By Milana Leshinsky, ACCPOW Editor
 

When I completed my teleclass survey, I was stunned to see how many coaches and consultants don't hold teleclasses!  In this "faceless" world of online marketing, many business owners are missing out on an important aspect of their strategy:  live communication with the prospects.  In addition, they are missing out on some incredible income sources.  Let me explain. 

If you are completely new to the concept of telephone learning, a teleclass is simply a conference call. Guests dial into a specific phone number called a bridgeline at a specified time and join a live class.  Teleclasses are extremely easy to implement, as there is almost no investment to be made in technology.  Anyone with $15-$30 can afford to rent a bridge line.

Regardless of your expertise, teleclasses are a powerful marketing tool.  Many people who enjoy your classes and find them useful, will end up becoming your long-time clients and partners. 

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You can also tape your teleclasses and develop passive income sources for your business.  Create tapes, CDs, RealAudio, booklets, articles, e-books, and even a full-blown coaching or training program based on the teleclass.

Here is a few more reasons to conduct teleclasses:

1. If you are tired of traveling, you can turn your workshops and conferences into teleclasses, and conduct them without leaving your home. 

2. Conducting teleclasses on a regular basis (at least once a month) will maximize your exposure as an expert and will increase your income by creating a constant stream of referrals. 

3. You can offer either a low-priced or FREE teleclass to demonstrate your knowledge and build a relationship with your prospects. The internet is a very anonymous place, so any chance to communicate with people live is a great opportunity to let them know you're a real human being.

4. After the teleclass is over, put together class notes and turn them into an article, an e-book, expand into a larger program, and put the taped version of it on your web site to sell.  If you hold a teleclass every month, you may even put together a private web site selling access to the taped versions of your classes. 

Also, never assume your participants already know about your products and services.  Send your participants class notes and include Include a short promotion with links to your web site.

5. You can use a teleclass to find out what problems your target prospects are facing, what challenges they're trying to overcome and how you can help them.  Ask questions during your discussion, and you will leave each class with a bunch of great new ideas. 

Using teleclasses to grow your business is not only profitable, but fun, too!  Especially so if you're home-based and want to increase your circle of like-minded people.

The bottomline of teleclasses is JUST DO IT!  Whatever happens, it is a sure way to jump-start your business at any time.