As more businesses look for creative ways to reach new customers as well as cut costs of communicating, the subject of webinars often comes up. What is a webinar, and what benefits can it generate for a company?

To answer the question of “what is a webinar?” one need only look to a resource that has become common to businesses of all sizes during the past ten years: the Internet. The basic answer to “what is a webinar?” is that it is simply utilizing the Internet to share visual presentations and other documents with persons who are in various physical positions around the country or even around the world. The word webinar is derived from two root words: web and seminar. A webinar is a seminar using the web and web conferencing software. When a web conference is partnered with an audio conference call, the result is a powerful communications tool that can change the way your company does business.

A webinar can be a very simple affair that is used to convey information from corporate level to outlying locations. It may also be something much more complex that involves the ability for persons to work together on a common document, interact on a common project, or stream data out to a large number of locations.

It is important to think in terms of what this can do for your business. One of the most immediate benefits of a webinar is that it can eliminate a large portion of your company’s travel budget. While there will always be those occasions when a face to face meeting is a necessity, many business exchanges within your company can be handled with the use of a web conference. Meetings that once required travel by jet can now be handled via a web conference.

A web conference can also be used to connect with potential clients who are physically at a distance from your location. Even if your suggestion of holding the meeting via the Internet is first met with the question “what is a webinar?” a quick assurance that it is easy and would require less expense on their part will impress your customer. After all, you are using cutting edge technology to communicate with them and you are doing so with an eye to being respectful of their busy schedules. This is a win/win situation and it is an opportunity to raise their opinion of you and your company.

Webinars are an easy way to hold an ad hoc meeting with people in many different locations with almost no advance notice. As an example, assume you have a client that has just encountered a major problem. You know your company can bring them a solution. You simply prepare the necessary documents quickly, gather all relevant persons together for a webinar, and walk them through the solution. While this could be done with an audio conference alone, the added impact of visuals will often help drive home the effectiveness of your solution and allow your client to authorize your solution much more quickly. This could give you another opportunity to strengthen your presence with your customer.

Webinars are a tool that allows you to take persons on a tour of any web site you choose. Often, when you want to connect with a potential client who is too busy to set aside a couple of hours for a face to face meeting, you can get thirty minutes on an audio call and a session on the web. You can prepare some slides or a document to illustrate what your company can do for them; or if you have a really informative company web site, take your prospect to your company web site and point out a few facts that are prominently posted.

While we are several years away from a time when people will no longer ask “what is a webinar?” the answer will always vary, depending on what types of communication are most desirable to the person who makes the query. If it is documentation, then that is the main thrust of the response. If it is finding information on the web, the web-touring feature will be part of the answer. Should the main concern be finding time for meetings, then the time efficiency and cost savings of webinars will come to the fore. Whatever the need that is foremost in the mind of the person asking the question, there will be found the most appropriate answer to the question “what is a webinar?”



Thanks to Greg Roy for contributing this article to our Conferencing blog:

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Can you answer hhunter’s question about Conferencing?:

I have to attend monthly webinars and would like to record them for future studying, what is the best way to do that?

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What comes to mind when you think, “seminar?” Suits, ties, high heels, Hotels, fine dining, travel… the list goes on. Seminars add up to a lot of money and time- something many Americans are becoming less willing to part with.

The laser pace of our society is demanding instant products, and that demand is quickly coming to include the traditional seminar. A lot of people smile at the thought of throwing away the hosiery and suit coats, and letting the world come to their desktop in the form of a Webinar.

According to the well-known Web Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.com, a Webinar is just about what it sounds like - a seminar conducted over the World Wide Web. What’s the difference between a Webinar and a Web Conference? Interaction. Presenters and the audience have direct communication via telephone or speaker phone.

If you’ve been scratching your head, looking for more ways to stretch your days and/or budget this may be your personal bonanza.

5 Reasons to Consider Hosting a Webinar



You’ll Save Money

Travel and phone arrangements to get a seminar set to roll can quickly add up. Add to that the time you’ll spend, and the benefits of the Webinar look pretty good.



You’ll Broaden your Horizons

Just like everything else that happens on the World Wide Web, the

Webinar allows you to reach a global audience that might not otherwise be able to attend a conventional seminar.



You’ll Increase Sales

It stands to reason that if you reach a larger audience, your sales will rocket in direct proportion to the expansion.



You’ve got a Hook

Once you’ve wooed an audience with a Webinar, you have the perfect opportunity to keep them coming back for other Web Conferences, classes or to your Web Site.



You can Make Money as an Affiliate

Affiliateship is a booming market. Why not cash in on it. If you’ve found a good Web Conference provider, offer it to your audience for a profit.



Wondering what will make a Webinar successful?

*Plan Ahead

Just like a seminar you need to have a schedule, choose potential speakers, set a budget, and promote it before hand. Don’t forget to put aside some time to make the registration process user friendly and helpful in following up after the event.

*Market It

Remember to focus on your target market. A great way to spread the good news is to put a “tell a colleague” link on your registration page.

*Make it Exciting

Ring, ring… that’s all it will take to get your audience distracted. Remember you’ll be competing with phones, email and other distractions.

*Have a Back Up Plan

Technology is fool-proof right? Just have a tight deadline to meet, and you’ll find out how foolproof it really is! Be prepared for the worst - just in case.

*Shop Around for a Quality Conferencing Vendor

The bigger the turnout, the more volume your vendor will need to be able to handle effectively. Customer support, as always, is a big plus as well.



Thanks to Allyn Cutts for contributing this article to our Conferencing blog:

Webinar Best Practices

Can you answer E.T’s question about Conferencing?:

I am starting up a business and wonder how to set up webinar. What equipments do I need? How does it work? What is the budget? Any information about Webinar will be great. Thank you so much.

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Can you answer Me, Myself, and I’s question about Conferencing?:

My boss just sent me an e-mail saying I need to attend a webinar. I’ve never done so before.

What do I do?

I have a link and a phone number. That’s it. (My boss and other coworkers aren’t available until after the webinar has already started…)

Help would be GREATLY appreciated! Especially if that help came within the next 3 hours.

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