These days the big complaint from people who coach others is the lack of response to our traditional ways of showcasing what we know through teleseminars, webinars, and live events. It’s gotten increasingly more difficult to get people to sign up for these things, much less actually get on the call or show up to attend in person. And while many of the people who register for your events will want the MP3 recording so that they can listen to it later on, almost no one actually DOES listen later on, and even fewer will take you up on any offer that you might have made during the event. As my friend and coach Paul Evans says, “when people participate only if it’s convenient for them, they don’t participate. It’s never that convenient!“
I’ve tried various combinations with my own webinars and teleseminars over the past few years, and like everyone else, I’ve suffered sometimes from a
lack of participation. It isn’t that the content isn’t useful and good – most of us offer valuable content that truly will help the listener in their life or their
business. The challenge is to rise above the “noise level” of the hundreds upon hundreds of free and useful events that literally happen every day. As Grant Cardone says in his book The 10X Rule, our problem is obscurity.
So here’s my top 5 steps to making your teleseminars, webinars, or live events more successful and profitable.
- Lengthen the time you take to advertise the event by doubling it. If you’ve been getting the word out two weeks ahead of time try publicizing it for 4 weeks instead. Make sure to invite your prospects and the people you are connected with through social media more than once. Personally, I get about 1000 emails a day – it’s easy for me to skip over your first, second, or third invitation.
- Push your event until the very last minute. A few weeks ago I decided to publish on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter that I was beginning an open forum Q&A call about social media “right now.” With less than 3 minutes to go, I had 17 people sign up on the spot AND attend.
- Offer a checklist or template that those who register for your call get in a download. Ask them to print it out and bring it to the call. If they have a little “homework” to do it helps to increase their interest in attending. Remember that interactivity builds up the perceived value of your content.
- Instead of offering the MP3 audio after the event (to which almost no one listens) try offering the replay for a 24 hour time period only. If people are truly interested in what you have to say they will make the time to listen in soon after your event. Then, take the MP3, get it transcribed, and turn it into an e-book. Market that to the people who signed up for the call as well as to the rest of your list for $7.00. Remember that the more ways you can offer your content, the more sales you will have. (Some people like to listen, some to watch, some to read – accommodate that!)
- Publicize as widely as you can. I recommend Teresa Beeman’s new e-book 29+ Ways To Market Your Teleseminars, Webinars, and Live Events. Teresa did a ton of research before she published her e-book and it shows. I’ve been publicizing my own events for 4 years now, and even I found about 10 new places that I’d never heard of before. At $17.00 it’s a “no brainer” purchase. If you use my personal affiliate link that’s what it will cost you – Teresa agreed to give my readers $10.00 off her usual price. At this cost you’ll get more than your return on investment! Here’s the link, and her $17.00 price is good for the next few days, so before you get busy with eating turkey and watching football, go get it.
Here’s to more success with your virtual and live events from this moment on. And here’s to the business and life you most want for yourself and
those you love.
Jack Holland says
Both webinars and teleseminars can be effective tools… but its important to take the opportunity to add branding to the experience for participants. For example, customize your greeting, play some nice nostalgic hold music, and at least make the “wait” more enjoyable. http://brandedbridgeline.com does this– others that you might consider are uberconference and speek.
Tiffany deSilva says
Great tips, Sue! I particularly want to highlight #1 because many business owners leave marketing to the last minute–last minute marketing almost always leads to less than stellar results. I would also like to add that enlisting the help of your network to help you spread the word is also very helpful–just as you and Teresa have demonstrated in this post.
Jennifer Bourn says
Sue – I love the idea of the checklist or template to include … I have done this whenever I have offered a teleclass etc. and it works beautifully because it adds value to your offer and people love worksheets!
Jennifer Bourn
Sue Painter says
Hi Jen,
I agree, people do love it. Thanks for your comment.
Sue
Mary Ellen Miller says
Sue, these are great tips. I particularly like your idea to market right up until the last minute and find it very interesting that that was so successful for you. Thanks.
Sue Painter says
Mel, Me, too!
Sue
Mitch Tublin says
We all need ways to improve upon, in everything we do.
Ellen Britt, PA, Ed.D. says
Great article and great tips Sue! I have SO learned that lesson lately…you have to promote until the very, very
last minute. Putting into place these kinds of tactics is what separates the girls from the gals!
@MagneticSilvia says
The most important part of business today is creativity. How can you be different than others out there, while still staying true to yourself? Great tips!
Sue Painter says
I so agree, creativity separates the “men” from the “boys” so to speak.
Sue
Katherine C. H. E. says
Marketing via internet and e-mail is certainly not static — what worked before is not guaranteed to work again… it is a quickly evolving frontier. I love the way you always have new ideas for us. Thanks, Katherine.
Sue Painter says
Thanks, Katherine. You are right, the change is constant.
Sue
Larna Pittiglio says
Great Tips Sue… I particularly like sharing your event at the last minute. Great for making the most of that impulse registration. My tip would be to make sure your event is not too long. If you are asking people to invest 45 mins – 1 hour you may be more challenged to get attendees…. keep it short and simple for free events.
Sue Painter says
Larna,
I agree with you – the hour long and 90 minute events are too long for me!
Sue
marc says
Great article Sue . I can use this advice as I start to prepare doing teleseminars and other events
in the future.
Sue Painter says
Glad to know that it is helpful for you, Marc.