Web Conferencing for Today’s Small Business
One of the fastest growing areas of technology today is web conferencing. According to a May 21, 2008 Ipsos Survey, usage is expected to increase by 500% over the next five years. Not only does web conferencing allow companies to reduce travel expenses and increase productivity, but it enable small businesses the opportunity to pursue cost-effective growth initiatives at a time when economic data might lead us to cut back on our growth activities.
Since business development is essential to any business’s survival and success, Quote Stork Solutions, a website dedicated to consulting small and home-based businesses, suggests taking calculated growth risks. And they feel that their model of Build, Reduce, Grow allows smaller companies to do just that.
Currently, Quote Stork has an interesting approach when it comes to web conferencing:
1. Reducing expenses by test-driving web conferencing software for Free. They recommend trying out software with their existing, solid client base and employees and suggest using it for systems training in order to become familiar with the software.
2. Growing the Customer Base. Take the calculated risk of growing the book through out-of-the-box marketing methods. They encourage their clients to come up with alternate marketing plans, such as direct marketing in the style of Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer. Since a lot of other small businesses don’t consider this direct method, Quote Stork feels that this will give the small business owner a cost-effective advantage.
3. Lastly, Quote Stork recommends hosting a mass meeting via web conference as a sort of “pitch” meeting or seminar. By having familiarized themselves through a free web conference trial, small business owners will have the skills necessary to provide their prospective clients with a cost-effective, value-added proposal. For example, a real estate broker looking to increase her book might host a 30 minute web conference about regional real estate trends and prospects about the future.
The software that Quote Stork recommends with a five-star ranking is Citrix Online’s GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar. Both options allow users to share control of their desktop and are broadcast enabled. Many publicly traded are already taking advantage of web conference software as a way to reduce expenses. More importantly in Quote Stork’s view is that a web conference empowers the small business owner as it allows prospects to see just how committed the small company is to customer service. And since all attendees can attend these conferences from the comfort of their home or office, it makes sense for more prospects to attend.
Despite the stories currently published by various media sources about the state of the nation’s economy, growth should still be a priority for small and home-based business owners. In fact, at such a trying time, growth initiatives should take priority at this time. With the latest trends in web conferencing, small businesses have a fantastic opportunity to not only reduce travel expenses and increase productivity, but to reach a wider audience in their business development efforts.
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