Tune in, turn on…but be choosy
This week we have taken part in lot of webinars and it has prompted us to consider how we assess their value and allocate time accordingly.
Now, we like free stuff as much as the next person and the lure of a ‘free’ presentation or masterclass can very appealing but not all these sessions present value in respect of investment of time.
In the ‘new normal’ of working from home with virtual training and meetings often scheduled back-to-back, it is all too easy to find your diary crammed and your productivity slashed. Careful consideration needs to be taken around which of these ‘amazing opportunities’ are right for you and which are worthy of your time and interaction.
There were two prompts this week which gave us pause for thought:
- catching sight of a post on a forthcoming webinar which actively screamed ‘sales promotion’
- a catch-up call with a business coach and an analogy about rabbits!
The sales promotion webinar was aimed at SMEs and purported to demonstrate the range of (what was ultimately) the practitioner’s offer. This was under the title (subtext here): “stating the bloody obvious” but the pitch would no doubt have encouraged some to activate a happy ‘register here’ trigger finger.
In contrast, the business coach conversation focused on value and prioritisation.
“Imagine that you are in a field and have been asked to catch a rabbit. There are lots of rabbits in this field, which do decide to run after?”
It was an interesting conundrum based on business benefits, selection of target markets and time allocation. Clearly, this left a lasting impression could equally be used to assess a selection of online development opportunities.
So, what should be the deciding factors? Here’s some considerations on which to make your choice:
- Is is free or is there is cost? Just because it is free doesn’t mean there isn’t a cost. You may undertake a session, find it worthless and you have wasted an hour of your life and work productivity. Alternatively, a paid opportunity may have a monetary cost but be of better value with targeted content – well researched and meet a desired learning outcome
- Who is the person behind the webinar? Just because something is free doesn’t make it unworthy of consideration if the organiser and presenters are credible and offer something that will provide valuable knowledge and learning. So, check them out. Is there a detailed summary of what the session includes, what are the learning outcomes, what are the presenters credentials? Mull it over before committing yourself.
- What’s the angle? Sometimes a webinar can be pitched to tackle a specific issue and these can be very valuable. Do you have a problem that this will help solve? A detailed focus can be thought-provoking and unless you are starting from a zero knowledge base, “an introduction to…” will not be an effective use of time.
- Networking is important but data capture is more important to those hosting a free event. The registration process will undoubtedly capture your contact details and present you with an opt-out to meet GDPR requirements. If you don’t want to be bombarded with subsequent sales emails remember to opt-out before they weigh down you inbox.
Having said all this, personal development, learning and human contact is important, especially to those of us who are used to the social interaction of the office. Next week, we will be attending the online #CommsHero conference and feeling like a kid in a sweet shop wanting to consume as much as we can but when the smorgasbord is before us…our mantra would be to take a breath, choose wisely and benefit greatly.
