Is every free webinar a sales pitch?

Wait, let me guess...You were on James Jones webinar today? LOL!

Honestly, all of them that I've been on do have pitches, most of the time at the end of them.

Unfortunately, no. I have the same experience. Every seminar I heard has at least one subtle (if not blatant) sales pitch.

If you want to stand out in the crowd, maybe you can have one that provides pure content only :-)

Did we catch you testing again?

For the most part, I like webinars.

Most of the time I can't make the live broadcast of it, so being able watch it later is always a plus.

You are absolutely right that every FREE webnair is a sales pitch and I do also accept that the seller always wants to make something out giving FREE thing because he needs to Pay for that sits and that investment he needs to get back from people.

But there is a FREE webnair where the person will never sale anything to you and you will never get sold from him but in other words he will help you more to grow your business....

thanks
Alam

I have been to several with Zero sales pitches in them. A couple given by Perry Marshall and a couple by Glenn Livingston. None of them mentioned a product let alone tried selling one. Otherwise, the rest have by other people and a few by the above.

Hi Scott

1. To answer your question. Nope..

Some also do private coaching calls with a webinar...

There is a lot of other opprtunities with a webinar that many people still have not realize...

Depends on the purpose of the webinar. If it's a webinar for existing customers, it might be just for educational purposes.

However, generally speaking I treat webinars as extended sales pages in audio-visual format. In other words AIDA = Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.

When done correctly the entire sequence of a webinar, including the promo e-mails leading up to it, create AIDA. Obviously there needs to be phenomenal educational content threading the sequence too since that's where the value gets delivered.

In addition, conversions are often *much* higher than with written sales pages. This obviously depends on the niche, the product, the offer and price, etc.

The main benefit to using webinars is you add additional modes of learning to the mix (audio and visual) rather than just written words. Teleclasses can work just as effectively since the prospect gets to hear your tone of voice, how committed you are to your message and product, etc.

As a full-timer since 2004, over 90% of my income has come directly from teleclasses and webinars. When done effectively they work like freakin' gangbusters.

Ken

Always remember, what is in it for them. Most teleseminar are designed to sell stuff.

Seems like every one I have every watch always end in a sales pitch. However, I have not seen every webinar, So I can't say there all that way.

Some of the best webinars I've been on have been inside StomperNet but at that point you are already paying them Free webinars I've attended have always been a pitch of some sort even if it's like 99% content.

I've not been to any free webinar without a pitch but I think it's fair enough to say that these will still be considered branding. A similar example is the 'Internet Marketing This Week' podcast, even though they are not pitching directly it has still ultimately lead to purchases on my behalf that I would likely not have made otherwise.

Sure, I've done a bunch of them with zero sales pitches in multiple niches.

It's a great way to create a brand new product and get some additional great content added from doing Q&A. Many times, I get testimonials from the live event as well.

When I create a product, I try to think of every question that my ideal prospect might want answered but I'm not perfect. There's always other ones that people come up with that are great questions to answer.

Done correctly, you can get some great conversion rates on your prelaunch or back-end offers tied into your free teleseminar/webinar.

Of course, if you want me to tell you how to set it up for maximum effect, then I'm going to have to charge you.

Take care,

Mike

I have done 2 Free Webinars this week and not pitching any products of mine. I have been on many that end up being a pitch fest though. My goal for 2010 is Givers Gain !!!
I posted link to my Webinars in the Meetings section of this Forum.

It doesn't make sense to give something for free and with no intention to give a sales pitch. It's called business

"But there is a FREE webnair where the person will never sale anything to you and you will never get sold from him but in other words he will help you more to grow your business...." Alam, you are so right. I just had this kind of webinar last week, which made me feel they really sincerely care you,not use you as their ATM machine.

It is great Thread, Scott!

Kindest

Miss Sunpoint

The free webinars with no sales pitches are few and far in between. I've come to expect a sales pitch at the end, and I really don't mind as long as the webinar provides useful, valuable and actionable content. I guess you could look upon it as some sort of an equitable exchange - you get some valuable information in exchange for them being able to pitch you at the end!

Scott,

I understand you would be coming from that point of view since you do not have any of your own paid products in your signature.

