How do I adapt my script for automation?

When converting a presentation into an automated webinar, most people skip an important step: adapting their script for automation.

This is one of the main reasons automated webinars underperform. Fortunately, adapting your script doesn’t mean rewriting your entire presentation. It simply means adjusting how the experience is framed so it takes advantage of what automation makes possible.

In practice, this means removing things that only make sense in a live webinar and adding elements that make an automated webinar interactive and engaging.

Stop Saying Things That Only Make Sense in Live Webinars

Live webinars often begin with language like:

“Hi everyone! I see people joining… let’s give it a minute.”
“Can everyone hear me okay?”
“Hi Bob, welcome Sue!”

In a live webinar, this serves a purpose. In a recorded webinar, it doesn’t. Pretending a webinar is live can undermine credibility and trust.

Instead of trying to mimic a live webinar, acknowledge that the presentation is recorded and design the experience around what automation makes possible.

Add a Short Piece of eWebinar Housekeeping

The best way to set expectations is to start your webinar with a brief housekeeping section. This helps attendees understand how the automated experience works.

Your housekeeping should explain things like:

The webinar is pre-recorded
Attendees can still ask questions in chat
Your team will respond as quickly as possible
They may receive responses later by email if no one is available immediately
The webinar will include moments of interaction
A replay link and resources will be sent afterward

This short introduction builds trust and helps attendees understand that they’re not just watching a video — they’re participating in an interactive experience.

You can use our standard webinar script template as a starting point. It includes language you can adapt for your own housekeeping section.

If you already have a recording you want to use, you can also record a short intro video with housekeeping and add it to the beginning of your webinar without editing your original video. Here is how.

Incorporate Moments of Interactivity

After housekeeping, the next step is to add moments of interactivity throughout your presentation.

For example, you might say something like:

“I’d love to know the #1 thing you hope to gain from this webinar.”

Then add an interaction or pause to give attendees a moment to respond.

Small changes like this help recreate the feeling of a live event. When people are invited to participate, they stay more engaged and watch longer.

You don’t need to add interactions constantly. A few well-placed moments throughout the webinar are enough to make a big difference.

Draw Attention to Important Interactions

When you add interactions—like polls, questions, or pauses—it helps to reference them in your script.

Par exemple :

Introduce a poll before it appears
Pause the video briefly to let people respond
Ask a question before showing a quiz

This helps guide attendees through the experience and makes the interactions feel intentional.

A Few Small Changes Go a Long Way

Adapting your script usually comes down to two simple adjustments:

Add a short piece of eWebinar housekeeping at the beginning
Incorporate moments of interactivity throughout your presentation

These small changes make an automated webinar feel interactive, engaging, and designed for the experience your audience is having in real time.

Once your script is ready, the next step is to record your presentation and create your eWebinar.