In the last post we talked about the importance of timing when it comes to new business; the importance of setting yourself apart from the competition and doing it quickly. You only have so much time to draw the attention of potential business and show them how you are different from all the rest of the companies who are pitching the same products and services. If you don’t know what sets you apart from your competition than you have no shot of communicating it to potential new clients. There is one way to really catch the attention of potential leads quickly and that is to keep technology on your side. Webinars and web conferencing are a great way to get in front of your audience and deliver your message – both generally and specifically.

As we already discussed, some of the benefits of webinars and web conferencing include the ability to establish your company as a leading authority in your industry. With scheduled webinars you can keep potentially interested parties educated about industry news and trends and, in so doing, make your company synonymous with industry expertise. This credibility only helps to grow your business. Secondly, webinars and web conferencing eliminate logistical boundaries of doing business with companies that are not in your general vicinity.

Additional benefits of webinars and web conferencing include:

• Ability to deliver information fast! The way of the modern world includes technology that means that people don’t have to wait for information. Companies that want to keep pace need to understand the importance of giving their clients and potential new business what they want fast; web conferencing allows for quick delivery.

• Demonstrating ability to handle issues in live time. When things come up in business they have to be handled and they have to be handled immediately. Distance does not and cannot matter. Web conferencing allows people to handle issues as they happen.

• Involve team day to day. The reality of business projects is that there are team players who must be kept in the loop. Sometimes, however, these participants are not able to meet face to face. In order to involve participants day to day at a moment’s notice, web conferencing bridges the gap of distance.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Everyone knows that in business – when you trying to close a deal and you are up against some major competition – you need to put your best foot forward and work the deal as aggressively as you can. Time is never on your side. What can you bring to the table that others cannot or do not? What do you offer in terms of value that is above and beyond the standard? What sets you apart from the competition? There are many things that companies can do to differentiate themselves from the pack; but when it comes to modern business the importance of demonstrating your technological prowess cannot be underestimated. Webinars can really fit the bill in this type of a situation.

Webinars put companies in contact with their constituency – their target audience - and allow them to bring added value to the table by disseminating information in a unique and modern way. A webinar can connect companies with potential leads that are out of their geographical location but still within their reach thanks to technology. Some of the benefits that webinars - and web conferencing in general - offer include:

• Establishing your company as a leading authority. You have information to share about your specific company; that much we know. But chances are you also have information to share about your industry as a whole. Share that information with an interested audience and you will very likely win business along the way. Scheduled webinars establish your company as experts to which people will “tune in” for more information.

• Remove geographic obstacles. There are no boundaries in modern business. The walls are down and people have just as much of a comfort level doing business with a company a world away as they do with one in the same city. But that doesn’t mean that travel in order to be in the same room for meetings is any more economical. Web conferencing allows for communication – very effective communication – without the expense.

More in the next post…

Popularity: 16% [?]

There’s a big meeting on the other side of the coast that’s vital for your company. A huge contract is up for the taking and if you’re a no-show, the work will go to some other firm. The problem is there’s bad weather grounding planes and there’s just no way to get there on time. This is precisely when webinars can shine in regard to crisis management.

A webinar is nothing more than a meeting that takes place via the Internet instead of face-to-face. This type of meeting, although different, does have many of the same features that a standard meeting offers. Sans the handshake, attendees in webinars can still:

Share visual information – Web conferencing enables all attendees to see on their own computer screens what is going onto the host’s screen. This means you can still give a big sales presentation using a PowerPoint presentation. You’ll just have to deliver it over the Net rather than in person.

Communicate verbally – Webinars provide for back-and-forth verbal conversations in a secured, stable environment. There’s no reason to worry that your potential client won’t be able to hear your pitch or ask you questions about it. If it’s deemed necessary, you can even pull a client into a sidebar meeting room for a private, one-on-one conversation that’s secured from the main online meeting room.

Review documents – If you’re ready to sign that deal, a webinar can be a useful tool for hammering out details even if you cannot be on the other coast in person. Thanks to the privacy and security of the connection, you can go through potential contracts line by line and make sure everyone is on the same page.

It’s not always possible to be everywhere you want to be. When business is on the line, webinars can serve as excellent pitch hitters. This alternative to a standard meeting is almost as good as being there and sometimes even better.

Popularity: 17% [?]

At-home workers enjoy a lot of perks that their office-bound counterparts don’t necessarily have access to. There are, however, some inherent downfalls to staying at home and getting the job done. When there’s a need to engage in stronger connections with the office or show that at-home workers are really on the same page with everyone else, web conferencing is an excellent tool to use.

