Using webinars as marketing tools has not only become extremely popular but has emerged as one of the most effective forms of marketing for businesses today, maximizing the ROI of both time and resources. So what can you do to get the best results from your webinars and ensure that they run smoothly?

1. Dedicated Toll Free Number
One of your first steps in setting up and marketing your webinar should be to acquire a dedicated toll free number. Yes, most webinar software tools these days may allow for guests to simply view videos and hear audio with a single link, though you don't want to miss out on prospects who really want to listen in but won't have access to the web during your webinar.

2. Avoid The Hard Pitch
While webinars can be excellent marketing tools which create instant customers and revenues businesses need to focus more on delivering high value, interesting content than putting together an hour long hard pitch. Use this opportunity to build credibility, position your organization as the best option and offer a special deal, but give them something of value to walk away with too.

3. Use Affiliates To Promote
One of the best benefits of using webinars for marketing your product or service is that you can get in front of so many prospects at one time. This is the perfect time to reach out and set up new affiliate marketing partners and joint ventures in order to maximize the number of attendees.

4. Timing
With all the preparation and marketing that goes into putting on a webinar timing is definitely not something that you can afford to overlook. Watch out for holidays and other events which may restrict attendance, know the time zones of your ideal attendees and beware that the most effective time to market your webinars is the 48 hours leading up to it. However, you should also have a stream of email auto-responders set up for those who have registered as well in order to increase the percentage that actually shows up.

5. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
You are going live in front of potentially thousands of prospects, make sure that you have tested and mastered your webinar software, the slide presentation timing and have your script down.

6. Have Back Up Hosts
Marketing and getting masses of people to attend your webinar isn't that hard. However, you won't get a second chance if you fall apart on the day. Anything can happen to hosts whether it is a storm interfering with connectivity, sickness or getting stuck in LA traffic. Be prepared and have a back up host or two who can stand in or stall if necessary.