I have two simple requests and recommendations that will improve the viewing experience, and through that, the outcomes sponsors seek: please make your webinars easier to consume, and improve the overall webinar quality.
A universal principle that is regularly preached is to make content easy and convenient for the customer to consume and share.
There are well over a dozen webinars backlogged on my "to view" list. Most are from really good thought leaders, people I respect and learn from every time I read or hear them. But who has 45 minutes to devote to viewing streaming webinars, especially during "prime" time. For me, prime time is anytime from 6AM when I begin work to 7PM when I end, but also includes 7-9PM (family time) and most of the weekends (personal, family and work time.)
So, when do I want to consume these programs? How about in my nice new Bose headphones while I'm exercising (OK maybe not the Bose for that), walking the dog, driving, hanging out at gymnastics and swim meets. I just can't devote prime time to the volume of programs I'd like to hear.
So my request is to ask you to post an MP3 version along with the recorded webinar (preferably chapter indexed), and the slides. If you really want to fulfill the principle of making content convenient to consume and share, how about a transcript.
If you could also modularize your content into smaller chunks, edit out intros, outros, Q&A (for some of you it's great content, for most, not so much), that would be a big plus.
I've lost count of the number of times I wanted to forward some interesting points to customers, prospects, and colleagues, but couldn't because the delivery method inhibited that action. Sometimes I wanted to point someone to a 5 minute segment embedded in a 45 minute webinar, archived without chapter indexing as a Go-to-Webinar, Webex or ON24 archive. I have no easy and fast way to direct my colleague to the specific section I want them to view. (Or, maybe I want to blog about it.)
Sometimes the people I want to send to, would prefer to get the segment as text -- especially if they're viewing on a mobile device.
My second, but related request, is for a higher standard of overall program quality. This isn't directed at the relatively few professional presenters and speakers, but the vast majority of amateur (to be kind) presenters who have something valuable to say, but could really use a delivery coach and a good editor before I have to hear it. Our customers tell us they really appreciate the results of a pre-produced process.
My company has been a webinar service provider for 12 years (starting in 1999 when it took about 4-5 people and good luck to run a successful event.) We stopped counting years ago at over 5,000 webinars and webcasts. My colleague has been writing about our view of the evolving state of webinars, and new ideas to improve the user experience.
Take note of my colleague's recommendation for much shorter (try 20 minutes to start) webinars, supported by a microsite of modular content that is available to meet the broad interests of your audience who are in different roles, buying stages, and learning interests.
Let's apply the principles we all read about to this long standing, important delivery method. Please join me in making this request of webinar sponsors you value.
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