Interactivity that doesn't stop when the livestream ends
On most platforms, interaction is a live-only feature. Meaning once the broadcast ends, the recording becomes like a passive video you can only watch without any interaction. At OnlineWebinar, the interactive layer of polls, chat, Q&A, stays part of the experience in the on-demand version too. Let’s shortly dive into how this works.
During the live stream the polls, chat, and Q&A work as standard
Every webinar on OnlineWebinar runs with interactive tools by default: live polls for instant feedback, a chat feature for ongoing engagement, and a dedicated Q&A moment where attendees can ask targeted questions. That's become the baseline most platforms now offer.
The difference shows up the moment the livestream ends. On many platforms, the interactive layer disappears at exactly that point and what's left is nothing more than a video recording.
After the fact: interactivity that carries into the on-demand version
Polls and surveys stay active in the o version too, meaning the viewers can still respond, even weeks after the live broadcast. Responses are tracked Separately, so you can see what was answered during the live broadcast, and what comes in afterwards from on-demand viewers. Both datasets are visible afterwards, which surfaces genuinely useful insight. For example: does your live audience think differently about a topic than your on-demand audience?
On-demand chat is also available as an optional setting. Turn it on, and messages left by on-demand viewers are automatically forwarded to the organiser by email, so questions and feedback still reach you long after the livestream ends.
Why this matters for your organisation
Data shows that an increasing share of viewers watch a webinar not live, but afterwards, sometimes because the timing didn't work, sometimes because the content becomes relevant at a different moment (for example, as part of a sales process or onboarding journey). If the interactive layer disappears once the livestream ends, that large group of viewers loses much of the value.
By carrying interactivity into the on-demand version, the content stays just as valuable, regardless of when someone watches.
What this means in practice
In practice: a webinar you broadcast live today still offers an interactive experience to anyone watching it three months from now, not just a recorded presentation.
In short:
• Live polls, surveys, and chat as standard during the broadcast
• Polls and surveys stay active in the on-demand version, with live and on-demand responses tracked separately
• Optional on-demand chat, where messages are automatically emailed to the organiser
• One webinar, two full experiences, live and afterwards
Curious how this works for your webinars?
Book a demo and we'll show how polls, chat, and Q&A keep working, both during the live broadcast and in the on-demand version that remains available afterwards.
