72 - Tip Tuesday - Learn How to Run Webinars Like a Pro with Sandy Sidhu
Webinars are definitely the it thing right now when it comes to promoting your business services. It can be daunting trying to figure out what exactly you're going to cover, the platform to use, and everything else that's required of making one a success. In this podcast Sandy Sidhu of Sandy Sidhu Media breaks down what it takes to plan and run a successful webinar.
What should a webinar consist of? It's people showing up online at a specific time. Think of it more like an online workshop. You really want to focus it on being educational. You really need to avoid the constant sell, and instead, build the know, like, trust factor. Think of it as an opportunity to position yourself as a thought leader. So even if they don't buy from you at that time, you're still giving them something to walk away from, so they may still come to you down the line.
Is it okay not to sell something on a webinar? If you're just starting out, there will be trial and error. First focus on creating valuable content, and eventually you do want it to tie back to something you will sell. However, if at that moment and time, you really don't have anything to sell, you don't have to. There is somewhat of an expectation that there will be something to sell, and plus it's a great way to test the market. Don't put in too many barriers to get yourself started though.
What's the typical time frame of a webinar? Sandy recommends to start on the shorter side when you're starting out, and then you can always expand as you get better at doing them. Best practices are great, but they shouldn't limit you from doing anything. If you can only come up with 45 minutes of that time, and then start with that. The next time, you can always add more time. Focus on valuable content first.
What's the best time of day and day of the week for webinars? Sandy recommends to avoid the beginning and end of the week. You're just competing with too many other important factors. Wednesdays and Thursdays are best. When it comes to timing wise, think of where your audience is. You may have to think of time zones that are overseas. You may also need to think of things like the people who are working side jobs, and may have day jobs, they won't be able to attend the day ones.
Is it better to allow several time slots, or just do one with a replay? If there is overflow where you need a few options, then offering more might be great. If you're just starting out, just start with one time slot, and have the replay available. Just because you've done it once, it doesn't mean you can't do it again. You can always add another time slot. It's really about understanding your audience and what best fits them.
How do you market outside of your list? If you have a list, that's a great starting point. It's a great way to re-engage them. However, if you don't have a list, you can use things like Facebook Ads to start building the list. Figure out who you want to target, and then send them to the landing pages. You can also promote in the different groups that you might be a part of. You can also try joint venture partners with someone who may do similar work, but not a full overlap. You can also share on Twitter and other social media outlets.
What are the moving parts that you need to set-up to get a webinar up and running? The biggest thing is choosing the webinar software you want to use. You'll need to either use their landing page or create your own landing page. You'll then need a mailing list that's separate from the ones who sign up for the webinar. You'll want to keep it separate because you'll be communicating to them differently. You'll also want to set-up your auto responders, for right before the webinar starts. You don't want to have to worry about that right before and after the webinar. It's just better to set it up all in advance.
What about webinar softwares that you can use? Sandy actually uses Google Hangouts for her webinar. There are a few extra steps to make it work you. There's also WebinarJam that uses Google Hangouts on the backend. That's one option. There's also Meeting Burner, it's a little less expensive than Go To Webinar, but it's a little more established. The other one would be GoTo Webinar, that's more on the top-tier when it comes to pricing. However, it's a full solution.
Sandy recommends not getting too caught up in the technology because either one will get the job done.
Any recommendations on what works for topics? Sandy recommends on really getting specific about outcomes when it comes to labeling your webinar. You can use steps, etc. Just make sure the people who sign up will understand what is going to be covered in the webinar. Just make sure it ties back to what you're offering and your area of expertise.
Sandy Sidhu of Sandy Sidhu Media stopped by to give me the low-down on webinars. We talked everything from platforms, to format, and even best times of days to run yours.
First, here's the free guide that Sandy promised: http://www.sandysidhumedia. com/webinarguide
More About Sandy: Sandy Sidhu is digital strategist and idea igniter who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners from coaches to creatives master online marketing, systems and technology. With 10 years experience in the technology sector as a team leader and software engineer, her strength is translating the technical into the achievable so business owners can meet their goals using the Web and social media. She has been featured on CNN, Female Entrepreneur Association and other leading websites and a frequent speaker on social media and technology.