5 Steps to Planning Your First Webinar- Guest Post

First, let me take a moment to explain the definition of a webinar. There still may be a few folks out there (living under a rock) that have yet to attend one. Webinar origins from the words: web and seminar.  It is also referred to as web conferencing. A webinar is an interactive virtual event in which attendees are able to listen and view a presentation. They are also able to ask questions to the presenter and chat amongst themselves.

Here are my 5 steps to planning your first webinar:

1. Identify the Goals of Your Webinar.

It is important to determine the objective of your webinar. You must keep in mind who you want to target and why. Are you offering a new product or service? Should it be paid or free? Will it be a recurring event? What will you do with the leads you receive?

2. Choose Your Webinar Service.

There are a lot of great web conferencing services available with varied pricing. Consider your webinar’s objective, company budget and the service’s features when selecting the right one for your event. Also ensure you have the right equipment and system capabilities to have an efficient virtual event. Most services offer a free trial to test drive their program.

3. Invite Guests. Reach out to your current mailing list and social media following to invite them to attend your event. Ensure that your desired service provider has the capability to invite, register, and remind your guests. In some cases, you may want to design a sales page for your event too.

4. Get the Word Out! Around 30 days in advance you should start promoting your virtual event. Here are a few examples of ways to get the word out: submit a press release, submit event information to online calendars or webinar directories, write a blog post and send an e-newsletter.

5. Rehearse Your Presentation – Practice Makes Perfect. Write an outline or script that details the order of events. Make sure to have a dry run or two. This will make you more at ease with the program that you will be using. Learn the program features and tools so you knowledgeable before the big event! Have a contingency plan in place in case technology fails you.

Tahneesha Smith is a Certified Virtual Event Specialist and owner of A Virtual Blessing Virtual Assistant Services. A Virtual Blessing specializes in podcast, teleseminar, and webinar support. Visit www.avirtualblessing.com to find out how we can help your small business with your next event.

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