Which is Better: Direct Mail, Teleseminars or Webinars?

Click here to listen. . . With every new technology, comes groups of users who immediately want to dispense with the old. Now that webinars are becoming mainstream, I've had a few clients ask which is better to use in their business: old-fashioned direct mail, teleseminars or webinars?

Before I answer the question, let's first discuss the definition of each:

Direct Mail consist of postcards, flyers, mailings done to your prospects -- anything they receive in their mailbox.

Teleseminars are conference calls where you can have as few as two or as many as 2,000 (and more) people on a call at the same time. There's a moderator who runs the call and keeps things on track.

Teleseminars are great for solo-presentations as well as interviews where one person interviews another and a live audience listens in and asks questions.

If you're interested in learning more about teleseminars and you missed my live call, you'll want to check out "How To Host Your Own Teleseminar: The Tools You Need to Make It Happen Without Fear".

Webinars are what I like to think of as "visual teleseminars". You are listening in on the telephone (just like a teleseminar) AND you are watching your computer screen (just like television).

The moderator in this case is taking you through a presentation -- similar to a live event slide show only you're participating from the comfort of your own home. Webinars can also be online videos or a hybrid presentation/video format.

So which is best? The teleseminar or the webinar?

The answer, as you may suspect is "it depends".

Marketing is about building a relationship with your prospects through your unique message (or Unique Selling Proposition). Tools which set you apart and make you more *real* to your prospects must be included in your business -- this is especially true for those who market themselves online or virtually.

Which builds a better connection with your audience:
1. A flyer sent in the mail?
2. A teleseminar where prospects can hear your voice?
3. A webinar where prospects can hear your voice and see you moving things around the screen?

While you may be tempted to answer "number 3" as webinars allow you to create a connection and bring your prospects into your world, the true answer is "all three".

A webinar REQUIRES more of a commitment from your prospect as they are agreeing to be at their computer at a certain date and time while a teleseminar REQUESTS propsects to be at a telephone knowing that most business owners send out recordings after the fact.

Given the increased commitment requirement AND the fact that people learn best through different media (reading, watching, listening), the ideal mix, regardless of your business, is to include all three methods in your marketing: direct mail, teleseminars and webinars.

Teleseminars and webinars are not only for online businesses. Brick and mortar/retail businesses who use them define themselves as being FAR AHEAD of their competition.

Knowing this, how can you incorporate teleseminars and webinars into your business?

Your Coaching Challenge

Review your marketing action plan (and if you don't yet have one, click here to be among the first to learn about my upcoming group coaching program) and ensure you've included direct mail, teleseminars AND webinars in your lead generation activities.

My challenge is that you schedule and promote either a teleseminar or webinar for your business within the next 30 days. If you missed my "how to, step-by-step" call on teleseminars, you can learn more here.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? Please do! Feel free to reprint any article or tip on your website, newsletter or message boards. Please write: Leading small business expert Sandra Martini is the "Automatic Business Coach." Sandra delivers simple proven, yet innovative, ways entrepreneurs can implement processes and systems to create a waiting list of clients while giving them more money, time, and freedom in their businesses. For free articles, free resources and to sign up for her free audio mini-seminar "5 Quick & Easy Ways to Put Your Marketing on Autopilot" visit www.SandraMartini.com.

© 2002-2010 Sandra P. Martini. All Rights Reserved

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