CPD - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What's the Difference between a Webinar and a Webcast?
A common area of confusion is the difference between a webinar and a webcast. Many believe them to be the same thing. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and this lack of clarity leads people constantly into poor decisions about what their online opportunities are.
A webcast is a web-based broadcast of something – any topic really. That means that YouTube videos are webcasts. So are those screenshot-based tutorials that are so popular with technology companies. And, yes, the recorded version of a webinar can be called a webcast. In other words, once a webinar is complete it can become a subset of a webcast. Webcasts can be created by recording, editing, adding sound and then making it available somewhere like on YouTube. It can be a very valuable tool for many promotional, marketing, educational and informational purposes. But a webcast is lacking one thing that is a critical part of a webinar. That is Interactivity. A webinar is like a web seminar. In its simplest form, a presentation is given live, streamed over the web. Attendees can ask questions and answers are provided. The audience has the ability to be live - to be part of the discussion. But the essence is a presentation and a question and answer session. Just like a live presentation of any kind, but given over the web. That's a key reason why a webinar is usually a better solution. Participants get to interact, to ask questions and to generate new topics. Once recorded the webinar becomes a recording of the experience, as a webcast.
So we can see that a key difference between webinars and webcasts is that webinars are usually intended for a prioritised audience and sometimes for a specific number of people while a webcast is visible to anyone who chooses to watch it or subscribe to it.
Q. Do I earn CPD points by subscribing to a webinar?
Yes, each 1 hour Walkr & Miller webinar session earns you 1 CPD point. CPD points are required if you are registered with MFAA, FBAA and ASIC. Subscribe to 12 months of Webinars and this equates to a minimum of 12 CPD points, and up to 18 points where some of the webinars are longer than 1 hour.
Q. How to I subscribe and what is the cost of Walker & Millers's webinars?
The first step is to go to our main CPD page and choose your preferred subscription option - either $22 per month automatically debited safely by PayPal each month, or pay an upfront annual fee of $240 which gives you a guaranteed monthly webinar, starting February 2011 through to January inclusive. Choosing the monthly subscription will cost $264 (12 x $22) for the year but by choosing the annual subscription the cost is only $240. You can also subscribe using the module in the column to your right.
Q. If I miss a scheduled webinar date/time do I still get to watch it?
Yes. Webinars that Walker & Miller presents are all recorded. If you miss a session that you have registered and paid for you will be sent a link.
Q. Will you send me a reminder that my webinar is coming up each month?
Yes, we will send you email reminders as each webinar gets closer to the start date.
Q. How do I register?
You just fill out the registration form, make your payment, then we will approve your registration. All participants will be sent an invitation by email which will contain a link. When you receive your confirmation or reminder email you just need to click on that link to join the webinar. Only takes a few seconds. If using phone audio you can dial into the session like a conference call.
Q. How do I participate?
Once you are logged into the session of the month, you can participate by "raising hands", typing in questions or chatting. Both Mac and PC are supported.
Q. What kind of topics are covered?
Topics for 2011 will include:
- How to market your business on a small budget (incorporating email marketing) - was held on 15/2/11
- Time Management for Mortgage Brokers
- Business Practices and Processes
- The Art of Closing a Deal (incorporating the psychology of a loan)
- Client Loyalty – One Piece of Advice
- How to Gain Referrals – now
- What is Your Product – the Product is You!
- The 5 Drivers of Revenue Growth
- What Clients Want (when they don’t know).
Technical Details
Q: How do I join the webinar session?
Joining a webinar on a PC or Mac is easy. When you receive your webinar email invitation, after your payment has been made, click the registration link register for the webinar. You can then join the webinar at the scheduled time one of three ways:
- Click the link in your confirmation or reminder emails, which will be automatically sent to you after registering and leading up to the webinar.
- Go to www.joinwebinar.com. Type or paste in the webinar ID provided by us in the webinar invitation email, enter your email address, click "Yes" or "Always" (or "Trust" on a Mac) if prompted to accept the download and, if required, enter the webinar password provided by Walker & Miller.
- Click the "Join a Webinar" button from www.gotowebinar.com. Type or paste in the webinar ID provided by Walker & Miller in the webinar invitation email, enter your email address, click "Yes" or "Always" (or "Trust" on a Mac) if prompted to accept the download and, if required, enter the webinar password provided by Walker & Miller.
Q: Do I need a GoToWebinar account to attend a webinar?
No, you do not need a GoToWebinar account to attend a GoToWebinar session. You attend as a guest of Walker & Miller. To join a webinar, click the link in the confirmation or reminder emails or go to www.joinwebinar.com and enter the webinar ID found in the invitation email.
Q: What are the system requirements for attending a webinar?
On a PC
- Internet Explorer® 7.0 or newer, Mozilla® Firefox® 3.0 or newer or Google™ Chrome™ 5.0 or newer (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled)
- Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
- Cable modem, DSL or better Internet connection
- Minimum of Pentium® class 1GHz CPU with 512 MB of RAM (recommended) (2 GB of RAM for Windows® Vista)
Participants wishing to connect to audio using VoIP will need a fast Internet connection, a microphone and speakers. (A USB headset is recommended).
On a Mac
- Safari™ 3.0 or newer, Firefox® 3.0 or newer or Google™ Chrome™ 5.0 or newer (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled)
- Mac OS® X 10.4.11 – Tiger® or newer PowerPC G4/G5 or Intel processor (512 MB of RAM or better recommended)
- Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection
Participants wishing to connect to audio using VoIP will need a fast Internet connection, a microphone and speakers. (A USB headset is recommended).
Q: Can I view presentations in full-screen format?
Yes. On the top of the Attendee Control Panel, click the View Menu button and select the Full Screen option. Or, on the Attendee Grab Tab on the side of the Control Panel you can click the View button to toggle between Full Screen and Window viewing.
