Whats the point of doing webinars??

They are not necessary. Many people do not use webinars to pitch. They do exactly as you suggest, create a free video or ebook and use that as a lead capture.

But webinars are popular with potential buyers and they allow you to pump your product and charge a higher fee. They are especially used for big ticket items.

Webinars are so popular and convert so well that there are many services that allow you to "fake" a webinar. It looks like a webinar, people sign up like a webinar, but it is served "on demand" (not live) according to the schedule of individual viewers.

I think they work because the viewer feels that is the only time they can watch it so they watch and you have a captive audience. As opposed to a video link that someone can bookmark and "watch later when I have time".

Of those, how many have time to go back and watch the video they bookmarked?

But many people sell without using webinars so they are far from "necessary".

Its the personal engagement factor. Which you can't have in a recorded video.

If you think you don't need that for your business then recorded videos work fine.

It makes it personal. You are there for somebody. You can use something as simple as google hangouts to do this.

Don't you feel more close when you are actually there in the same room as the person teaching you. Yeah sure video can do the same thing but in the end it all comes down to conversions and those who hold these webinars see's that and they really deliver in their message.

Webinars are great when done correctly! You have actual people who are interested in what ever it is you're educating them about….and then when it's time to make a pitch, you are able to answer any questions that potential buyers may have in real time which will help to put their hesitation of purchasing to rest. So webinars can be very beneficial when done correctly

When compared to a sales video/page, if the potential buyer has questions, there is really no way to answer them at that point in time which can lead to the potential buyer not buying (the worst case scenario for internet marketing).

I hope that helps and good luck

The whole point is..

"To Make Money"

That is the whole point and it is also the whole point of an online marketer that is in the profession to make money online.

Webinars come in many flavors. Your question about recording a video and allowing people to view it at a specific time or anytime they want is "not" a webinar at all. A webinar is simply a "live" interaction between your business and other people. There are "live" webinars and there are "recordings" of live webinars. Money wise, the live webinars are for immediate earnings and the recorded webinars are for people that did not view the "live" webinar, i.e. residual earnings.

Marketing wise and earnings wise, some marketers here on the forum do both "live" and "recorded" webinars very well. The live webinars earn immediate cash and the recorded webinars earn the residual earnings. The trick is to offer the live webinar viewers a direct sale and to the recorded webinar viewers make an upsale offer. That will handle the scarcity issues by simply pricing the initial webinar product at 75% less than the recorded webinar product at 100%. Why? Viewers (buyers) learn and know that the "price" of the initial webinar product is actually the "scarcity", so they will buy at the initial webinar more often (immediate cash earnings) rather than buy and have to pay more at the recorded webinar.

Affiliate wise, a webinar equates to immediate cash for affiliates! Affiliates know that and will jump on the wagon to promote the webinar simply because they know the day the webinar launches they will make money. See how that is the whole point?

Webinars help build trust between yourself and the potential customer. They say it takes 3 -7 times of a customer seeing a product or offer before they buy, so holding multiple webinars is a very effective way of engaging them and showing them the same product over and over without using just simple email blasts.

Legendary Dreamer - this topic is a great one. I continue to hear people talk about the success of webinars. I host no-pitch training webinars and it builds my list every week. But, there is a lot of money to be made in webinars. Here's a great article titled "How to Turn Your Webinar Into Cash" by the conversion and funnel design expert Todd Brown... good stuff!

I think people find it more real when it is live. (or atleast they think it is live)

Webinars are also great for branding yourself, good way to have q and a's.

I can only share my personal experience in hosting webinars: they are my #1 way of generating an audience who is able, willing and ready to buy.

My conversion rates are significantly higher on webinars when compared with my blog and videos; which also do really well.

What I have experienced is that people can ask questions as they experience me, my knowledge and ability to communicate and engage in real time.

Even when the webinar is recorded for playback, the playback doesn't get anywhere near the conversion rate of the live webinar.

Is it essential to put webinars on? For me, the answer is yes!

It's like being at a live event without ever having to leave your desk.

That's just my two cents and I will keep hosting them for as long as they are working.

Why do webinars?

- They are excellent for building credibility and branding.

- They can convert a crazy % of viewers into paying customers, even when selling high-ticked products (like at least $1,000). It's not uncommon for a good webinar to convert over 10% of actual attendees into paying customers, even for high-priced products.

- They can help you attract the attention of other credible figures in your industry and this can lead to a whole new world of networking opportunities.

Personally, I've never done one... the only kind of videos I do are PowerPoint videos on YouTube lol.

With that being said, there's a reason a lot of top marketers use them... they flat out WORK (when done right, of course).

Hope that answers your question.

Regards,
Daniel

I have always had a fear of webinars and it is one of my goals this year to get one up and running. I can tell the story of Jo Barnes who totally stuffed up her first few webinars and her tribe loved it. I guess webinars show you are human and care enough to spend time with your customers. They are also a good platform to answer any questions future customers may have and also to get those people who are sitting on the fence to commit. The beauty of doing a live webinar is it can be sent out as a replay for this on the opposite time of the planet to watch at their convenience. They are also a great way to offer discounts on your best products for those that watch the webinar either live or on the replay. You can have real scarcity for the discount. That is just my take on it.
Great answers from everyone on this thread too

Ditto about many good answers from everyone...

Here's my take on webinars.

Webinars can also be used to engineer a sense of URGENCY and because they are live they seem to drive up engagement & conversions for high ticket products & services.

People seem to pay more attention when they are on a webinar, especially if there isn't going to be a replay.

You will notice that many of the top marketers use webinars to provide FREE high quality content, training and value on the first half or three quarters of the webinar and then promote high ticket offers in the last part of the it.

I personally think that personal interest and engagement plays huge role here, because if they are interested they attach themselves to specific date not only push play button on video.

Therefore I think that there is a bigger chance to convert them into customers

Why I do them:

1. I do weekly webinars to help my subscribers build their business and ask questions about my product
2. It gains trust toward me
3. Most importantly, I can up sell new products or add on's to my product!

The answer is very simple; Live Webinars help you get Higher Conversions.

Why?

Because when you can actually interact with the Webinar Presenters, you have more trust and there is a better relationship growing thanks to that live interaction.

Just think about it, if the video presenter can actually Acknowledge your comments and questions, would you say your chances to actually buy and invest money go up?

Of course!!

Live Webinars will always convert better than pre-recorded videos. Not taking anything from pre-recorded videos because they also work very well. But live webinars work even better!

The main reason internet marketers host webinars is to sell their products and services...plus conversion rates are usually higher compared to say a VSL or online sales letter. Of course nothing beats selling over the telephone.

Webinars have the benefit that you are branding yourself as a professional marketer and leader,offering to help your viewers by answering their questions etc.Providing value to them. This can lead to leads for your business and also signups in due tiume.

What's the point?

People want to know you're REAL.

It's the closest to human interaction without
the physical connection.

Talking to people on the phone, skype, google
hangout or other webinar service makes it all
feel *real* in a world where people are every
where online and simultaneously disconnected.

I know how to sell with nothing but emails...

...but my sales go through the roof if I make
the time to connect with a potential customer
for even just 10 or 20 minutes.

Frankly, I'm happy to jump on calls, sessions
on skype/hangouts or webinars. They're fun. I
get to know peoples motivations, fears, dreams,
goals and desires.

...and they get to know mines.

People are more than dollars and signs. They
want to know on some level you CARE...and not
the superficial kind...the kind that will help
them reach their goals.

Webinars does this well and this thread has
inspired me to do more of them.