And now to complicate matters webinars have been added to the mix. Not only can you listen and learn, but you can also watch and learn even more. And while you used to be able to listen to a teleseminar in your car or on a walk, it’s more difficult to get the most out of a webinar if you’re not in front of your computer.

So with so many great teleseminars and webinars offered, how do you choose between them? After all, it seems like there are two or three per night. Here is the “triage” process I use to decide what to attend.

1. Is this information that will generate revenue? If it is, I go on to the next question. If it is not going to help me make more, I have to choose. If its just “nice to know” I generally skip it. Is it likely to be the ONLY time I’ll ever hear this person speak? If this answer is no, I use my time for something else.

2. Is this information I currently need for my business? You are involved with specific tasks and projects in your business. If this fits into those – and will show you an easier, faster, more profitable way to do what you’re doing, join in.

3. Is this information that I am considering using next in my business? While it may not be something I need this week, it could be something I’m planning in the next month or two. If not, I’ll skip it.

4. Will this save me time or money? Time management and productivity are my hot buttons. I’ll listen or buy just about anything that will show me how to save 10 minutes per day. If that’s important to you as well, put it on your list.

5. Is there a replay available? Even if I decide it’s something I want or need to attend, I’ll listen to the replay in preference for attending live. A replay allows me to time-shift, leaving evenings free for my family. It also allows me to speed through the sections I already know and review the parts that need more explanation.

Making wise choices in your listening and watching cycle are critical to your personal and business success. Since most teleseminars and webinars are offered in the evenings, it means you are trading time with your family for listening to someone else. Choose wisely!

Dr.Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who coaches business owners to Online Success. She shares her personal productivity systems at Organize Your Online Business. Claim your complimentary mini-workshop and watch it on your own schedule.

As a business owner, webinars make a lot of sense. There are three major benefits you get when you present your information as a webinar.

1. Webinars provide a familiar learning method. All through college and into professional conferences, the attendees sit and listen to the speaker, watching the slides or demonstration on the screen. If you’ve had any presentation experience, this feels very familiar to you. You are able to carry it off with the same professionalism you would a live face-to-face presentation.  And attendees give you the same attention and respect they give to the “big name” conference presenters.

2. Webinars provide a rich participation environment. Depending on your purpose, you can provide

• the ability for attendees to ask you questions during the presentation
• live chat among the participants
• polls that let you know where they are and keep them focused on the screen.

Likewise, you can provide handouts before the presentation. You can invite other speakers and even hand them the mouse so that they can control the screen for a while. In effect, it’s the closest thing to being in an interactive, face-to-face environment.

3. Webinars provide a higher perceived value than any other live presentation mode. While teleseminars are still an excellent choice for some presentations, people just perceive that a webinar, with its richer communication environment and the video recording, is worth more.

That means you can not only charge more for the original presentation, but you can also charge more for the resulting product. In the long run you can easily double or triple your revenue by presenting via a webinar versus a teleseminar.

While webinars provide the richest communication with your prospects and clients, they are not the easiest presentation to set up. Whereas with a teleseminar you can just get on the telephone and start talking, a webinar takes more preparation and planning.

The wise business owner will get at least basic training before offering their first webinar. It will be worth it to your bottom line.

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Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who works with online business owners. She is a webinar expert and creator of How To Host Your First Webinar This Week. In 90 minutes you will get all of the details you need to profit from webinars.