If something teaches you something, isn't it only fair for them to tell you where you can go to buy more training from them? The content in the free webinar (before and during the pitch) IS the something for nothing.

I happen to like the pitch at the end. My last pitch was this past Tuesday, sold $10,300 in 3 hours. We would have sold more but we had a set number of slots... and everyone who attended the paid course (just finished it today) told me and my business partner $400 was too cheap for what we were giving.

Why do you hate money? Aren't you an internet marketer?

Another huge vote for James Hickey's webinars. I've been in both of so far and nary a sales pitch to be had, just amazingly solid info. Looking forward to the rest!

I have been to both but the percentage of those with sales pitches is higher than the free ones. If there is a pitch at the end and the person delivers great content during the webinar, that is okay. The only problem I have are from those who provide little or no value at all and tell you to buy something if you want more info

No, definately not!

I have run a few myself and am running one today which is all content and nothing to sell, at all. So, my answer would most certainly be no!

In my opinion its a great way to build stronger relationships with subscribers and non subscribers and an easy way to put out awesome content to a lot of people LIVE!

GoGetta

GoGetta

Of course - otherwise why would they be doing it? Webinars are a list building exercise or a sales pitch. Somewhere along the line they will try to sell you something.

There's nothing wrong with having a sales pitch in my opinion in a webinar.

The speaker(s) has taken the time to come up with what he is going to say, plus taken care of other stuff such as coming up with people which will possibly speak, etc etc.

I mean it's more work than just creating a simply report which will have a pitch at the end all the same.

So, in my opinion there is nothing wrong with having a sales pitch at a webinar as long as there is good content on it.

Kevin

Hi Scott,

I don't think every webinar is a sales pitch or contains a sales pitch as evidenced from some of the responses on this thread.

However, it seems that a lot of the bigger internet marketers can't do a webinar without a sales pitch, and that's fine with me in all honesty. They have built their businesses, lists, customer relations and infrastructure to a point where they can afford to annoy a few people with a sales pitch, because on the flip-side they will make a lot of money doing it (at least more money than they would have without including a sales pitch!)

I don't mind being sold to in that way. If I don't want to hear the pitch, I just leave the webinar. If I feel I am interested in their products, I hang around and listen.

What I do hate is when marketers email you promoting their free content, video or webinar telling you how they will "exclusively reveal how to do...x..y...z". Then when you get to this "free content" it is a solid pitch where they tell you, if you buy their product they will tell you how to do "x....y.....z". Now that ticks me off, but if it works for them, then cool.

well, not all, but 95% of them

Sure I have listen to many without pitches. There is a series of pitch-free webinars this week I have been listening to in a different niche than IM.

I don't mind a pitch at the end as long as it was an educational seminar. I hate it when I realize I spent an hour listening to a big commercial thinking they are going to reveal something of interest and it doesn't happen.

When I was test marketing Kaizen Marketing Blueprint, I did several free webinars with absolutely no pitch. At the end, I discussed the potential launch of KMB as a future thing. But since I was just testing market viability for a very complicated, strategic process of developing a comprehensive marketing and sales process for "offline" companies, there wasn't anything to really pitch.

I was solely looking for feedback, which I got.

Yeah, that's how the gurus make big time sales too! also teleseminars. Russell Brunson uses that technique. Some are even recorded and reused because they have great conversion rates! how funny watching the gurus.

Webinars are great. If they have solid content then there is nothing wrong with a little plug or pitch.

Most yes, not all.

Jim Edwards did one with the FTC, which was smart on growing his name and have people talking about him (oh, thats what I am doing now). No sales pitch, pure value.

Hhmmmm, maybe this is a new way to get a sales pitch without selling in the webinar

Yes, every free webinar is a sales pitch in some form or other.
They might either try to sell you something directly towards the end of the webinar or may allude to a product/service throughout the webinar. Alternatively, the webinar may just be feeding listeners through to their blog for later sales pitches (& to increase credibility).
Having said that, i find most webinars to be packed with useful information. Most webinar hosts do realise that in order to build a bond with their listeners they have to provide valuable information that will benefit the listener.

Most of the webinars i have attended i have been pitched to at the end, but then occassionaly there is a rare one which is actually just really great information for free!