Webinars are the online alternative to standard meetings. They can take place with attendees that are scattered far and wide. As long as there is an Internet connection and a computer available, just about anyone invited to a webinar can attend, take part in discussions and even see presentations.

For companies that engage at-home workers, the use of webinars can be a real boon. When the power of a webinar is tapped into, at-home and office bound workers will be able communicate freely. For the at-home worker especially, web conferencing can be terribly important because it enables this type of employee to:

Keep the lines of communication open – Stay-at-home workers often feel disconnected from the office. While this type of working situation is excellent for many, there is still a need to feel a part of the bigger picture. Webinars can bridge the gap and help ensure that at-home employees are included in big meetings and decisions.

Prove the work is getting done – A lot of people believe that at-home workers whittle away their time and do little for the companies that pay them. When web conferencing is used for standard meetings, training sessions and other gatherings, stay-at-home employees will be able to keep others informed about their productivity. This is a great way to show that at-home workers are getting their jobs done.

Web conferencing is a positive tool to use when workers are scattered in different locations. For the at-home worker especially, this type of meeting can provide a much-needed connection to the office and coworkers.

Popularity: 21% [?]

The Internet has opened the door on communication like no other invention before it. Sure, telephones made international voice chats feasible, but the visuals were lacking. Courtesy of the webinar format, both voice and visual can come together to nearly replace the need for face-to-face meetings.

While there are times when nothing but physical proximity will do, webinars do have their places. In fact, there are a number of scenarios where this format can really pay off. A webinar is an excellent tool to use in these situations and more:

To replace large, group gatherings – Bringing together people from all over the country or globe for seminars or other similar type gatherings is costly and time consuming. Plus, it’s just not the most environmentally friendly option. Web conferencing can replace this type of meeting format and still enable hosts to garner registration fees. The convenience of the setting and the effectiveness of the communications combine to make webinars serious replacements for large gatherings.

In emergency situations – When a client absolutely has to have a meeting right away, but a face-to-face isn’t feasible, a webinar can save the day. This format will enable the privacy and security demanded in the situation. Plus, it provides for multiple attendees and the sharing of both visual and verbal information. While it might not always be possible to address client concerns in webinars, in many cases it is.

When it’s time to cut costs – Web conferencing is an economical way to reduce a travel budget without cutting corners on client relations. Since the format is effective, secure and convenient, many clients prefer this type of meeting over face-to-face sessions that can tie up a lot of time.

Using a webinar in place of a regular meeting makes a lot of sense in a variety of situations. For companies all over the world, this format is fast becoming a popular and effective means for communicating not only with clients, but also employees, shareholders and more.

Popularity: 20% [?]

In today’s business world, everything is global. To truly enjoy success, companies have to extend their boundaries of service to countries all over the world. While this sounds great on the surface, managing an international operation is not an easy undertaking. Not only is it time consuming, it’s costly. When there’s a need to stay on top of everything and reel in the budget, too, webinars can help.

Web conferencing is the modern way of getting business done. This online version of a meeting enables many of the benefits a face-to-face session will provide with a few other perks attached. While it still might be necessary to travel to open up markets, contact clients and manage overseas operations, the need to do so all the time is alleviated when webinars are used effectively.

For companies just delving into the global market or those already established, the webinar format can be used to help out in these ways:

Product or service promotions – It’s not uncommon for companies to hold seminar or workshop-style events when they break into a new market. A big, gala event is a great way to introduce potential new clients to what a company does. Trying to pull off this style of gathering in countries far and wide, however, can prove costly. A webinar provides an effective alternative that delivers on voice and visual communications abilities. Plus, attending an online “event” is much easier on potential clients than traveling to a set location.

Client meetings – Some client meetings can also be conducted in the safe, secure atmosphere provided by a webinar. Many companies are using this format to hammer out contracts, make sales or to just keep up with clients who are located far away. This is a great way to remain hands-on even if miles and oceans separate headquarters from international clients.

Staff meetings – Managing staff located in other countries is a serious undertaking. Webinars can provide a way to remain more involved without forcing travel for every little issue.

Managing a global company isn’t easy. Webinars won’t take the work out of the proposition, but they can make keeping up with it all more convenient and effective.

Popularity: 17% [?]

There are those times when it’s important that you shine. When it comes to work-related situations I have done what I have had to do over the years to differentiate myself from the competition. Let’s face it – everyone should be considered competition at least in some way and especially right now when the job market is so tight. As I’ve gotten older the small things roll off my back like they never did when I was younger. But I am still just as fierce as ever when it comes to making myself seen and heard; especially now that I am up against much younger people. It is important that I stay on the cutting edge and remain not only aware of the technology available but comfortable working with it.

