Every day someone somewhere is hosting a teleseminar. They are a great way to build relationship and business. Some teleseminars are free, others are fee. Sadly, many don’t achieve the hoped for outcome. Why?
There are many reasons why teleseminars fail. Invariably the mistakes made are small but they have a profound effect on the success of a teleseminar. With proper preparation you can conduct a successful event – one in which you are not only in a position to increase your market reach; you can also increase your opt-in subscriber list, and revenues.
When planning to host a teleseminar, make it your goal to build trust with registrants so they know you’re an expert who is offering information and knowledge they will not get anywhere else.
4 reasons teleseminars fail
- Providing incorrect date and time: By giving potential registrants incorrect time and date, you are ensuring that there will be no one to listen or view your teleseminar. This is the most common reason for many teleseminars to fail. Check and double check your details prior to the event and in enough time so that if you’ve sent out the wrong information you’ve time to correct it.
- Providing an incorrect dial-in number or website URL: Many times the registration page does not provide the correct information as to where registrants should log on for the teleseminar. Nearly all registrants will note down the details somewhere at the time of registration and if the information provided is wrong, your teleseminar will fail. As above, check your details to ensure they are correct on all your sites and where you connect with registrants.
- Failing to provide an opt-in page: An opt-in page is crucial to build a list. A list is important for the success of any online business. An opt-in page will also allow you find out how many people are interested in what you are offering.
- Not sending reminders: People are busy and can forget the time, date, website URL or the dial-in number. Set up a series of emails using a reliable auto-responder to remind all the registrants about the teleseminar, right up until 30 minutes before the call is about to start.
If you’re aware of what could go wrong you have a greater chance of avoiding it – and hosting a successful event.
Are you a Small Business, Consultant Coach or Speaker? Want to find out strategies for using teleseminars to build business and profits?
Join me on April 29th for a FREE teleseminar with Kathleen Gage on Teleseminars for Money.
Register here: there’s still time to get on the call.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a pretty good summary of the ‘mechanics’ of conducting a successful teleseminar…and it does look like it was part of a promo for the one you had at the end of April (sorry I missed it). But I would also add a few more reasons teleseminars fail which are more ‘contextual’. And this is fresh on my mind as I bailed on one just last week because it was managed so poorly.
* start on time
* make the extra effort to mute EVERYONE! I’m sure there are many folks out there who have ‘heard’ it all — kids, dogs, dishes, bodily noises, heavy breathing, background conversations, arguments, toilets flushing (ew!), etc.
* if you’re on the phone with someone in an interview or panel discussion — DON’T chit-chat and kibbitz around. You’re on MY time and I’m here for a reason — and it ain’t to hear 2 yahoos high five’n each other! Hey, it’s happened to me…and not just with men. Women do this, too. Stop it!
* be efficient with your Q&A time – maybe have people email or Tweet the question — although there are platforms out there that allow participants to type in their questions and comments. Use it. Have some common questions prepared ahead of time, too. Opening the lines is your fastest ticket to losing callers – and if you have yet to make your offer, your results will not be as good. Remember all that noise?!
* be organized with your time, and run through your agenda briefly with your listeners at the beginning. This is about managing expectations and building trust.
* if you want to use a teleseminar to convert participants onto your list, do whatever you need to do to honor and respect people’s time. The instant you break trust, you’re toast.
Thanks, Nicky. I guess this may be a bit of a rant given the surprisingly disastrous results I observed on that recent teleseminar by a well known speaker and author.
@Cheryl: I’m also going to use your comment in my newsletter and as a post on the blog.
An excellent comment Cheryl and I agree with you on every one of these points. Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. I think it’s worthy of an article in itself – one that all who hold teleseminars would do well to bear in mind.