How We Grew Webinar Registrations by 255%— From 74 to 263 in Just 3 Sessions

Background

When a publisher came to us struggling to generate interest in their author webinars, we were excited to help. Three sessions later, webinar registrations surged from 74 to 263, a 255% increase.

At KGL Accucoms, we know that webinars are a trusted, scalable format for engaging with authors and delivering high-value content. For publishers, they’re not just an event, they’re a relationship-building engine.

The Challenge

The publisher’s goal was simple but ambitious: increase awareness of a new journal and connect with prospective authors. The problem? Low registration numbers, limited reach, and minimal visibility—made harder by a lack of in-house marketing resources.

For a new journal in a competitive field, early author engagement is crucial. Authors are not just readers they are future contributors and champions of the journal. We needed to capture their attention and show the journal’s value in a way that felt relevant, timely, and worth their time.

Our Strategy

Get Specific, Not Broad

We began by creating detailed personas of the authors most likely to attend. LinkedIn became a key channel: we built an internal list, supplemented it with targeted LinkedIn searches, and leveraged the publisher’s existing networks.

This audience-first approach meant we were reaching the right people.

Make It Valuable

We knew that if the webinar didn’t feel valuable, people simply wouldn’t show up.

Our persona work revealed the topics that would resonate. We worked with the publisher to ensure the content was timely and useful, then focused on three pillars:

• Authority:  High-profile speakers respected by the community
• Relevance:  Topics aligned with the audience’s professional priorities
• Delivery:  A smooth, engaging experience from speaker to slide

We didn’t stop at securing big names, we trained each speaker, provided branded scripts and talking points, and designed polished slides. Our goal: make them feel like stars on webinar day.

Promotion Strategy

We built a promotional plan designed specifically for academic authors.

Here’s what we deployed:

• An 8-week email campaign focused on author pain points
• Branded visuals and promo kits for the publisher’s internal teams
• Automated LinkedIn ads targeting specific job titles and fields
• A custom promotion plan for the Editor-in-Chief, including social templates

Localization

One of our most effective tactics was a localized campaign for Latin America.

We didn’t just translate into Spanish we adapted the content, using our local team who understood the tone, structure, and timing that resonate in the region.

This ensured the message landed the right way and didn’t feel like a copy-paste job.

The Results

The outcomes were clear and transformative:

• Registrations increased 255% (from 74 to 263)
• Live attendance nearly quintupled (from 25 to 123)
• A flood of audience questions showed genuine interest and engagement

Most importantly, we helped the publisher connect deeply with a community that had been out of reach.

What We Learned

Precise Targeting Wins

We began with LinkedIn job-title filters and refined from there. As registrations grew, we doubled down on what worked. A rising registration count is a clear sign your targeting is on point.

Author Messaging Cuts Through

Authors are busy. Generic copy gets ignored. We kept messaging simple, focused on the value of attending, and used a light loss-aversion angle to highlight what authors might miss if they skipped it.

Consistency Pays Off

Running three sessions gave us what one webinar can’t: data. We learned, adapted, and improved each time, leading to better attendance, stronger engagement, and higher ROI.

Webinars are resurging in academic publishing for good reason: they create real-time value, build trust, and give publishers a direct line to future authors.

If you want to boost journal visibility and connect with new author communities, our webinar programs can help.