Webinars or Teleseminar? Which is better?

Lately I’ve seen a few events posted both webinars and teleseminars. It’s the same event, held at the same time. Participants can either log in via their computer and “watch” the webinar or call in on a phone and listen to the teleseminar.

Some speakers and experts who are used to doing teleseminars seem to think that they can double-up and have a both a webinar and a teleseminar a the same time! Sounds great in theory.

The problem is that these are two drastically different types of events. Or at least they should be.

Teleseminars

• Made popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Speakers must rely on excellent vocal delivery, much like a radio announcer.
• The speaker is an expert.
• No slides or other visuals are generally needed.
• Often, the speaker will simply talk for the entire length of the teleseminar. Some questions may happen at the end.
• These calls often involved a lot of “hype”. I’ve been in teleseminars that are 80% hype and 20% content.
• Follow the “sage on the stage” model where the speaker expects 100% of the audience’s attention.

Webinars

• Becoming increasingly popular in the 21st century.
• Speakers must rely on excellent vocal delivery, much like a radio announcer.
• The speaker is an expert.
• Participants demand solid content. Unlike some teleseminars, webinars require at least 80% solid, valuable content.
• Engaging visuals are part of the experience. It is not uncommon for a truly exceptional webinar producer to put 4 or more hours into the visuals for a one-hour webinar. Visuals can include slides, info graphics, videos, live application demos, screen sharing or anything else that creates interest and engagement. Visuals are a core part of the webinar experience. A dry deck of Powerpoint slides just doesn’t cut it.
• The speaker expects and appreciates questions throughout the session. It is not uncommon for participants to be engaging in live chat… They are included in the experience… not just spectators.
• Today’s webinar experts recognize that their participants can – and will – check out at a moment’s notice if what they’re talking about isn’t 100% engaging.

Webinars and teleseminars are based on two very different starting points or philosophical bases, if you will. Teleseminars rely 100% on auditory input on the part of the presenter… and 100% of auditory input on the part of the listener. Webinars incorporate auditory, visual and interactive learning, all at the same time.

To me, a teleseminar is akin to the old radio programs of the 1940s and 1950s. People would gather around their radios anxiously awaiting the next episode of their favorite radio program. The experience involved the auditory input as well as their own imaginations, to make it come alive.

Then, in 1950s and 1960s, people began to buy TVs. Their entertainment experience suddenly included both audio and visual input, right from their own home. They didn’t have to go to a cinema to see a “moving picture”.

TV changed everything. While radio lives on, people don’t gather around their radios the way at the time their favorite program started the way they used to many decades ago. Now people flip on the radio to add background music while they’re doing another activity, say driving, working or cleaning the house.

But people still sit down in front of their TVs, either at a specific time, or at a time they choose, because their program has been recorded, and enjoy the visual and audio experience known as television programming.

Webinars are more like that… People expect high quality visuals integrated with a fantastic audio program. They like the idea of it being scheduled at a particular time so they can tune in live if they choose. AND they want to know it can be recorded so they can enjoy it when they want to, on their terms… and even watch it again if they want. People today expect – even demand – to be entertained, informed, educated, challenged and above all else, engaged… They want choice and they want to be involved… They want to chat, respond and have their say.

Teleseminars don’t allow for much of that.

Like the old radio programs, teleseminars will likely diminish in popularity over the next decade or so… but may retain a small loyal following.

More and more, people will start to favour webinars over teleseminars and never look back.

Whatever you do, don’t insult your audience by thinking they’re one in the same. It’d like watching a TV show with your eyes closed.

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