Webinars: Today's technology brings learning opportunities to you!
We live in an age where ever-growing technology allows for almost instant communication and the ability to stay up-to-date with just about anything. Right now, you can be reading this blog on a computer, a phone, or a tablet from anywhere in the world. This means that it has become easier than ever to interact with colleagues across the country, without ever having to leave your home or office. The ability to share ideas and to learn from each other makes staying on the cutting edge of the industry easier than ever.
Are there seminars or conferences that you would like to attend but you find yourself restrained due to timing, cost, or travel? It’s time to try a webinar. One great benefit of today’s technology is being able to attend webinars on nearly any topic, from suppliers and distributors alike, from the comfort of your desk, conference room, or even your home office.
Aside from the convenience of attending webinars from the location of your choice, there are other reasons that make webinars a smart choice for expanding your knowledge base. Many webinars are inexpensive or even free. Many webinars are interactive so you can ask questions, give feedback, or participate in audience polls. Most webinars are live events, but many are saved so that people who can’t attend at the scheduled time can access them later. This also allows you to go back and review the material presented at a later date. Lastly, webinars don’t require special equipment. Usually you simply need access to an internet connection via computer or smart phone.
Even when webinars are offered at no cost, you are still investing your time. It’s important to keep a few things in mind when choosing a webinar to attend. Look for events offered by companies that are market leaders you know and trust. Asking colleagues and friends about webinars they have attended and having them recommend hosts or topics suitable for your work can help avoid wasting time on poorly organized or irrelevant seminars. Many industry organizations offer a schedule of upcoming events on various topics for you to choose from. And remember that free webinars don’t necessarily mean low-quality. The cost associated with hosting a webinar are usually low, and they are often used as a tool to build awareness.
So, you’ve chosen a webinar to attend. What’s next? The answer is simple. Be prepared. It’s important to make sure that your system (your computer, phone, or tablet) is ready with any necessary files you may need and that you won’t be blocked by a firewall when connecting to the event. You will usually be prompted to download the required software when you register for the event. If not, it’s best to double-check before the webinar starts. Determine whether you will be accessing the audio portion via a phone line or over the computer. Be sure to have the phone number and access numbers ready at least a few minutes prior to the start time. If attending the webinar at your office, it’s important to block the time out on your calendar to avoid unnecessary interruptions.
Here at Maple Ridge Farms, we are excited to be a part of this growing technology and love learning new ways to better serve our customers. With the season off to a strong start, we are again offering webinars on a variety of topics. Be sure to check out our webinar schedule for a full list of our upcoming topics. We also have previous events on demand , located in the Education section of the Distributor’s Only portion of our website. (Don’t have a passphrase for the section? Simply contact one of our gift specialist.)
