Seminars… Teleseminars… Webinars… Summits: What the heck is the difference?

The real answer is nobody really knows. All these terms are used interchangeably for different types of events. This makes it very difficult for when you get invited to speak at one of these events because you really don’t know what you are getting in to, and more importantly, what you may potentially get out of the event.

I believe, this should be the standard:
Seminar: An event you physically attend and participate as a speaker or a participant. Typically the event will have multiple speakers over the course of one or more days.

Teleseminar: Sometimes called a Teleconference. The same as a seminar, but the participants must phone in at a specific time to hear the speaker’s presentations.

Webinar: Similar to a teleseminar, but you can get access online rather than phoning in. Many teleseminars will also have screen sharing where you can see the speakers’ computer screen.

Summit (online): A single or multi day, multi speaker event where each speaker is given a specific time to do a live presentation and it is usually available for replay for a short period of time (usually a day or two) after the live presentation. Some summits you must phone in and some are available with web access.

What you need to know when you are invited to speak at an online event.

It is critical that you understand the format of the event so you can tailor your presentation to get the most out of it. I’m going to make an assumption here that we are all in this to make a living as well as disseminate information that is useful to people. These are the top three things to ask about the event:

1. Is it a live event where people must phone in or be online to hear me? If so, what is the exact date and time I will be interviewed.

2. How much time will the interview take, can I submit questions that I would prefer that you ask me, and can I mention a “call to action”?

3. Are there any other requirements you have of me in order to participate?

Let’s take all three of these questions individually.

1. If this is a live “one time” event, you need to construct your presentation with this in mind. You only have one chance to make an impression with the entire group, so you need to make it good. Remember, people will be calling in to listen to several speakers over the next few days or weeks. Your topic should be timely and “time sensitive”.

On the other hand, if it is a recorded interview that people can access over time, then you should not mention deadlines or events you will have in the future. Also, do not mention specific dates. There is nothing that will end people listening to your interview than them realizing you are pitching an event that will happe
June 15th and it’s already July 15th.

2. The “Call to Action” is the primary point. Being interviewed in a seminar or summit is one thing; people will get to know more about you. But, providing a call to action is the key to getting people to your web site or to give you a call.

Every interview should have a “hook”. Obviously, the people who run the event want to provide content to the participants, but they should also realize you need to make a living. They must allow you to offer something special to the listeners, and I suggest that it should be unique and time sensitive.

You need to give the listeners a reason to go to your web site now and do something. It could be a free book or ebook, a free download or a special offer on a product. I would also strongly suggest setting up a unique page for just for the event and mention that it will be available only for a limited time. There is no problem making these people sign up to your list using a “squeeze page” in order to get this information. This is a step you should not skip. The “Call to Action” is the primary point for doing the interview. Setting up a special page for the listeners will make the most of it.

3. You need to know what you are required to do. Most online events will require you to email your client list about the event. This is fine and normal, but you should make sure you have control over the content of the email and the number of times that you must email your list. I would not agree to send emails to my list that I cannot edit. If they require you to mail specific words on a specific day, you are losing control of your list. Let’s face it, if you normally email your list once every two weeks and the event requires you to email three times the week before the event many of your recipients may opt out of your list. Be sure you know this beforehand.

Also, most events will sell products during the event. It’s typical for you to get a commission if any leads that you bring in purchase anything. Make sure you know all the details.

Finally, most events will require you to also have an affiliate program setup so they can earn a commission on the people who listen to your interview and end up taking advantage of your product or service. Some events will even sell your product right on their event web site. If you do not currently have an affiliate program setup, don’t let this requirement stop you. If you are selling products on line, many shopping carts are setup to handle affiliate tracking or you can use services like Clickbank to sell a product.

Remember, you are setting up a specific page for these people to go in order to find out more information (and hopefully purchase your product). Even if you don’t have an affiliate program setup with all your products, you can offer this special product at a special price on this page and offer the event a commission.

Participating in these online events should not be so confusing, but like everything else on the internet, events are changing all the time. If you follow the three suggestions above, it should give you the ammunition you need to make the best of each online event that you participate in.