Many think webinars have had their heyday and are now a thing of the past. Plus, most folks attending webinars will be multi-tasking. However, they’re an inexpensive, easy way to target a mass number of customers.
So here are 5 tips to make sure your attendees leave your webinar not saying “I hate webinars”, but “That was really helpful!”
- Keep it short
Nobody has time to sit and pay attention to an hour webinar. So when you’re planning your webinar, think KISS–Keep it Super Short. I always recommend a half hour long webinar. If it can be cut down to 15 or 20 minutes, even better.
- Record it
Recording a webinar is a great way to create a content-rich showcase of expertise. You can re-use the webinar to post on your website or social media outlets. It can then be used as educational resource when meeting with potential clients.
- Make it interactive
Don’t, please don’t, just sit on a webinar and present a PowerPoint to your attendees– particularly if you’re just going to read the bullets on each slide. Choose an entertaining, informed presenter who can showcase capabilities, demonstrate the product and answer questions clearly and concisely. PowerPoint presentations can be transformed into a pdf and sent out as supporting material. Engage your prospects, show that you have respect for their time and schedules and they’ll be more likely to attend your next webinar.
- Follow up
When the webinar is complete, your interface will give you viewer analytics. Reach out and follow up with those participants no more than 48 hours later. After 48 hours the webinar is stale and it’s no longer front of mind. Reach out and strike while the iron is hot and your message is still resonating with your audience.
- Publicize it
Start early and strategic and promote your webinar. Use social media, emails, newsletters, and personalized phone calls. The sooner you begin to drive attendance the more likely you are to have a full house. And don’t forget to send a reminder email. If your prospects sign up for the webinar a month prior, they may forget. Make sure you remind them in an exciting and enticing way. Make the invitation fun and non-sterile.
Contributed by Wendy Sanacore, Agency Ingram Micro.
by 
by