From the beginning of time, people have been “selling” their ideas to each other. The practice of sharing with and educating others hasn’t changed. We just have a whole lot more options when it comes to choosing the medium. Here are 6 ways Webinars can help you grow your business.
1. Sell more
By presenting a sales presentation using your computer and over the phone, you offer much more interactivity and a stronger personal connection than you can through a website or direct mail piece.
2. Create products
The webinars themselves can be turned into products or classes. You can sell access to your live events, or you can record them and sell them later as video download or audio downloads. And that’s just for starters.
3. Get to know your audience
Being able to interact with your audience in real time allows an unprecedented level of market research, right in the moment.
4. Establish yourself
If you interview experts in your area, you will quickly be seen as an expert by association.
5. Build your list
Webinars are popular ways to introduce yourself to a new market. It’s easy to invite people to your free events — and as they sign up, they become part of your list.
6. Create trust
Trust is crucial when you want to do business online. And one of the best ways to build trust with your audience is to interact with them directly. As they hear your voice live on the call — and as they ask questions and get answers right then and there — you become “real” to them and they’ll be able to bond with you. This is something that’s much harder to accomplish through sales letters and emails.
With the ready availability of low-cost (or no-cost) long-distance service and conference call lines, and screen sharing applications, webinars have become increasingly popular. Instead of spending thousands of dollars traveling to give an in-person presentation, you can meet your customers and prospects right where they are. Webinars are a great way to:
- Introduce new products
- Get known in a new market — and get to know that market in turn
- Explain how a product or service works
- Interview experts and share their knowledge with your audience
- Answer questions about your area of expertise
But what about skills? What do you need to know to host a webinar? Stop wondering! If you have enough experience to start a business, you have enough experience to produce and host a webinar. Stay tuned for my next post when we’ll discuss how to go about producing and hosting a webinar.
Until next time,
Robin
