I refer to teleseminars as the little black dress because they are perfect for all occasions. People will come to teleseminars without ever having heard of you before. This makes them a great attraction strategy. Plus, you are nurturing the relationship of your current clients (patients) and potential clients (patients) by continually delivering value. Outlined below are some guidelines for you to consider when planning a successful teleseminar:

1. Set your date — Start planning three to four weeks out. It takes time to implement your marketing plan and prepare for the highest attendance rate, so give yourself plenty of time to effectively prepare and market.

2. Determine your price — If you are doing this as a standalone teleseminar you may want to charge a fee. However, if you are doing it as part of a marketing campaign, than doing it for free may be a better option.

3. Set a goal — Determine how many people you want to have at your teleseminar and at what price (if you are charging). Do not skip this step. It is imperative to your success that you set your goals, think about these things regularly, and take the necessary steps to achieve them. You will not achieve a goal that you do not have clearly defined.

4. Develop your marketing strategy — If you have an established, targeted list that you have been communicating with on a regular basis, then I recommend you market your teleseminar by sending the invitations. Studies show that it takes 7-12 contacts (or touches) for a qualified prospect to do business with you. 90% of small businesses never contact or touch their prospects more than three times.

5. Make it viral — What sort of fun and interesting things can you do that will compel your community to invite their friends and colleagues? This is a powerful way to build your reputation and grow your business or practice.

6. Set up your teleconference service — There are several conference services on the market. Some are free and some are paid. Feel free to check out my Resources page, http://bit.ly/dentallibrary for a list of options.

7. Consider recording your teleseminar — You may want to do this for a variety of reasons. First, it is good to go back and listen to the call so you can make necessary changes for future calls. Second, you can use it as a product to use in your future marketing efforts. You may want to send it to your attendees/patients or those who were registered but were not able to attend.

8. Consider making your teleseminar a webinar — Webinars are a great way to add that “extra” component to your teleseminar. It is the combination of tele-learning combined with computer-based learning. Your participant either places the call from their phone or computer, then logs into a website where they can see your presentation materials and follow along online.

9. Do the 3 P’s, - Practice, Preparation, Professionalism — Practice-know the material you are delivering, be familiar with the process, flow and activities, spend time practicing, and be prepared. It will show in the quality, results and your bottom line! Be prepared. Arrive on the call early and have everything organized well in advance of your attendees’ arrival. Being prepared will set the tone for when your attendees arrive and notice your professionalism. Be professional. Whatever your style, whatever the culture of your target market, just do it well. Make sure you are a positive, professional representation of your practice, self, or company.

10. Have fun — This is the most important of all; It is not worth it if you hate it, dread it, and would rather eat nails. But remember, just like with anything, the more you do, the better you will become, the more comfortable you will become, and the more fun you will have. Your first teleseminar is going to be much different from your 10th or 20th. So stick with it and it will be worth it!

Kristine A. Hodsdon
Director, RDH eVillage