To grow and to prosper, in business and in life, it is important to learn. These days, technology makes it extremely easy to learn top quality information from experts all around the world and is making the world a small place! We are surely in the middle of an information explosion – and, between you and me, I love it.
One of the most effective approaches to learn these days and to get access to new information is via attending online events like teleseminars and/or webinars. These are events you attend over the telephone (teleseminars) or via streaming on your computer (webinars) rather than attending the event at a specific location.
How do Teleseminars Work?
The teleseminar host and the listeners all dial the same telephone number and connect via a teleconference line (also known as a bridge line).
The teleseminar can be a one-way event where the host/speaker lectures and the participants listen. There are however also teleseminars where the speaker actively interacts with the participants and/or the participants interact with each other. Teleseminars are similar to the in-person or physical seminars we’re used to attend, except that everything is now happening via phone.
Teleseminars can be a one-time event, where everyone meets on the phone for an hour or so. It can also be an ongoing series, where everyone meets e.g. once a week for several weeks or even months.
Teleseminars are primarily an audio format and can be recorded. If the host records the call and makes it available afterwards, you can download these audio files, and listen to it at your own time. This is particularly beneficial if you’ve missed the live call and or when you want to cement the learning and refresh what you’ve learned. In this fashion, a teleseminar becomes a life-long learning opportunity for the student.
Benefits of attending a teleseminar
- You do not need any specialized equipment. For a teleseminar you only need a phone
- You can attend from anywhere in the world. Every teleseminar has a unique number to call, so at the time of the training, you can simply call the number (which will be provided to you by the host of the event) and listen/participate in the call.
- It is convenient. We all have busy lives and teleseminars allow you to quickly get training in one-hour increments without having to travel to multiple destinations. You can attend the event from the comfort of your house – and even in your PJ’s (no-one will know ;))
- It’s an incredibly cost effective and time efficient way to enjoy all of the benefits of traditional, in-person seminars and training. With teleseminars and webinars, you can learn from- and interact with experts in your industry effortlessly, and because there are no travel or hotel costs associated with it, you can save money while learning.
Tips for attending a teleseminar
- It’s always better to us a landline phone when attending a teleseminar. However, if you want to save on long distance international phone costs and have a stable internet connection, you can dial into most conferences with technology such as Skype (by using Skype credit). I personally use Skype for attending teleseminars since I always have to call international numbers to attend. Thus for me, Skype is convenient and extremely cost effective (a 60min call to the US often costs me less than a “trip” for one to Mugg&Bean or Starbucks).
- Do not multi-task while on the call. Even though we as women are good at multitasking, you do miss important information if you are not fully listening and concentrating on the call. So schedule some uninterrupted time, take lots of notes and have fun. This is a great way to learn!
Things to know up-front
- Teleseminars can either be a paid event or be at no cost. If it is a paid event, the event host will give you the details up-front and you will have to pay in order to get the call-in details and access to the actual event.
- Many coaches and online business owners have free teleseminars giving out great info. If it’s free, go and participate as there’s minimal risk to you. Take advantage of the opportunity. It’s a great way for you to start building a business relationship with the speaker / host and or other participants.
- Just keep in mind that even if a teleseminar is at no cost (from the host side), you will incur some costs on your telephone bill (because it’s a phone call) or by buying and using Skype credit.
If you are a new business owner, or even a savvy entrepreneur, attending on-line training via teleseminars can vastly benefit your business. It’s a great and very convenient way to learn without the hassle of leaving your house.
