Lobby time

What is Lobby Time?

Lobby Time is the 15-minute window before a live webinar officially begins within the ON24 Platform. During this period, attendees who join early are placed into the Lobby Page, a pre-event screen where they can view branded visuals, event information, and available content before the session starts.

For presenters and producers, Lobby Time provides a crucial buffer to perform technical checks, confirm slide order, and test microphones or video feeds. For attendees, it serves as an early access opportunity to engage with pre-event materials, respond to polls, or explore resources before the broadcast goes live.

Lobby Time enhances the attendee experience by setting a professional tone, reducing idle waiting, and encouraging early engagement that carries into the live presentation.

Why it matters

• Improves audience readiness: Helps attendees get settled, review event details, and prepare for participation.
• Reduces technical risks: Gives presenters and producers time to confirm setup before going live.
• Increases engagement: Encourages early interaction through pre-event polls, chat, or content downloads.
• Strengthens brand perception: Creates a polished, branded experience from the moment attendees log in.

How it’s used

• Activate Lobby Time as part of ON24’s webinar setup to open the event console 15 minutes early.
• Display a custom-branded Lobby Page with logos, speaker bios, or agenda highlights.
• Add pre-show content like intro videos or warm-up polls to engage audiences before the live event.
• Use this period to test sound levels, confirm presenter readiness, and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Track early log-ins through ON24 analytics to identify engagement patterns and optimize future start times.

Key benefits

• Enhances professionalism: Ensures the webinar begins smoothly and on time.
• Engages early attendees: Converts waiting time into meaningful brand interaction.
• Improves technical reliability: Allows teams to identify and fix any issues before going live.
• Supports better data capture: Pre-event interactions contribute to overall engagement analytics.
• Sets the tone for success: Builds anticipation and readiness for the live presentation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Lobby Time for ON24?
   • Lobby Time is the 15-minute period before a live webinar begins, allowing attendees to join early and engage with pre-event content.
2. Why is Lobby Time important for presenters?
   • It provides a buffer for final checks—such as sound, video, and slide sequencing—to ensure a smooth and professional start.
3. How can marketers use Lobby Time effectively?
   • They can display branded visuals, run polls, or share resources to increase engagement before the webinar begins.
4. Do attendees interact during Lobby Time?
   • Yes. Attendees can participate in polls, download resources, or explore content on the Lobby Page before the event goes live.
5. Does Lobby Time affect engagement metrics?
   • Absolutely. ON24’s analytics include engagement data collected during Lobby Time, helping marketers understand audience behavior before the session starts.

Editorial & Methodology Notice

This glossary entry was created by the ON24 Editorial Team using verified 2025 ON24 benchmark data, platform analytics documentation, and first-party reporting standards aligned with EEAT principles. Updated: October 2025.