Have you ever signed up for a webinar you really wanted to attend... and then completely missed it? You're not alone. Here's what's really happening behind those disappointing attendance numbers.

If you're hosting webinars and watching your attendance numbers drop week after week, you're probably frustrated. The good news? I might have the reason why – and it's probably not what you think.

When the Automation Expert Misses Webinars

I have somewhat of a confession to make. Recently, I've been planning a Disney trip, and I signed up for three monthly planning webinars with a travel company.

I missed two of them.

Here I am, someone who literally helps business owners automate their processes for a living, and I'm missing events I actually want to attend. Why? Because I only got a single email reminder about four hours before each webinar, and nothing ever made it to my calendar automatically! 

I’m spoiled and not in the habit of having to manually add webinars to my calendar!

The Real Problem Isn't Your Content

In my world, proper event registration workflows are automatic. We do this for clients all the time. We set up complete funnels with all the information people need, create confirmation email AND SMS workflows, and ensure proper calendar invites that sync seamlessly to phones. I sometimes forget that this isn't standard for everyone.

Many business owners think Zoom registration is enough. It's not.

If you have low webinar attendance, it's probably not your content that's the problem – it's your registration process. You're spending weeks creating valuable content and promoting your event, only to lose over half your audience because your system doesn't actually help people attend.

Three Critical Questions Every Webinar Host Should Ask

When it comes to webinar registration systems that actually get people to show up, there are three critical questions every business owner should be asking themselves. If that Disney travel company had just addressed these three things, I would have been there with my notebook ready, instead of missing out completely.

1. Can people actually learn about my event and register easily on their phone?

Here's the truth about Zoom registration pages: they're not mobile responsive, you can't tell people much about the event, and you're limited in all sorts of ways when it comes to building excitement or providing details.

It's like sending someone a text invitation to come to your party but forgetting to share that 50 people are coming, everybody is dressing in costume, and bringing a dish to share. How do you think they'll feel when they show up thinking it's a casual hangout? That's the last time they'll accept your invitation.

The hidden problems with basic registration systems:

• Limited storytelling capabilities (no sections, bullet points, or testimonials)

• Poor mobile formatting that loses sign-ups

• No call-to-action flexibility beyond "Register"

• Inability to build anticipation or convey value

2. How many reminders am I actually sending to help people remember and attend?

If my dentist sends me 14 reminders for a simple cleaning appointment, you need to send at least one proper reminder sequence for your valuable event that people happily signed up for.

It's like expecting someone to remember a dinner date you planned three weeks ago without ever mentioning it again. Life gets busy, and out of sight truly means out of mind.

What proper reminder sequences include:

• Multiple touchpoints across different channels (email, SMS, push notifications)

• Value-building messages that remind people why they registered

• Calendar invites that actually sync to their preferred calendar app

• Strategic reminders (not just one hour before)

3. What happens after this event ends – is that really all there is?

If you're not capturing and nurturing those leads properly, you're basically leaking potential clients everywhere, and it's bad for business.

You've just provided tons of value to people who raised their hand and said they're interested in what you do, but then you let them disappear back into the internet without any way to continue the conversation or build that relationship.

Post-event opportunities you're missing:

• Thank you sequences for attendees

• Follow-up resources and next steps

• Replay access with additional value

• Nurture sequences for non-attendees

• Clear pathways to your paid offerings

The Cost of Poor Registration Systems

When your registration system fails, you're not just losing webinar attendees – you're losing potential clients, revenue, and the momentum you've worked so hard to build.

Every person who registers for your webinar is telling you they're interested in what you have to offer. When they don't show up because of system failures, you're essentially throwing away warm leads who were ready to engage with your business.

Your Action Plan: Three Questions, Better Results

Let's recap those three critical questions you need to ask about your webinar registration system:

1. Can people actually learn about my event and register easily on their phone? Because if you're using Zoom's basic registration, you're already losing people before they even sign up.
   
   

2. How many reminders am I actually sending to help people remember and attend? One email an hour before isn't enough – you need a proper sequence that builds excitement and keeps your event top of mind.
   
   

3. What happens after this event ends? Because if you're not capturing and nurturing those leads, you're letting potential clients slip away after they've already raised their hand and said they're interested in what you do.
   
   

Get these three things right, and you'll stop wondering why your valuable content is being delivered to empty virtual rooms.

Ready to Transform Your Webinar Attendance?

If you're tired of hosting events that feel like you're talking to an empty room, or if you want to turn your webinars into actual business-building machines, it's time to fix your registration system.

The solution isn't complicated – it just requires thinking beyond the basic tools and creating systems that actually support your attendees from registration to conversion.

Do you have an event coming up? Share it in the comments! I’d love to check it out and give you ideas.

Want help creating registration systems that actually get people to show up and take action? Join my email list here – you can always hit reply to any email I send and ask me anything about simplifying your tech and automating your processes.