Teleseminars or Webinars: a quick and easy guide to review the best virtual event for your business
Like many business owners, you want to host and conduct webinars or teleseminars, but you’re unsure of the processes involved. You may be confused by the terminology and want to know the key differences. This article will help explain some main features to help you decide which virtual event is best suited for your business needs.
The word webinar is actually a short way of saying web based seminarr(web + webinar = webinar).
A webinar is a free or chargeable lecture/presentation conducted and broadcast solely via the web. Webinar programs like GoToWebinar or Go To Meetings are free to download and use for attendees, but moderators (meaning you, the host) will have to pay a small subscription fee.
All anyone needs to conduct and/or attend a webinar is a computer with speakers/headphones and an Internet connection. The webinar’s autoresponder system sends attendees a link and prompts them to register for the event (allowing you to build your list). Later, a reminder is issued. Using a link with a unique identification number sent by the webinar software, attendees are brought into the virtual “conference room.”
There they see an introduction screen that you will be able to configure, describing the details of the event you are organizing. During the event, you will be able to present slides, screenshots, videos and other documents. Attendees can type questions, raise virtual hands, and when invited, speak directly to you, the moderator.
Attendees can not only listen to you and other attendees, but they can also view your presentation in high quality. They can write questions that moderators can read and answer directly. For convenience, attendees’ microphones are muted unless the moderator allows them to speak on air.
Webinars allow you to speak to a large number of people present at once, presenting key information remotely around the world at any time. Companies save time, travel and accommodation costs since neither the presenter nor the attendees have to be in a specific place at a specific time. However, keep in mind that your attendees will need access to a computer with an uninterrupted Internet connection.
A teleseminar, on the other hand, is just another way of saying conference. The advantages of holding a teleseminar are the same as holding a webinar.
Teleseminars are used to launch products and services and/or provide training while giving the company the opportunity to build a list of contacts who show active interest. They have become one of the most effective and affordable ways for businesses to increase sales and visibility. It is similar in setup to webinars, but being less complex, it is a cheaper option.
Many newcomers start with teleseminars before deciding whether to use webinars to engage with their audience. Ultimately, many find that they prefer the ease and convenience of teleseminars. Teleseminars have the moderator and attendees bridge the gap for interaction, and calls are often recorded to take advantage of future sales and marketing opportunities.
Software such as GoToMeetings or Intercall can be used to conduct a teleseminar. The software is free to download and use as an assistant, but moderators pay a small subscription fee. If attendees use free VoIP packages like Skype, your call is free. If an attendee misses a live call, it can be made available as a replay, increasing the opportunity to build a list as new people sign up to listen.
With a teleseminar there is often no presentation to watch; attendees only listen and speak to the moderator and other attendees. However, teleseminars offer greater reach in that all attendees have to do is use a phone to dial a number (no computer or Internet access required). The ability to record teleseminars means you can take advantage of more income and list building opportunities.
So, in the end, what is the difference? Well, not really much… Teleseminars also help companies reach a large audience as well as save time and money.
Your choice will reflect your budget and your need or preference for more features. Your decision will also be based on the degree to which your content requires presentation to make it more attractive or accessible to your listeners.
Such considerations also influence pricing decisions. Learning techniques that ensure the creation of income generating teleseminars/webinars and list building are topics I regularly share with clients. The processes involved have come from the results. I hope this short article has helped you with your own decision making. I look forward to hearing your comments.