Workshop: what it is, what it means in Spanish and how to organize one
What are workshops? Specialization workshops
A workshop is a hands-on, intensive session in which a small group of people learn about a specific topic by doing, not just by listening. It is led by a specialist who explains, guides the exercises and answers questions.
In digital marketing and business, these workshops are used to train teams, launch projects, generate ideas or present a product to customers.
What does workshop mean in Spanish?
Workshop is an English word that translates into Spanish as taller. It comes from work and shop (a store or premises), and originally referred to the place where something was made by hand.
Today, both forms are used in Spanish: “taller” and “workshop”. The latter is more common in companies, professional events and online training. It is also often misspelled, as “worshop” or “work shop”; the correct form is workshop, as a single word.
Characteristics of this kind of workshop
A specific topic. It focuses on a particular skill or problem, not on a broad subject.
A small group. It usually has between 8 and 30 participants, so everyone can take part.
A short duration. From one to four hours, or a full day at most.
A hands-on part. Attendees work on exercises, cases or prototypes during the session.
An expert who facilitates. The speaker doesn’t just talk: they guide, correct and encourage participation.
Difference between a workshop, a seminar, a course and a conference
| Workshop | Seminar | Course | Conference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal | Learning by doing | Going deeper and discussing | Providing complete training | Inspiring or informing |
| Participation | Very high | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Group | Small | Small or medium | Variable | Large |
| Duration | Hours | Hours or days | Weeks or months | Minutes to hours |
| Result | A product, an idea or a skill | Shared knowledge | A competency or a certificate | New ideas |
A webinar is closer to an online conference. If attendees work live during it, it is called an online workshop or virtual workshop.
Types of workshops
Training. They teach a skill: writing emails, using a tool or analyzing data.
Creative or ideation. They look for new solutions with techniques such as brainstorming.
Strategic. They bring a team together to define goals, a plan or a new product.
Product or customer workshops. A company teaches its customers how to get the most out of what it sells. They are a form of marketing and customer loyalty.
Online. Any of the above, by video call, with breakout rooms for group work and a shared whiteboard.
Benefits of a hands-on workshop
Intensive training on a specific topic. Attendees learn a lot in a short time, about something they can apply right away.
They encourage creativity and innovation. The hands-on part makes people put what they have learned into practice and come up with their own solutions.
They are led by experts. The speaker brings real experience and tools to keep learning afterwards.
They promote teamwork. Participants collaborate and build relationships that last beyond the workshop.
They generate contacts and customers. For a company, an open workshop is a way to attract people interested in what it offers and get their email.
Promote your workshops by email
With Mailrelay you can easily invite, remind and follow up with your workshop attendees.
How to create a workshop step by step
1. Analyze needs and goals. Think about the attendees’ profile, what they need to learn and what they expect to take away.
2. Choose a specific topic. The more specific, the better: “how to write email subject lines that get opened” works better than “email marketing”.
3. Set a duration. As a general rule, a workshop shouldn’t last more than four hours. If it runs longer, split it into sessions.
4. Prepare the hands-on part. This is what sets a workshop apart from a talk. Design exercises that can be finished during the session.
5. Define the facilitator’s role. The speaker should explain little and guide a lot: set challenges, answer questions and encourage participation.
6. Choose a date and venue. A space away from the workplace helps people focus. If it is online, test the video call tool beforehand.
7. Provide materials. Afterwards, send the materials, templates and links, digitally or in print, so attendees can review them.
8. Measure the results. Ask for feedback at the end with a short survey and note what to improve for the next edition.
How to promote a workshop with email marketing
Email is the most direct channel to fill a workshop and keep attendees informed. A simple sequence:
| When | Goal | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 weeks before | Save the date | Get them to save the date |
| 2-3 weeks before | Invitation with the program | Get registrations |
| After registering | Automatic confirmation | Provide the access details and the venue |
| 1 day and 1 hour before | Reminders | Reduce no-shows |
| After the workshop | Thank-you email with the materials | Ask for feedback and suggest the next step |
You can collect registrations with a subscription form and send the confirmation and reminders with an autoresponder. You’ll find examples of each email in our email schedule for a call for applications.
Fill your next workshop with email marketing
Design campaigns that encourage your contacts to sign up for your events. Up to 80,000 emails a month for free with Mailrelay.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most common questions about this format.
What is a workshop?
A hands-on, intensive session on a specific topic, for a small group and led by an expert.
How do you say workshop in Spanish?
Taller. In Spanish, both words are used with the same meaning.
How long does a workshop last?
Usually between one and four hours. Longer ones are split into several sessions.
What is the difference between a workshop and a seminar?
In a workshop you learn by doing, and participation is very high. A seminar focuses on presentation and discussion.
Can you run a workshop online?
Yes. All you need is a video call tool with breakout rooms for group work and a shared whiteboard or document.