Friday, July 19, 2013

What are Webinars Worth?


I was recently explaining to my grandmother how webinars work and why they’re such a valuable tool for business communication. She somewhat understands, but the generational and technological gaps still leave her a bit mystified.




 

 My grandmother and her young daughter (my mother) traveled several hours to visit her father and grandfather – apparently what folks did in the days before Skype and Facetime.
 
 
 
When she was my age, connecting with someone who did not live nearby meant planning a trip to physically meet with them, writing a letter that could take weeks to arrive or making a costly, static-laden telephone call. I live in an entirely different world where I text message, email and chat with my colleagues and co-workers in another country on a daily basis.





In 1952, Bell Telephone offered a “deal” of $1.10 per minute Dallas to Denver. That would be about $9.00 per minute today. Great deal, right?
 
 


So what is our communication technology, specifically the webinar, worth? Can it even be quantified?

Sort-of; it comes down to this:

1) Convenience

2) Immediacy

3) Affordability

Still with me? Good, because here’s the point of my post. As an organization that thrives on connection, my goal at MUSE is to provide you with the best way to “visit” your peers. The webinar earns a shiny star in this category; it’s the teacher’s pet in the connection classroom. Although I am certain that 98% of you are familiar with the functionality, for that 2% who are not I give you this: A webinar is a conference or presentation using a computer and a telephone to transmit and receive the information. You can even attend using just a smartphone, too!  It is no different in terms of the information and value gained from participation than from attending a conference. It certainly cannot replace face-to-face interaction, but it is darn close!

The webinar is in a league of its own when it comes to convenience. Eliminating travel for education is … you know, I don’t even need to finish that; it speaks for itself.
 

“But, I really enjoy spending time in airport lines,” said no one ever!


And by eliminating travel, you factor in the added convenience of the “anywhere, anytime” mindset. While most MUSE webinar attendees are at their offices, it is possible to attend from any location. Seriously, I have hosted many a webinar wearing … well, I am not going to divulge that. But, let’s just say not business attire – all while sitting in my own home office (or while travelling, or on vacation, etc.). And I am sure some of you have participated in webinars clad in less than your best as well.
 

Casual Friday has a whole new meaning with webinars!


And then there’s the timeliness benefit. Do you like to learn about someone’s upgrade experience as soon as it happens, or long after it occurred? Ok, that’s rhetorical, but it makes the point. Webinars allow for instant sharing of experiences and information. While it’s great to offer sessions at live events and such, it’s even better to be able to relay the details while they’re fresh.

But, what about the affordability? While it’s not exactly apples to apples, the average cost to attend a two-day conference could range between $400 and $2,000 (depending on travel expenses). Studies show that most conference-goers are looking for information on one specific topic, so essentially one presentation is the purpose. A MUSE webinar is $100, and many people can attend if you utilize a projector and speakerphone. Although if you have a webinar subscription the per webinar cost is much lower. MUSE offered 30 webinars in 2012, so with a typical subscription, about $43 per webinar (for as many attendees as you want). And sometimes webinars are free.

So if you have not experienced the immediate and affordable convenience of a MUSE webinar yet, now is the time.

While new webinars are always being added to the schedule, the current upcoming topics are:

  • The ARRA Project: The Quest to Attest Utilizing Project Management Tools
  • Physician Engagement
  • The Patient Experience: An Integrated Process for Complaints/Grievances
  • Project Management Methodology
  • Oncology JAM Session
  • OM/EMR for 6.x JAM Session

And be sure to check out the subscription option for your organization that allows an unlimited number of people to attend an unlimited number of webinars.

All webinar information can be accessed here: MUSE Webinars.

I hope you will take advantage of the webinar program, one of your most valuable resources as a MUSE member. But, if you have questions, or still want more information I look forward to hearing from you.

What do you think of webinars? You can post your answer in the comments.

 
Take care friends,
 




 

Subscribe to the MUSE Matters Blog and head on back for the next post … The 5.66 Upgrade, After the Go-Live – in real time from Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.

 

2 comments:

  1. Without a deliberate attempt to change the subject, why do people have this urge to put a copy of their signature on emails and on public blogs. Do you know that anyone can now copy your signature and paste it anywhere? In 1957 when your grandfather signed a document there was probably no question that is was his signature. Does the same apply today?

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  2. In an age when event budgets are being cut and broadband Internet access is rising, web conferences are becoming increasingly popular. Conferences are web-based seminars, that usually include over 30 participants and are used to conduct presentations, workshops, lectures and large-scale meetings. Since web conferences are held online, they allow companies to save money on travel, catering and venues, all of which are costs commonly associated with face-to-face seminars. However, due to their large attendance, webinars need careful planning in order to be successful. This is why those planning on hosting a web conferencing need to take their time to ensure that they properly go through all the necessary steps which will ensure the webinar’s success.

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