Importance of Webinars
Educator, nonprofit leader, policy advocate, and writer Jonathan Osler is big on the importance of webinars.
For those who are unfamiliar with Webinars which are events, video presentations, workshops, seminars, training sessions, or classroom lectures hosted and delivered online using specialized software, a webinar is different from a podcast, which is usually pre-recorded and shows up on YouTube or other platforms.
Osler explains that webinars, although they may be recorded and viewed later by some, are live events where many people pipe in and ask questions from the speaker.
Thus Webinars are perfect for educators, and even for those in business.
A perfect example of a webinar opportunity in business is when a company produces a revolutionary software tool that is state of the art, has many features, and many benefits.
In order to get multiple orders for this new software, a company may offer a totally free version of the software to clients with watermarks, and then during a webinar, which may have as few as 10 to up to 100 or more participants, a company representative will demonstrate exactly how the software is useful and all the features that it offers.
With a webinar, the key element is that participants get to ask questions of the presenter, and for a company or an educator, there is a significant difference between merely spitting out information and participants clearly understanding what is being presented.
Businesses and educators both often spend a great deal of time on web pages and brochures and emails, but it is only through a webinar and the type of questions being asked by the participants, whether an educator or a company truly comprehends how much of their message is truly understood.
For businesses, another main use of webinars is in lead generation. In open-ended webinars, the company never knows who exactly is going to show up, but if someone actually signs up and shows up virtually for a webinar, then it’s a sure sign they are interested in your product.
And there is actually no cap on the reach of webinars.
Those selling investment advice can walk potential investors into most of the primary steps that people may use to take advantage of their system.
Realtors may give a webinar on tips to buy a home in their area, including which are the best neighborhoods, how much down payment do you need, qualifying for a bank loan, and the potential dangers of buying the wrong house.
The plain fact is, according to Jonathan Osler, that a webinar is one of the best lead-ins for actual sales of high-end products, as participants can enter their program virtually without fear of
being bombarded with high-pressure sales.
You would use a webinar to sell gold, or art, or other high-end products, but you would not use a webinar to sell timeshare condos, as it is too easy for the potential buyer to say, “Sorry but I’ve decided this isn’t right for us.”
Webinars are just beginning to be used effectively in business and education but expect to see significantly more of them online in the future.