I think it really just depends what they are trying to do with the webinar, sell now or sell later.

As a webinar can be great to get your name out there as someone who knows what they are talking about and then the people who attend later on will most likely buy what you pitch to them later on as they feel like 'they owe you'.

But i do see more often that not some crappy free info followed directly by a sales pitch and then i never buy from them!

Mark Blaze

I have attended a lot of webinars and I will say that a large percentage of them do carry some form of sales pitch towards the end of the webinar but I have learned loads of really good things from webinars whether they are sales pitches or not.

If someone is hosting a webinar it would be a big mistake to miss the chance to get some sales from it, and at he end of the day most of us are all trying to make money at what we do.

You wouldn't be doing your job properly as a marketer if you were to host a free online event to the public and not have a pitch at the end...

From two years of attending "FREE" webinars, I have grown to expect a sales pitch. Whenever im in one i would tend to wonder when the pitch is gonna be.

Expect 95% to be all salespitch.

But hey, there are a lot of sales pitch webinars that provide real value. One that I could point out easily is Mike Koenig's firepower. If you're into online business, you would appreciate that one.

Had a salespitch but gave away a very powerful info.

At the end of the day, you have to find out who runs the webinar and opt only for those people who have been well known to give out precious info.

I think James realises that as the majority of us on the webinar are new or not up to speed on how to make money, a pitch for a high dollar product to us would be pointless.

He has even given us a contact for any questions we may come up with after the webinar has finished! How much giving is that!!

This has probably spoiled us all for fluffy product pitched webinars for life!

Not everyone of them, However 95% of them are and honest after they sales pitch me I don't come back. Your webinar should be about information and branding your name. If I like what your webinar is about I am for sure going to be on your list and know your websites. If it is on interest to me then ill buy your product. I really hate the webinars that beat around the bush on key information and then want you to buy a $199 product so you get the rest. To me that seems a bit on the disrespectful side. Remember the golden rule let your best information out early! If you help someone they are going to become a follower of yours and pick up your products along the way.

Look at Frank Kern. That guy gives away so much free information its just goofy.

And the guy is straight tops in my book, and yes I have given him some of my money.

I've been to many webinars and 99% of them containd sales pitch. Thats how the BIG GUYs make money.

I dont mind buyin products from thr link if they provide some valuable information.

Thats a great point Brian. You will probably be waiting for that guys next email with bated breath now. Possible with your walet in hand.

@JohnMcCabe

This reminds me of when I was in the supermarket and they announced they were giving away a free orange juicer. I though cool thats OK a freebie and went to collect it.

To get the product for free (which I did) I had to listen to 20 minutes of sales schpiel trying to sell this special knife that cuts anything, even wood. And thats not all.... And thats not all.... And thats not all...

20 minutes later, one juicer as promised - some flimsy contraption that was produced in China for 1c! Marvellous use of my time!

/rant

most of them I've attended have had a sales pitch in them, unless they were for a member site.

I love webinars!

But, nothing in life is free.

Whether it is money or exposure, all webinars have a benefit to the person giving it.

However, I like creating win-win situations for all parties invloved. People don't like wasting their time and I sure as heck don't like wasting mine. So offering a huge amount of value is critical in my opinion.

I like doing what I call the "Pitchless Pitch." This is the process by which I provide so much value that simply making a statement that if you need any help, please contact me or go here and signup. Even if they do not buy from me, I leave them with actionable information. Meaning, information they can go and take action and get some results with.

Usually what I find is that if you can give enough valuable information in which someone can try your methods and get positive results, they will eventually buy your stuff to learn more.

So in a sense, I believe all of them are a sales pitch in some fashion.

If you are a true marketer, then naturally your ultimate goal is to sell something.

If you are not using webinars in your marketing strategy, make sure to integrate them in your 2010 marketing plan.

Tommie

Webinar are suppose to be free reports or ideas but the whole concept from the initiator of the webinar is if you like the strategies or report he has presented to you then if in the future he has something to offer then you can join in his boat, probably an opt in or a sales letter.

Take for instance Jason Gazaway he recently gave out a free webinar and at no charge but in the end it was worth the read!