“Why Content Marketing?” was among the very first posts we wrote and published and amazingly it got a whole lot of comments and support. It is for that sole reason that we have decided to have a series of content marketing articles that will focus on the different aspects of content marketing, and it is our sincerest wish that at the end of the day, you will all have learned something that will help you get more traffic and sales.
Without further ado, let’s get down to business. Today’s topic: 3 Reasons Why you need Webinars for your Content Marketing. So, what are webinars? Simply put, these are online workshops, also known as web-based seminars. Many companies have realized the power of webinars and are thus using it as an alternative means of seminars and conferencing.
Webinars have many advantages ranging from cost-effectiveness to flexibility, and anything in between. A solid example of how webinars are cost-effective lies in the reduction of transport costs together with accommodation. Traditionally, during a company’s annual general meeting, its employees would have to travel and even be availed with accommodation. However, with webinars, a conference can take place thousands of miles away and respective attendants won’t have to leave the comfort of their offices. Thus, many companies have had the pleasure of transmitting the message, without incurring extra costs.
According to a study released by the Content Marketing Institute, 59% of B2B marketers are using webinars. A further 61% believe that webinars are an essential tool in Internet marketing. That said; let’s get down to the nitty gritties. Here are 3 reasons why webinars should be a part of your content marketing strategy:
1. Relationship Building
When it comes down to building a relationship with your audience, nothing beats webinars. Unlike how-to-articles and blog posts, webinars allows you to get right in front of your audience and interact with them in real-time. In your webinar, you can have Q&A time where you directly address concerns that your audience may have. In essence, this gives you a better chance of explaining what your business is all about and why they should purchase your products other than your competitors’.
2. Long Term Value
Webinars shouldn’t be a one-time deal. You should record them for future use. As a fact, you can definitely host your webinars in your resource pages. This will not only add authenticity to your content, but many potential customers will easily relate to what you have to say. Always remember the very famous saying, “seeing is believing”. Continuous linking and promotion of past webinars will get you a steady return on investment long after the webinar is over.
3. Affordability
Some marketers, without even second thoughts, dismiss webinars as a marketing tool. They do this by comparing its effectiveness to live events. In our opinion, comparing the effectiveness of webinars to live events is simply – fallacy. You need to compare them as each has its effectiveness. Please note, we have nothing against holding live events, In fact, we love the glamour and effectiveness that they offer. Nonetheless, webinars are an easy and cost-effective way of getting the word out. For big companies, they can always use the two marketing strategies hand-in-hand. However, for smaller businesses that are looking for ways to increase traffic without spending so much, then webinars are a sure deal!
