Technology in Training
The issue of distance, time, and availability has always existed and quite possibly prevented people from attending the training they need. The advent of the conference call made it possible for several people to join a class by phone, but it became increasingly difficult for students to collaborate further. Enter the webinar, which made it possible for people to attend trainings virtually, without regard to their time zone or location. Webinars helped to bridge the gap between those with busy schedules or travel restrictions and to encourage participation between people who otherwise may not have a chance to connect.
Webinars done right can yield positive results. Done incorrectly, webinars can cause frustration for students, often resulting in less-than-stellar attendance or evaluations. Here are some tips for presenting a successful webinar:
- Send links to attendees way ahead of time. Give them a chance to test the links to ensure a hassle-free connection. If they need administrative rights to do so, this will give them ample time to prepare.
- If you have in-person and remote attendees, make sure to include the remote attendees as much as possible by checking in with them throughout the duration of the event. If all attendees are remote, pause to allow questions. There’s nothing worse than attending a webinar, only to find that you’ve been muted the whole time.
- Remember to record your webinars for future viewing for those who may have missed the training and/or want a refresher.
Another useful way that webinars are used effectively is to present complex marketing communications to customers and prospective clients in an interactive format.
BancIntelligence is using webinars to effectively communicate their online financial advisory solutions at a close rate of almost 35%. Their “A Focus on Franchise Value” series has had over 600 viewings in 2008.
What are some of the best ways you have experience webinars in training, informing, or creating value for others?
