There are lessons that we learn as we go. Our mothers could have told us - but we would neither have believed them nor paid attention. Instead, they let us learn on our own.

In that spirit, let me share a few things I've learned about teleseminars.

1. They can "see" you over the telephone line! No, they can't see your flip flogs or your bad hair day. But they *can* see your smile and your energy. So stand up, walk around, get excited! Smile into the phone, even when you're the only one in the room. The audience is watching!

2. You're talking to "dead air" when you mute the line. This is generally a shock to most people on their first teleseminar. And I've heard many of them unmute repeatedly just to be sure there is still someone listening. After all, it's lonely in there, in the muted area all by yourself. Never fear. Your audience is still there - you just can't hear their breathing.

3. Half the registrants won't show. They have good intentions when they sign up - especially for a "free" call. But things come up. Even when they have paid to be on the call, they get caught in traffic, company shows up unexpectedly, the dog has to go to the vet, the kids have soccer practice, the last episode of "24" is on. Things happen. It's incumbent on you, the organizer to remind them about the call - repeatedly. Then cross your fingers and go ahead without them.

4. You need to do the follow-up work before the call. After the call you are excited, the audio needs editing, the registration page has to change, email reminders have to go out, the transcript needs editing, you need to set up the product in the shopping system. There is just a lot to do! And if you haven't done most of it ahead of time, you'll spend more time after the call than you did before. And that kinda takes the excitement and joy out of it!

5. It takes 6 hands to do a teleseminar. You have to follow the call outline, check the recording levels, IM your guest, field questions via email and watch the clock. What to do? Get help! Hire someone to record the teleseminar. Ask someone to handle the question emails for you and ask the questions on behalf of the audience. Add operator service to your line. You can't do this alone - unless you're a split personality or very talented.

Consider yourself forewarned about these lessons. But I'll know you weren't listening when on your next teleseminar you keep unmuting the line and saying 'Hello - anyone out there?'

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Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who helps consultants and other experts leverage their expertise into Online Success. Jeanette shares more tips and tricks in her popular course at http://www.TeleseminarBasics.com

This article is good when you want to offer your own teleseminar. Or educate people on the value of teleseminars. Feel free to take out the line about the "next teleseminar" and also about "Seminar Announcer" if they do not fit your audience. Otherwise, it needs to remain in tact.

Attending Teleseminars for Fun and Profit

Do you attend teleseminars? I do. Anywhere from 4 to 6 per week, either as a host, a guest or an attendee. I'm willing to invest my time and money in them because I've developed some ways to profit from each. So let me share my techniques with you.

1. Read the sales letter or announcement for the teleseminar carefully. You want to make sure the content and the people speaking are a match for your interests. The only time I was ever disappointed was when my expectations were not met - and when I re-read the sales letter I found out what I expected was not explicitly mentioned.

2. Don't be afraid to take advantage of the multitude of free teleseminars being offered. Yes, each will end with a sales pitch. But I consider 55 minutes of great content worth the 5 minute commercial. Certainly can't get that trade-off on TV!

3. If they ask for questions before the teleseminar, send in a question. No matter how hard you have to think, come up with a good question. Many times the host is looking for good questions to get the discussion started, especially at the start of a call, so your question is more likely to be used on the air if you get it in early.

That means that if they use your question your name will be mentioned on the call. This is free publicity! Not only will the live audience hear your name, but everyone who listens to the replay will hear it, too. That can be years of PR.

Why do you care? Because when people are attending a teleseminar, the only thing they have to go on is a name. And the only names they are hearing are the experts who are talking - and the experts who are asking questions. Through association, you are automatically counted as one of the experts. Do this on several calls and other attendees will begin to "recognize" you. That's good for your reputation.

4. Whether or not they ask for it, send a testimonial immediately after the teleseminar. Don't wait till the next day. The seminar host is flying high and posting the followup page right after the seminar ends. So when your timely testimonial arrives, he/she is likely to add it to the site. You will be amazed at how many people say "I saw your testimonial on so-and-so's site."

A good testimonial is specific. Don't say "great information"; instead say "I really liked the three tips you gave on affiliate traffic." And be sure to sign your name and title and website as you want them to appear - they'll copy and paste it if you've done a good job.

5. Use your testimonial as the start of your sales copy. Many teleseminars offer resale rights or affiliate programs. You're in the perfect position to market the program - you've just listened to it and raved about it. Now tell your friends and colleagues about it - and make a profit as well.

So the next time you sign up for a teleseminar, look upon it as a marketing opportunity!

Plan to attend a teleseminar on xxxxxxxxxx

To receive announcements of other teleseminars on Online Success, visit www.SeminarAnnouncer.com

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Dr. Jeanette Cates works with business owners to help them turn their websites into gold. She is the author of the Teleseminar Basics and a frequent teleseminar host and guest. http://www.TeleseminarBasics.com