By Diane Sofranec | Managing Editor, Pest Management Professional
Webinars an effective way for you to connect with current and prospective customers because they provide you with valuable information, including each attendee’s contact information and feedback on the topic presented.
Here are five steps you can take to ensure you present a webinar your customers will attend until the end and share with colleagues.
1. Choose a Compelling Topic
Tailor your message to your audience. Think carefully about what you hope to achieve with your webinar. Do you want to spread the word about a new product or service, offer an in-depth look at new technology, or educate customers? Presenting a webinar on a topic that’s trending, unique, or useful will make it easier for you to attract attendees. It will also show customers your company is a valuable resource because it’s at the forefront of what’s happening in your industry.
2. Select a Captivating Speaker
Use someone who can enthusiastically speak about the subject. Your speaker should know enough about the subject to confidently answer attendees’ questions. You don’t want someone who will simply read words off a slide; your speaker should use interesting images and an enthusiastic voice to convey your message.
3. Practice; It Makes Presentations Better
Hold a practice session to make sure your speaker knows how to advance the slides, and can speak clearly and loud enough to be understood. Also, ask your speaker how long the presentation will take to give and adjust accordingly. Be sure to add an extra five minutes for questions from attendees.
4. Promote Your Webinar Often
Get the word out about your webinar at least three weeks in advance. Remind attendees they can sign up now and watch at their leisure if the live date is inconvenient for them. But don’t stop there; promote your webinar after it takes place, too, for those who may not have signed up the first time. Also, email the registration information to your customers more than once – and be sure the emails all have the same look – in case they forgot to sign up.
5. Engage Your Audience
During the webinar, make your presentation more interesting to attendees by adding polls, live chats and a question and answer session. The responses you get will reveal whether your topic is relevant for your target audience.
Use social media to extend your message to a wider audience. If your speaker says something interesting, attendees will want to tweet it.
Deliver a webinar your customers – and potential customers — will want to attend and keeps them engaged, and they will rely on you for valued information again and again. Let us help you get started.
