep it.

Professional camera

For larger organizations or high-quality productions, a professional camera may be used to record a webinar. Make sure to have a professional videographer, or at least someone with experience in videography to handle the recording.

They will be able to set up lighting, audio, and framing to ensure the best quality recording. Additionally, make sure the camera is connected to a stable and fast internet connection to ensure a smooth live broadcast.

Keep in mind that professional cameras output video that requires significantly more space to store. You will want to have a large hard drive on hand to keep your recording safe.

No matter which device you use, it’s important to test and troubleshoot before the actual webinar to ensure a successful recording.

FAQ

What are some examples of webinar recording platforms?

There are countless options for recording a webinar, but if you want a high-quality recording to use for marketing, you’ll want a high-quality platform.

Some of the top options for software include:

• Kaltura – An all-in-one platform that lets you promote, broadcast, record, edit, and share your webinars. It has tons of tools for interaction, accessibility, and hosting
• Zoom – A simple, straightforward platform that most people will recognize. It doesn’t have many options for customization, but it can record both locally and onto the cloud
• WebinarJam – A platform specifically designed for hosting webinars, with features like screen sharing, live chat, and analytics. It allows you to record and save your webinars in HD quality, but won’t be as helpful for other forms of video marketing

The more comprehensive and versatile your platform is, the easier it will be to repurpose your webinar content.

How much do webinar recording platforms cost?

The cost of webinar recording platforms can vary widely. Some offer free plans, while enterprise-grade tools will demand a higher price. The more you pay, the more features you’ll have at your disposal.

• Free plans – Basic recording capabilities, with a small audience
• Basic plans ($15-$50 per month) – Up to 500 attendees with simple integrations and analytics
• Advanced plans ($50-$150 per month) – Advanced recording options, editing tools, and analytics. Full integration with your tech stack
• Enterprise plans ($150+ per month) – Unlimited attendees and extensive, branded hosting. Priority customer service, editing tools, and more

Decide in advance what features you need and what you’re willing to pay for them.

What do you do with a webinar recording?

Webinar recordings are a treasure trove of content and can be repurposed. Here are some effective strategies you might employ:

• On-demand access – Host the recording on your website or a dedicated landing page to capture leads from those who couldn’t attend the live event
• Rewards – Provide gated access and offer the webinar to those who perform a desired task
• Teaser ads – Use clips from the webinar to promote your future events
• Repurposing content – Create highlight reels and clips to share on social media and your website
• Blog posts – Use the recording as a basis for writing a blog post, ebook, or whitepaper
• Training – Share bits of webinars and training sessions with new hires to ensure everyone on your team is on the same page
• Improve – Watch old webinars back and find areas for continued growth

Whatever you use your webinar for, it’s important to have a high-quality recording as a base.

Meet Kaltura – the #1 webinar platform

If you want crisp, beautiful recordings with all the accessibility and branding features to make your content stand out, look no further than Kaltura.

The software helps you through every step of planning, streaming, recording, and disseminating webinars with ease. With the click of a button, you can record your event as it’s happening and upload it directly to the cloud or a local drive.

Kaltura also helps you take those recordings to the next level. Its top-of-the-line editing suite gives you all the tools you need to make snappy edits and create teasers, promos, and simplified versions of your webinar.

Integrate content from other webinars or recordings and use AI and engagement analytics to splice together only the most effective parts of the event. You can even include video translation, captions, and split-screen sign language interpretation to make your recordings more accessible than ever.

Once the recordings are perfected, Kaltura even has personalized video hosting and transcoding to ensure they look just as good on every screen they’re played on.

It’s no surprise that companies worldwide trust Kaltura. Elevate your webinars with Kaltura’s innovative features and see the difference for yourself today!