Whether you’re learning to dance at home or watching The Rolling Stones play from their sitting rooms, this crisis has proven that live-streaming can be just as good as the real thing.
But it’s not just ballet and aging rock stars that have rediscovered the power of online video. Services like Zoom have become essential for both work and daily life, while the webinar has cemented its role as the best alternative to an in-person event.
In fact, webinars are one of the most valuable resources available to small businesses right now. But there’s a lot out there – so to save you the trouble, we’ve sifted through all the options. Read on below for our latest batch of picks, updated to show you what’s coming up in May.
1. Financial resilience during Covid-19
What do an ex-army officer and a chartered accountant have in common? In Simon Banks Cooper and Chris Lawes’ case, years of experience running some of the UK’s largest firms.
Hear from these two finance-savvy figures as part of a webinar series from the Festival of Enterprise, which is enlisting its conference speakers to share advice during coronavirus.
Monday 4 May, 10:00: Register here
2. How to adapt to the Covid-19 crisis
From restaurants becoming shops to fitness studios moving online, this pandemic has been a story of adaptation for many businesses.
Join this webinar to learn more about how your business can adapt to the current situation. The session will be hosted by Carolyn Dailey, whose firm helps people launch businesses, and Nick Howe, Enterprise Manager at NatWest.
Tuesday 5 May, 11:00: Register here
3. Financial support for small businesses during coronavirus
The government is introducing new measures to support businesses almost weekly, which we’ve been monitoring closely.
If you want to hear the details straight from the horse’s mouth, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is running a Q&A to help businesses understand what they’re eligible for. There’s a session on reporting, regulations and tax too.
Tuesday 5 May, 11:00: Register here
4. Enterprise Nation online small business meetups
Enterprise Nation is one of the UK’s most active small business networks. A key pick for us this month is its new series of region-specific events, designed to help business owners in the same area exchange advice.
The online meetups will be running for businesses up and down the country throughout May, including major hubs like Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh.
Running throughout May: Full list here
5. Staying well and faring well
It’s not easy to keep a clear head at the moment, but there are techniques that can help. For a dose of wellness advice, tune into this session hosted by Facebook and Be the Business, which helps UK firms improve their performance.
Facebook has also produced a range of resources for businesses in the light of the coronavirus outbreak, including guidance tailored for different industry sectors.
Wednesday 6 May, 12:00: Register here
6. Better Words: Building a brand voice
Although brand writing is notoriously difficult, it pays to have a clear idea of what you want to say, and how you want to say it.
Hear tips from strategic writers at Reed Words, who have crafted brand voices for companies like Formula 1 and the Southbank Centre. The team will dive into how to deliver effective brand writing, brought to life with case studies and handy tips.
Thursday 7 May, 13:00: Register here
7. Intro to digital marketing
Many businesses have scrambled to boost their online presence over the past few weeks. If you need some additional support getting to grips with digital marketing, General Assembly’s introductory workshop is a great place to start.
The session will take you through the basics of email, social media, paid advertising and more, breaking down a digital marketing campaign into its component parts.
Thursday 7 May, 18:00: Register here
8. Funding clinic: a live, interactive Q&A on raising investment
This special webinar series from The Funding Game, run in partnership with the British Library Business & IP Centre, is designed to help you navigate the current crisis.
Entrepreneur, founder and funding guru Paul Grant will take a deep dive into the different types of funding, the latest trends and the secrets of a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Wednesday 20 May, 15:00: Register here
9. How to do your own PR
PR can be daunting. Journalists are hard to reach, easy to irritate and if they do write an article that mentions your business, there’s no guarantee the coverage will be positive.
So it pays to have insights from somebody who knows the media inside-out, like Mary Murtagh, a veteran journalist and PR director. Join this webinar to understand what makes a story and how to write a press release that lands.
