Pradeep C.
Engineer by Education, Entrepreneur by Profession, Digital Marketer by Passion
What do you think is the best strategy for promoting a training/event online?
Also, will appreciate your feedback on leveraging events listing sites if you have any experience.
Clarification added March 6, 2010:
I am looking at recommendations for 'online' promotion for an 'offline' training/workshop.
Answers (14)
Dawn B.
"CONNECTOR," Small Biz HR Consultant, Resume Coach, Social Media Trainer/Mgr.
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Twitter like crazy and use Twitter to find those who are looking for training.
Also - look at LinkedIn Q&A to see if anyone has 'asked for links to or suggestions' for training.
Build up a database of human resources managers, as well as training and developers within corporations who are constantly looking for ROI and inexpensive training.
Make the on-online webinar training available in various modules. You'll start with a 'free' teaser webinar, that is also supported by ad revenue and sponsors who wish to get their name out in the market. Then you'll offer 'continuing' or 'follow-on' webinars at a 'moderate' price.
Also the Absolute BOMB for posting webinars and seminars online are two sites:
MeetUp.com - cost is approximately $19.99 (USD) a month or $72 (USD) for six months. This allows you to share meeting or webinar information online, get RSVP's, post files, and send out e-mails to those who sign up for more information.
MeetUp also allows you to query on folks who may be interested in the product, service, or training topic by the 'interest' word they have posted to their own profile. On the flip side, you input the type of key words that match your training or topic interest and folks looking for information similar to that will query and find you.
Another site is EventBrite - similar to MeetUp.com.
What I'm not sure about is if the meeting events are international or only country specific, but I'd advise checking out both sites, see what they have to offer, and you find you may have stumbled across a few gems to get your training efforts off the ground running.
I accept all LinkedIn Invitations: Dawn.Boyer@me.com
Currently providing Human Resources consulting to small businesses, including startup defense companies, in the Hampton Roads, VA area.
Visit my Polls and help me get 400 answers on HR & Education: http://polls.linkedin.com/p/28062/mzylg - Thank you for your comments and votes!
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Robin G.
Manager- Social and Digital Media at The Times of India Group
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Pradeep,
It really depend upon the nature of the event, I mean what is the message you want your audience to get from your event. I would suggest Facebook, Retweets, Videos and direct responding to the queries and questions related to the theme and objective of your Event or Training. It's always a good option asking other communities and group admins to promote your event on their community and if they help you with, then that will be amazing.
Clarification added March 6, 2010:
You can take full use of Yahoo Answers, LinkedIn Q&A, Discussion forums, Google Groups, Facebook and LinkedIn Groups.
Twitter for sure - facebook, blog with links posted everywhere, some kind of campaign around training needs with mass e-mails, paid visibility on some known sites, blogger outreach ( those who write particularly on HR issues)
Webcast / Podcast / Youtube / Live Streaming
Links:
Yogesh M.
Digital Marketing Trainer & Consultant from Mumbai, India, Social Media Training for Sales & Marketing Executives
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Hi Pradeep
Today is very important because yesterdays knowledge is outdated in today and tomorrows economy.
1. Now people wanted to learn online.
2. They wanted to decide their own comfort zone while learning.
3. They wanted to understand from someone through various technologies like e-book/websites/presentation/video/podcast/chat/sms/mobile and many more useful tools to get knowledge.
4. Now they wanted combination of above all
5. today people wanted to travel only for closing the deals or just for fun only.
6. Learning changing very fast in peoples life
7. Who understand these change very fast these peoples or companies will be tomorrows winners
Links:
Arjun S.
President, ZenMango & Restaurant Marketing Group; Author, Raising a Father
First define the target audience.
Then showcase why people should attend.. e.g. tangible benefits.
And then if you can show how past attendees have reacted, that will be amazing.
Finally put samples on you tube.
Good luck
Maria M.
Where independent financial advisors get EduCoaching™ for substantial business and personal growth!
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I promote all my online and offline events online and offline. I sell my list of places that I post to... but I'll give you one place TeachStreet.com
Of course..social media platforms like Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn will help you create a Buzz about the training programs..But may not bring immediate results as expected..Few things that strike me are:
Be very active on Discussion Forums that are used by the TG..Interesting Blogs with more details about the training should be promoted through Social Media...just publishing few comments / images / video etc on social platforms may not help get the right people actually registering for the training...
Video Testimonials by already trained can create a better impact..
The Best activity what I would suggest is to identify Potential Brand Ambassadors for your training Programs, it may be in
- Colleges
- University
- Even schools
- Institutes involved in Hobby Classes
- Clubs / Gyms [Has to be specific]
- Organizations
- NGOs
Over a period of time..this can get good number of interested people and registrations...and will become more popular through 'word of mouth' and references / testimonials
Rajeev G.
Experienced Serial Entrepreneur-Business Advisor and Affiliate Business Facilitator
Pradeep,
While you yourself know all the mediums that exist, would think that the following would also assist in your endeavours.
1. While one can make videos on you tube but they have limitations and you could send the link by email etc, but the videos buffer. The video email by vdi gives a link and it is a streaming video at the click of the button.
2. Video webmeetings with upto 10 perople at a go.
3. You could create your on video channel- upload upto 10 vieos of 10 mins each and send to unlimited audience who will view stteaming videos.
4. Video Web Cast- webcase yourself live to 50 diff locartons at any given time.-- It is like your own TV chanell.
Rajeev G. also suggests this expert on this topic:
Hi Pradeep,
I would recommend reading:
INBOUND MARKETING by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah.
Links:
1) Derive weekly thoughts based on the content of your event. Then twitter it. But this is the catch, you want to be succinct and include searchable keywords in your tweet so it will generate enough quality followers.
2) I agree with Meetup. But you need to come up with relevant and easy-to-search group name so you can catch the right people.
3) Blog
4) LinkedIn Event page
With blogging, you will need to decide how much time you want to devote to marketing your event. Also, if that's something long-term (say that's your primary business) or a one-time thing. If you opt for creating a blog, it will help in a long run...you just need to come up with content, and that can be time consuming.
Wallace J.
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i3D Virtual Worlds Technology...
Kristen F.
Sr. Recruiter, resume expert, former career advice columnist, aspiring novelist and networker *extraordinaire*
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You need to target your audience by community. It is going to depend on the audience. Age, gender, occupation, interests, geographic locale. Personally, I have found Facebook Ads have a tremendous ROI because of the precise filtering you can put on them.
Also, make sure you have the information on all your email signatures (and anyone else that can/does promote the event.) Use MeetUp, MeetIn, Evite. If it is a music event, MySpace to promote it. An emailing list is a great way to start. Twitter to generate buzz.
Definitely post to your social media profiles and on your blog, but also give some sort of incentive for signing up. I.E. the first ten registrations get xyz or for instance for the webinar I am putting together I am asking participants to submit a business video blog and the winner gets a free webcast. If you can create a competition of sorts it seems that people like to join in :)
