What is Google Sidewiki?

Google Sidewiki is the latest Google offering that can be developed into a potential touch point between marketers and customers. This Google toolbar application enables you to put in helpful information next to any webpage. Google Sidewiki appears as a browser sidebar, where you can read and write entries along the side of the page. Anyone who uses the FREE Google toolbar with Sidewiki enabled can use this application. You can also download this application from the following URL:

http://www.google.com/sidewiki/intl/en/install.html

How Can Marketers Leverage it?

By writing Sidewiki entries that are informative and relevant, marketers can leverage the space for interacting with their customers and prospects. Moreover, since Sidewiki allows visitors to submit their comments, it becomes an excellent platform for promoting a service or products and gaining feedback at the same time! In addition, the Sidewiki space can also be used for guiding visitors about your website, upcoming events/offers, industry trends and much more. Another advantage is that the comments or information that you share vie Sidewiki can be directly promoted through Twitter and Facebook. The way you use Sidewiki would vary with the type of website or blog you have, however, the application certainly presents a unique opportunity for interacting with your audiences directly from your websites.

How Add Google Sidewiki to a Website?

Here are a few simple steps that would guide you through the process of adding Google Sidewiki to your website:

Install the latest Google Toolbar with Google Sidewiki. The tool bar would look something like this:Visit your website or the web page where you want to run Google Sidewiki.

Ensure that Google Sidewiki is turned on in the Google Toolbar. You then need to log in to your Google account to be able to see the Google Wiki sidebar on the left side of your web browser.After signing in, you will see the name of your site, as well as the field to “Edit your name”. You can modify your display settings or add relevant keywords etc. here if you wish to.

Next, you make an entry about what ever information you wish to share with your audiences and click the Publish button.

The entry can now be seen on your website.

From instigating discussions, to prompting offers, marketers can utilize the Google Sidewiki space in multiple forms to spur interaction with their audiences directly from the website. The application promises not only increased web traffic, but also ensures multi pronged benefits for marketers.

The latest issue of the Marketing Insider focuses on bringing you some of the latest developments at the intersection of business marketing and social media for effective lead generation. The newsletter provides interesting links to some of the best practices being followed by marketers in the lead generation and social media industries.

Catch the latest buzz, read what the Gurus of the industry are saying, take the poll to see how you match against your peers in terms of your social media expectations of 2009.

Read the latest issue here: Marketing Insider

A recent survey revealed that 76% of the respondents (a total of more than 10,000 enterprise execs) preferred online events than physical meetings. More and more businesses are using webinars to generate prospects. Do you want to be left behind?

The use of webinars as a lead generating tool is growing at a rate of 20-30% each year. With more webinars being conducted and attended every month, why exactly are Webinars making such an impact and how can you make the most of this almost free sales channel?

Simply put, a “Webinar” is really just a “web conference”. Webinars are live meetings or presentations conducted via the Internet where each participant sits at their own computer and is connected to the host through the internet.

Webinars are interactive sessions which may include audio, presentation slides, screen sharing, white boards, and a wide range of other types of content. Generally the host has control over the webinar but the participants are not just passive listeners but can interact and contribute in the webinar discussion by posing questions and taking surveys or polls.

Webinars can be used as incredibly informative tools to boost sales and encourage responses from prospects. Used for a variety of purposes like sales conferences, product demonstrations, employee training, investor briefings, etc. webinars add value by:

1. Shortening the sales cycle
2. Providing more effective training
3. Improving the interactivity with prospects
4. Reducing travel expenses
5. Lowers costs (in contrast to participating and attending tradeshows)
6. Increasing overall employee productivity.

Careful planning is essential to host a successful webinar. To make your next webinar a roaring success, here are a few tips and best practices:

1. Choose the Hosting Software Carefully

A simple Google search for ‘webinar software’ will give you a staggering 6 million results. With so many options available, how do you make the right choice? You must do a thorough research to see what each application offers, and which one is best suited to your needs.

First make a list of all that you wish to do and want from your webinar. Do you want video recording? Do you want your attendees to answer to polls and take part in surveys? Each webinar software boasts different features. Select the one that matches the most with your list.

Softwares of note: GoToWebinar, Webex
2. Plan your Schedule

Consider the audience while arriving on a date and time for the webinar. Take into consideration the different time zones, holidays, heavy vacation weeks, etc. Create a registration page so that people can register and book their place for the webinar.

On the day of the webinar, start on time, finish within the stipulated time, leaving time for the Q&A.

3. Shout it Out from the Rooftops!

Now that you are all set for the webinar, it’s time to spread the word! Promote your webinar through email, phone calls, social networks, and your website; utilize every external touch point with your audience. Be creative—get your customers excited about it!

In your webinar promotions, announce the number of spots allowed. This will create a sense of urgency that will attract more attendees. If you have a larger response than expected, you can send them the date and time of your next webinar.

Spin a story that will entice and intrigue your audience. Get them interested, identify their needs and promise to provide them solutions to their problems.

4. Presentation Preparation is a Must

Start with a detailed outline of what will be covered. With the introduction to the topic, also inform your attendees about the speakers, how can they participate, how can questions be asked and when will they be addresses.

Rehearse and practice. Most webinar hosting softwares allow a practice session – it is just practical to be comfortable with all the technicalities involved in conducting the webinar. Prepare the content before hand, have a presentation slide deck ready, and if needed get professional help with your presentation.

5. Send Reminder Notices

Promoting your webinar to get more registrants is definitely needed but if those registrants do not attend, then what is the use? Constantly remind your registrants of the time and date to assure their presence.

We recommend the following schedule:
• 1st reminder - One week prior to your webinar
• 2nd reminder - Two days prior to your webinar
• 3rd reminder - One day prior to your webinar
• 4th reminder - The morning of the webinar

6. Ask Your Audience How You Can Improve

After your webinar, don’t forget to get some feedback from your audience. Set up a survey to ask for your attendees’ opinions on content, and suggestions for improvement. You will find these extremely helpful when planning your next webinar and may even give you inspiration for newer topics as well as service offerings!