Building a successful technical Webcast - Trends

Communications News,  Oct, 2002  by Diane Giannini

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Looking for a Webcast provider? Building a Web-broadcasting platform? Planning a first Webcast? Certain steps help ensure that technical Webcasts are successful:

* Use a simple interface: Make sure the selected Webcast platform is easy to use. Audience members will be distracted or alienated if they cannot find the navigation tools easily or use the Q&A interface while viewing the presentation.

* Check for system compatibility: Make sure that the audience can actually access the live event. Many users will try to access a live Webcast without a sound card or the appropriate plug-ins. Avoid this problem by checking users' systems prior to the event, allowing ample time to work out any issues with technical support.

* Know the audience: When presenting a Webcast to a highly technical audience (e.g., engineers or designers), keep their specific needs in mind. Focus on clear diagrams and schematics. Also, remember that no one from Japan will want to attend a live Webcast if the event is being delivered at 3 p.m. EST.

* Create extended access to the event: By making the interface for the archive user-friendly and available 24x7, the audience will have continuing easy access to needed information whenever they want it. Archives draw in additional traffic, beyond the original registered audience for the live event, expanding the reach of the particular Webcast.

* Provide easy, live technical support: Remember that a company can spend its entire marketing budget to woo users to its Webcast, but if users cannot work through their technical issues, they will never see the Webcast and certainly never buy products. Having a live, dedicated technical support team available will increase the attendance for an event.

* Don't forget return on investment (ROI): Make sure the Webcast solution offers a robust reporting tool with a simple interface, so critical information related to the Webcast can be easily extracted and a simple ROI analysis can be conducted.

For more information from TechOnLine: www.rsleads.com/210cn-267

Giannini is director of Webcasts at TechOnLine, Bedford, MA.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Nelson Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group