Webinars are a great way to learn from others because of the visual and conversational aspects of the training session. They’re great because you can join from anywhere, and it’s a real example of how technology is making education easier.

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time listening to webinars. I’ve been doing a lot of research to host my own webinars and also to learn as much as I can about marketing, pr, and analytics.

The more I watch, the more I realize that there are certain ways to maximize your return from each webinar.

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Getting The Most

Making the most of webinars means learning the most. It also means signing up for the right webinars and doing more than just listening.

If you want to be happy with your webinar experience, it’s all about choosing the right ones. I’ve noticed that the best way to determine which webinars will be useful means answering a few questions before actually signing up.

Questions to Ask:

• Is the webinar free or paid?
  If it’s a paid for webinar and you’re unhappy you get the option of asking for you money back. Remember though that you still lose the time you invested in it.
Is the host going to try to sell you something?
Usually you can tell this from the actual site and way the program is being conducted. A webinar that is actually a sales pitch that I paid to attend is the single biggest pet peeve I have.
• Who is the host?
  Learn as much as you can about who is actually hosting the program. Who are they? What makes them qualified to teach? Why are you listening to them? These are things you need to know. The host is the most important part of the webinar.
• Are there previous webinars I can watch?
  The person speaking might be the most intelligent person in the world, but that doesn’t mean they’re the most effect speakers. If you can get a chance to see or read transcripts of previous webinars, definitely take the time to research it. Does their style fit with how you learn?
• What is the topic? Does it relate to me?
  After the host, the topic is the second most important aspect of the webinar. Find out as much as you can about what will be covered. Does it relate to your business fully or just a little?
• Can I ask questions?
  Some webinars have a questions and answers period at the end or sometimes during. These can be extremely useful because you get to see firsthand what issues others are having and how to overcome them. Also, it gives you a chance to ask relevant questions and get direct advice for your business.
• Who else is attending?
  Another way to gauge the value of the webinar is by looking at your peers. Are they attending the webinar too? Are most of the attendees at your level or no? If you’re a small business and the guest list is full of brand marketers, you might want to rethink this webinar. Looking for good social proof also gives you an idea on the credibility and validity of the webinar itself.

The questions above should give you an idea of whether or not the webinar is really worth it for you. It should help you decide whether you should invest both the money and time to attend it and if you’ll actually learn what you need.

Expectations

Regardless of the webinar you are attending, how much you pay, and how famous the host is, you should create reasonable expectations. Don’t think that once the webinar is over, you’ll suddenly be able to easily and complete market your business online or become rich over night.

Most topics are extremely complex and webinars tend to cover only a single aspect. You should, however, come out with some action items or ideas.

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You should conclude each webinar with a list of action items or at least a number of ideas for new strategies. Knowing what your expectations are, action items or ideas, should help you decide between webinars that are more direct or theory based.

Future Webinars With Me

Just as I stated at the beginning of the article, I’ve been looking into possibly hosting a number of webinars of my own. It really depends on the feedback I get from you.

I’ll be using GoToMeeting to present the webinars and would attempt to do one at least once a month. I’d give about a 30 minute presentation, followed by 15+ minutes for questions and answers. I’ve outlined, below, a few potential topics I had in mind.

Potential Webinar Topics:

• Maximizing Your Branding With Social Media
• Budgeting In The New Marketing Paradigm
• What Brand Marketers Need to Know About Online Marketing
• Is Social Media Marketing Dangerous?
• Crisis Management And The Web
• Integrating Offline and Online Marketing

Your Thoughts

How do you maximize your return from webinars? How much would you pay? What topics do you suggest? Would you join a webinar I host?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Also, don’t forget to join the newsletter. I’ll be sending updates and early access to webinars to newsletter subscribers.