Look for a platform that lets you fully customize the flow, including when polls, videos, and CTAs trigger, simulates chat convincingly, and gives you the same analytics as a live session. Livestorm lets you build an automated webinar using the same editor as a live one, so nothing feels bolted on.
Webinar Glossary
Automated webinar
Automated webinars can be set up in advance by the webinar host to begin and end automatically.
What is an automated webinar?
An automated webinar is a pre-recorded video presentation that plays on autopilot. As a webinar host, you can set up this type of video event to play on demand, without requiring any manual intervention.
Fully automated webinars simulate live events. They do so by automating the start and end time of the webinar. As a result, they help you share content while giving you more control over the event and limiting technical issues.
Such webinar automations save time and effort for event organizers. They are very useful to host evergreen webinars. However, they are not interactive. Users can feel deceived if these webinars are designed and promoted as live events.
Webinar automations help event organizers save time and effort. And while they're useful for hosting on-demand evergreen webinars, unlike live sessions, automated events aren't interactive and don't allow for real-time engagement.
What webinar actions can be automated?
Automations can also be added to live webinars. They take the place of predetermined actions that always start at the same time. These automations are webinar best practices that can save you time and increase your efficiency!
Automation rules determine what time each action will occur throughout the webinar. Here are some examples:
- Start webinar
- End webinar
- Play a video
- Redirect to a page
- Send a poll
- Show a presentation
- Share a CTA
Start webinar
A "start webinar" automation triggers the webinar to begin at a predetermined date and time. Then, the webinar begins with no extra action required on the part of the organizers.
End webinar
An "end webinar" automation allows the event to conclude without any prompting from organizers.
Play a video
A “play a video” automation triggers a video to play during the webinar. Most platforms allow many different videos to play during a single webinar.
Redirect to a page
Page redirects point viewers to a specific URL at certain moments or at the end of the webinar. Here are a few use cases for redirects:
- Sales demos: At the end of on-demand webinars, sales representatives can set up redirects that guide audiences to a pricing page or even a discount code.
- Content marketing: Send viewers to helpful content like ebooks or infographics. Educational institutions can use page redirects to quiz students on the content from the event.
- Customer success: Share links to helpful resources, a product tour, or your software platform's login page. These redirects can be helpful for customer retention and reducing churn.
- Employee onboarding: Redirect new employees to a page where they can find all of the information you covered in the training. For example, at Livestorm we use Notion for internal knowledge bases.
Send a poll
Polls are helpful to gauge viewers' opinions on certain topics and to engage your audience. Plus, marketers can use the results to guide future content creation or webinar development.
Show a presentation
Much like playing a video, this automation shows the audience a presentation after a trigger has been activated. Some automated webinar software can even automate when slides change during a presentation.
Share a CTA
Calls to action (CTAs) encourage viewers to complete a specific step. Organizers and brands can insert CTAs at particular decision-making moments of the presentation. For example, when a webinar organizer reveals the price of their product or service, a “Buy it now” CTA can appear for viewers.
What are the best automated webinar platforms?
Most on-demand webinar software allows some degree of automation. Yet only the best webinar platforms allow you to fully automate webinars from end to end.
Here are our top picks for great automated webinar platforms:
- Livestorm: Livestorm offers live and automated on-demand webinars with features like live chat, polls, and analytics.
- Demio: Demio offers live and automated webinars with interactive features like polls, Q&A sessions, and CTAs.
- WebinarJam: WebinarJam is a popular webinar platform that allows users to create and host webinars with customizable landing pages, email automation, and more.
- ClickMeeting: ClickMeeting offers a range of webinar features, including automated webinars, analytics, and integrations with popular marketing tools.
- EverWebinar: EverWebinar is a platform that allows users to create and host pre-recorded webinars with customizable landing pages, email automation, and more.
- EasyWebinar: EasyWebinar offers live and automated webinars with features like chat, polls, and analytics.
- GoTo Webinar: GoTo Webinar offers automated webinars, live webinars, and hybrid events with features like polls, Q&A, and analytics.
- StealthSeminar: StealthSeminar allows users to host automated webinars with features like customizable landing pages, email automation, and analytics.
- ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels offers a range of marketing tools, including a webinar platform that allows users to create and host on-demand events and build funnels with webinar landing pages, automated emails, and more.
Frequently asked questions about automated webinars
Here are some FAQs about automated webinars:
How do I run an automated webinar?
Running webinars starts with choosing a software platform that suits your needs and budget. Next, record your webinar presentation in advance and edit it as needed.
Once your webinar is ready, you can upload it to your chosen platform and schedule it to play back at a specific time and date. You'll also need to create a landing page and registration form for your webinar and promote it through various channels, such as email marketing and social media.
When the scheduled time arrives, attendees can join the webinar and watch the pre-recorded presentation as if it were a live event. After the webinar experience ends, you can analyze attendee metrics and use the insights to improve your future webinars.
What is an automated vs live webinar?
An automated webinar is a pre-recorded presentation that plays at a scheduled time as if it were a live event. This means that the presenter does not need to be present in real time during the webinar, making it a convenient and flexible option.
In contrast, a live webinar happens in real time, with the presenter delivering the content and interacting with attendees as the event happens. Live presentations tend to offer a more interactive webinar experience. But they can also be more challenging to schedule and require more resources.
Editorial & methodology — Written and reviewed by the Livestorm content team, based on first-party product experience and platform documentation. Last updated: July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you look for in automated webinar software?
Is an always-on webinar the same thing as an automated webinar?
Yes, the terms are generally used to mean the same thing: a webinar that runs on a set schedule or on demand without a host present live.
Do attendees know they're watching a recording?
Best practice is to disclose it, either in the registration page copy or a short note at the start. Transparency doesn't hurt conversion, and it avoids attendees feeling misled.
Can an automated webinar be turned back into a live one later?
Yes. Most platforms let you keep the same registration page and content but switch the session type, which is useful if a topic proves popular enough to justify a live Q&A follow-up.
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