Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a Webinar?
A Webinar is a Web-driven workshop. It is “asynchronous,” meaning that it does not take place in real time. Instead, you log in when you have the time in order to participate.
Who are Webinars for?
Webinars are focused on the organizational communication profession: public relations, employee communications, media relations, investor relations, community relations, and other communication disciplines that target key organizational audiences.
Webinars deal primarily with the use of online technology as a means of communicating with key constituent audiences. Sessions focus on topics such as online publications, dealing with activist groups online, developing online communities, and the use of intranets to convey company news to employees.
Shel Holtz may also offer Webinars on non-technology communication topics.
What are the advantages of a Webinar?
Because Webinars occur over the Internet, you don’t have to travel in order to participate in one. You can take part in a Webinar from your desk.
Because Webinars do not occur in real time, you can participate when you have the time, not when the speaker is ready.
Because handouts are maintained in PDF format, you don’t have to print them; you can retain them as computer files to look at whenever you need them.
Because all of the content of a Webinar is digital, it is easily archived. Long after the Webinar is over, you can still refer back to the discussions, the lectures, the resources, and other Webinar features.
Because community is at the heart of the Internet, Webinars offer an easy means for participants to engage with the speaker as well as one another. Using discussion group technology, all participants are able to explore issues and share knowledge far more effectively than they can in a live setting.
Because the Web is based on hyperlinks, Webinars can include links to real-world examples, which are far more effective than static screen shots displayed as part of live Powerpoint presentations.
How can a Webinar be as effective as a live workshop?
Face-to-face continues to be the most compelling way to learn. However, as travel budgets are cut and training budgets reduced, it made sense to offer an alternative method for professional development. Webinars do not try to emulate face-to-face workshops, but rather capitalize on the characteristics of the Web to offer interactive training.
How many people can participate per registration?
Only one; registrations are per individual. Unlike teleseminars, in which many people can sit around a single speakerphone, Webinars involve an online message board. The name of each participant appears on the message board. Just like a live workshop, each individual participant must register separately. We do offer discounts for companies from which 10 or more individuals are registering.
How do you participate?
Webinars consist of five modules, and are conducted over a five-week period. A new module is posted every Monday, and remains available through the run of the Webinar (and for at least a year after that in archives). The module includes a “lecture,” some narrative prepared by Shel Holtz that offers insight and instruction on the day’s topic. The module also includes links to examples on the Web, resources, and downloadable handouts.
Participants log in to read the lecture and visit the linked sites. They also use conversation-starters included in each lecture as jumping-off point for discussion with other participants and with Webinar leader Shel Holtz. A significant part of the value you will derive from a Webinar is the interaction with other participants, learning about their experience and sharing their knowledge.
Each module also includes a poll; you can cast your vote in order to share your opinion about an issue related to the topic, and see how your opinion stacks up with those of the rest of the Webinar participants.
Do you need special equipment or software to participate?
No. All you need is a fairly current Web browser and a connection to the Internet, and you’re all set.
How long does a Webinar last?
Webinars last five weeks, with a new module posted every Monday. However, the contents of each Webinar are archived, and participants will have access to the archives for at least a year.
Are there any take-aways from a Webinar?
Several. First, every workshop includes handouts you can download. The handouts represent the same kind of handouts you might get from an in-person workshop. They are designed to be kept in notebooks or file folders as handy references. These handouts are produced in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
But the entire Webinar can be seen as a take-away. At the conclusion of every Webinar, the total contents of that Webinar are archived, and all participants in the Webinar will have permanent access to the archives, including the lectures, resources, discussions, and handouts.
Can I get a refund if I can’t participate or don’t like the Webinar?
Yes, but you must request the refund by the end of the first week of the Webinar. Once you request the refund, your access will be revoked and you will no longer be able to access the Webinar.
Who is Shel Holtz?
Shel Holtz, ABC, is principal of Holtz Communication + Technology. Shel is an acknowledged authority in the use of the Internet and intranets as communication channels.
Shel is the author of the best-selling public relations book, “Public Relations on the Net.” He also has authored “The Intranet Advantage” and the manuals “Communication and Technology,” “The Communicator’s Guide to Intranets,” and “Writing for the Wired World.”
Shel has presented several highly-regarded live workshops, including “Writing for the Wired World,” “Managing Online Communication,” “Managing Web Content,” and “Integrating the Net.” He is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on online communication-related topics.
In his business, Shel consults with large companies and institutions, as well as public relations agencies, around the world to help them better use the Internet and intranets to achieve measurable communication results. You can learn more about Shel and his business at his Web site, http://www.holtz.com.