5 Webinar Mistakes that are killing your business
  1. Selling a feature, not a result (they do not know what changes)
Goal: Make the buyer picture a before and after in 10 seconds.
Owner: You.
Timebox: 20 minutes per webinar.
Acceptance criteria: In the first 3 minutes, you clearly say who this is for, what outcome they get, and what pain it removes.
Simple framework: Problem, Promise, Proof.
Problem: name the stuck moment.
Promise: the measurable change (in plain words).
Proof: one quick story or screenshot you can describe.
Example: instead of “I will teach webinar strategy,” say “You will leave with a 45 minute webinar outline that moves people from curious to booked calls.”
Checkpoint: Ask, “If they repeat one sentence to a friend, what do I want it to be?” If you cannot answer, your hook is too fuzzy.
Do this now: Rewrite your first 3 minutes using Problem, Promise, Proof, then read it out loud once.
2.Teaching too much too early (you turn it into a class)
Goal: Teach only what increases belief and action.
Owner: You, and whoever edits your slides.
Timebox: 30 minutes to cut your deck.
Acceptance criteria: Every section does one job, either (1) increase urgency, (2) increase trust, or (3) show the path.
Micro framework: Why, What, How.
Why: why this matters now.
What: the core idea (simple).
How: one small step they can do today.
Example: If you have 30 slides of “how to,” cut it down to 10 slides of “what works and why,” then give one simple worksheet they can use after.
Checkpoint: For each slide, ask “Does this create belief or action?” If not, delete it or move it to a bonus.
Do this now: Mark your slides with U (urgency), T (trust), P (path), and remove anything with no letter.
3.Weak proof placement (you show proof, but at the wrong time)
Goal: Put proof right after every big claim, not only at the end.
Owner: You.
Timebox: 25 minutes.
Acceptance criteria: You have at least 3 proof moments, each tied to one specific claim, and each proof is easy to understand in 5 seconds.
Proof menu (pick one per claim):
A quick story (what changed, for who, in what time).
A simple before and after (what was happening, what happens now).
A visual cue (testimonial line, results snippet, or a short case slide).
Example: If you say “This works even with a small list,” your next slide should show a small list scenario and what they did instead of vague hype.
Checkpoint: Record a 60 second clip of your proof section. If it sounds like “trust me,” add one concrete detail and one constraint.
Do this now: Add one proof slide after each main promise, then rehearse the claim plus proof as one breath.
4.A soft close with no decision moment (you end, but they do not choose)
Goal: Create a clear decision point with one next step.
Owner: You, and your chat moderator if you have one.
Timebox: 20 minutes.
Acceptance criteria: You state the offer in one sentence, you name who it is for and not for, you give one simple next step, and you repeat it twice.
Micro framework: Fit, Fast, Next.
Fit: who this is for (and who should skip).
Fast: what happens in the first week (first win).
Next: what to do right now (link, call booking, checkout).
Example: “If you want a webinar you can run monthly without burning out, this is for you. In week one, we build your outline and your pitch. Next step, click the button and choose VIP, then reply ‘VIP’ in the chat so we can spot you.”
Checkpoint: If your audience asks “So what do I do?” your close is not clear enough.
Do this now: Write your close as three lines (Fit, Fast, Next) and practice it until it feels boring.
5. Leaving the room too early (no follow up plan, no comment engine)
Goal: Turn your webinar into a 7 day follow up sequence that feels human.
Owner: You.
Timebox: 45 minutes to set up, 10 minutes per day to run.
Acceptance criteria: You have (1) a same day recap, (2) a next day objection cleaner, (3) a day 3 proof drop, (4) a final day decision push.
Simple follow up structure:
Day 0: recap and the one thing they should do today.
Day 1: address the top objection you heard in chat.
Day 3: share a tiny case or behind the scenes.
Day 6 or 7: “last chance” with a clear deadline and next step.
Checkpoint: If your follow up reads like spam, you are talking at them. Add one question they can reply to.
Do this now: Draft your 4 follow up messages in one sitting, then schedule them before you go live.
6.The Real Timeline (Based on real world pacing):
Days 1 to 2: Cut your deck, rewrite your first 3 minutes, and place proof right after each big claim. Deliverable: a lean slide deck and a clean opening script.
Days 3 to 7: Rehearse the close, set your decision moment, and prep your chat flow. Deliverable: a 5 minute close you can repeat confidently.
Week 2: Run the webinar once, record it, and tag the exact drop off points. Deliverable: one full recording plus notes on what to cut, move, or tighten.
Weeks 3 to 4: Build your 7 day follow up sequence and run the webinar again with the new follow up. Deliverable: repeatable results that improve each run.
Pro Tips
- Keep one promise per segment. If you stack three promises, people stop believing all of them.
- Use one “reset line” every 10 minutes. Say, “Here is the point,” then summarize in one sentence.
- Make your CTA frictionless. One link, one button, one action, then repeat it calmly.
- Track one signal after each webinar. Pick either show up rate, watch time, or clicks, then improve only that next.
The Truth
Most webinars do not fail because the offer is bad.
They fail because the viewer never reaches a clear belief moment.
Belief is what makes someone stay, listen, and act. Belief comes from clarity, proof, and a simple path.
If your opening is fuzzy, people scroll. If you teach like a professor, they feel smart but do nothing. If your proof is late, they doubt you the whole time. If your close is soft, they delay the choice. If your follow up is missing, they forget you.
The fix is not more content.
The fix is tighter intent. One result. One story. One next step. Then a follow up that feels like a real person, not a robot.
Bottom Line
A webinar is not a lecture.
It is a guided decision.
Your job is to help the right people see themselves in the problem, trust your path, and take one clear next step.
Start by tightening the first 3 minutes. Then cut anything that does not increase urgency, trust, or the path. Place proof right after claims. Build a close that creates a decision moment. Finally, run a simple 7 day follow up that repeats the same promise, proof, and next step.
If you do only one thing, make the next step painfully clear.
People do not buy because you said everything.
They buy because you made the right thing easy to do right now.
real talk.
you do not need perfect slides. you need a clean outcome and a calm close.
most people are one small edit away from a different result. they just keep adding instead of cutting.
so look at your webinar like a builder, not an artist. does each part hold weight. does it move the buyer forward. does it remove a doubt.
if you are nervous about sounding salesy, good. that usually means you care. the move is to be direct and kind at the same time. “here is who this helps, here is what happens next, here is how to join.”
also, do not underestimate the power of comments after you post about your webinar. it is the easiest way to restart conversations with warm people. one short comment can beat a fancy funnel if it is honest and specific.
pick one mistake above. fix it today. then run the webinar again. momentum is built by reps, not by theory.
Quick Start
Today: Rewrite your first 3 minutes, cut your deck, and add proof after each claim.
Tomorrow: Write your close (Fit, Fast, Next) and schedule your 4 follow up messages.
This week: Rehearse once, run the webinar once, and paste the event promo comment after your post.
Next week: Review the recording, fix one drop off point, and run it again.
That’s it. No perfect plan needed. Just start.
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Angel Fletcher
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5 Webinar Mistakes that are killing your business
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