The definition of webinar is basically a presentation conducted over the Internet. I.E; an online seminar, web conference, online meeting or sales presentation, held across the Internet in real time. There are also interactive features using today's technology that allows both the host and the audience the ability to ask questions, share content, chat and even pitch products & services, a kind of sales pitch or advertising medium that we see on "As Seen On TV."
Hosting your first webinar can be a nerve-racking experience for probably everyone and it seems that in the Internet Marketing arena, nervousness and an amateur presentation style are acceptable, to a certain degree. After all, even veteran actors can stumble when they have to pull off a live performance. In this section, we’ll give you some simple guidelines on how to host a successful webinar from start to finish. Webinars offer a time-saving, cost-efficient, and highly effective way to keep clients laser focused in what you are presenting.
Aside you can access the 2017 Webinar Benchmarks Report from ON24.
One of the major benefits to delivering webinars is that they can be the best tool to engage an audiences and communicate both audibly & visually as if you were face to face with potential clients, customers, prospects, or even strategic partners. Marketeers use webinars to drive leads, generate pipeline, and nurture sales through every stage of the buying cycle, trainers and online marketers use them to deliver product promotions, product launches, courses and (paid for) on-demand training sessions.
Getting familiar with webinar tools and technology is one of the biggest restrictions to get started in this very profitable arena.
You don’t want to spend hours researching the subject matter, developing the content, and sending out invites only to realize that you don’t know how to use the tools and technology adequately. If you don’t know how to use screen casting or recording tools, your followers are going to realize that you're not an expert as you promoted you were. This will undoubtedly cause them to disengage from the webinar and take value away from the overall experience.
Take time to research the available tools and figure out which ones suit your needs and work for you!
We have highlighted our particular favorites in the column to the left but obviously choose the product that best suits your particular skills.
Look for online tutorials or walkthroughs if you have issues, or take free online courses that are offered by the provider.
Never wait until the last minute to log into the webinar platform, and always do a test run well in advance to make sure you have all the tools you need and that all of your content is spot-on. I personally even ask friends and colleagues & others on our team to log into the platform and attend a training walkthrough webinar at least a day before. Ask them for feedback, and have fun while you learn the user interface and controls.
This will also help take the stress out of the main event, as you’ll already be used to the on-air experience.
Things to consider in your 'pre-run & develop a checklist.
There is nothing worse than attending a webinar where the presenter is distracted or background noise is constantly interrupting the experience. So, be sure to find a quiet spot that is free of distractions before beginning your webinar.
Close all unnecessary applications and have everything organized in one folder before you go live & "Break a leg!"
Here we have outlined a few tips to improve the experience and increase your level of confidence.
1. Always record your webinars not only for your own review but to post after the event so that people that who couldn't get on your webinar can review it at their convenience.
2. Your attendees have the opportunity to reference the recording at a later date.
3. Online marketing is all about getting people to know, like and trust you, and giving away free content via webinars is a great way to start achieving that.
4. It speeds up the “getting to know you” process.