This is where webinars came into play for me. My company, like many others in most industries, was struggling for business and jockeying for position amongst their peers. Marketing dollars were tight and we were all looking for ways to promote our brand without spending a lot of money. It was time to think creatively and make some headway by working in a way that was perhaps outside our comfort zone.

I did some research about webinars in which we could invite identified participants to take part and then deliver them information about our brand and products in a creative, interesting way – a seminar without the boring conference room! Through a webinar we could connect personally with potential new business prospects, present our company creatively, and step up to the plate – marketing wise – in a smart, sophisticated, and technically savvy manner.

I brought up the potential benefits of a webinar and my idea was well-received. I was then given the role of orchestrating this program for our company. By introducing webinars – which, to date, have been enormously successful - I have shown my ability to adapt creatively and have helped my company distinguish itself in a crowded market.

Popularity: 15% [?]

When someone applies and interviews for a job, the typical process – at least these days – includes submitting their resume online and waiting for the phone to ring or an email to appear. With the convenience of submitting information electronically and the existence of powerful online job boards, employers can often receive thousands upon thousands of resumes for one position. The job market is competitive enough and with this kind of access to potential positions, job-seekers have their work cut out for them with regard to going up against other applicants.

When it came to my job search I had another obstacle in front of me – the fact that I was looking for a job in another state. I was anxious to make a move across the country but I couldn’t just pick up and go without a job. This made the job hunt even more challenging than a typical search; I had to not only convince a potential employer to take a chance on interviewing me I had to convince them that I was worth bringing across the country.

So I thought out of the box and came up with the idea of talking to some potential employers via web conferencing. If they were interested enough to respond to my letter and resume and wanted to have a phone call with me, I suggested web conferencing instead so that they could have a better chance to “meet” me and get to know my personality. It was the next best thing I could think of next to actually flying there for an interview; in fact it would decide if I was worth bringing out there for an interview so I knew it was extremely important.

Web conferencing actually set me apart from the competition and put me firmly in front of potential employers. I believe, thanks to web conferencing, I landed a great job and am ready to make my move across the country.

Popularity: 14% [?]

My last post talked about the fact that I had just entered the company for which I was working as the “new guy.” I was ready to hit the ground running and achieve all of the goals that I set out for over the next several months but I also needed my team on my side to get it all done. I had been in this position before and knew that it was in my best interest to get everyone on the team acclimated to me as quickly as possible – to avoid speculation that could easily lead to distrust that could bring our team down in seconds. We had a lot of work to do and I needed everyone on my side.

While I worked at headquarters with many employees who I could easily communicate with on a day to day basis, I also had a whole team of people in other branch offices in several states. I needed a way to communicate with them just as quickly and effectively so I turned to web conferencing services – specifically webinars.

Through web conferencing I could communicate with my team members – regardless of their location – in a completely web-based environment. I invited different branches all at the same time to logon to my webinar so I could share information about myself and about my style of working. It was a great way to introduce myself within the first week of my being with the company. While I did plan to visit each office branch in person the webinars filled in for the meantime and were actually a very effective way to get in front of my team and open myself to questions if there were any on the table.

Webinars – and web conferencing in general – will continue to be a part of my way of working. They are a strong and effective business tool.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Coming into a new company is by no means an easy thing to do; especially when said company has been around awhile and they have their own ways of doing things and a team that is used to working together in a certain capacity. Anyone new on the scene can present a threat to the status quo and make people uncomfortable. They may think that they are being pushed out, that their ideas and opinions won’t matter anymore, and they will be passed over when up until that point they were intimately involved in the details of many day to day operations.

This is not the first time that I have come into a company as the “new guy.” But over time I have learned how to do it the right way; how to identify those who may be feeling slightly bruised by my presence and let them know – in my own way – that I’m not there to turn their life upside down; only to work together with them on the same team towards common goals. Normally, I try to have as many face-to-face sit-downs as possible with my team so I can introduce them to the ways in which I work and get their feedback on some of the areas that they think we could work to improve, and more. I have found this to be enormously effective in giving my new co-workers a feel for how I work and laying the groundwork so that they feel that they can trust me.

This time around, however, I was faced with another challenge in terms of the location of these employees. While I was working out of the company’s headquarters I had access to the team of employees who worked there with me. But there were two other branch offices in other states with which I would also be working. I was planning a trip to both offices as soon as possible but until then I wanted to be able to provide them with the same information that I was giving to my team at headquarters. That’s where webinars came in…

Popularity: 15% [?]