Welcome to Famous in Your Field! Here’s your free weekly tip to boost your fame factor. (Be sure to sign up in the box on the right to get on the VIP list for free tips and training, delivered straight to your inbox.)
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Famous in your field tip: use Google Hangouts to give webinars for free
You’ve wanted to give a webinar. Or a series. Or a live web show. Something to get your message OUT THERE.
But signing up for GoToWebinar or WebEx feels like Vegas on your first date. It’s a bigger commitment than you’re willing to make.
I’ve got fantastic news for you – you can give webinars or live video presentations a test run without Elvis escorting you to the altar.
Best of all, this method is 100% fuh-reeee!
I know what you’re thinking, “Just what is this magical method? And will I be able to use it even if I can’t rebuild my own motherboard?”
You betcha. It’s about using Google’s free video/chat/screen sharing tool, Google Hangouts.
Not familiar with Google Hangouts yet? Get it on that train, friends. It’s a sweet, sweet ride.
With Google Hangouts, you and nine other people can hold a video conference meeting. Hangouts works on computers, Android and Apple devices. I often use Hangouts to hold meetings with my team or with other biz owners when we’re collaborating.
Not only can you hold a video conference meeting (with you and nine other peeps), you can also broadcast your video to an unlimited number of viewers. Best of all, your viewers don’t have to have any special software to watch.
Here’s how to use Google Hangouts to deliver your advice and information for free:
As the webinar leader or presenter, you will need a Google + profile to use Google Hangouts.
(Don’t have a Google + profile yet? Here’s a good step-by-step guide to creating one.)
How to start broadcasting using Google Hangouts
Here are Google’s official instructions from it’s Get started with Hangouts page, with a few modifications from me.
To start broadcasting:
- Visit plus.google.com/hangouts
- Click Start a Hangout On Air.
- Give your broadcast a name and invite the people you want to join. [You have to invite someone, so try a friend or colleague who'll be interested in your topic.]
- Click Start Hangout On Air.
- Once you’re ready to go live, click Start broadcast at the top of the screen.
Once you click Start broadcast, you’re officially “On Air” and the public will be able to watch your live broadcast.
On the left side of the screen, there’s a button to share your screen if you’ve got a slide show presentation.
Or, you can just talk to the camera!
You could use Google Hangouts on Air for interviews, Q & A sessions, conferences, webinars, demonstrations, live readings, concerts…
Image may be NSFW.
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But what about my legions of fans who want to experience my content and aren’t on Google +? How do they watch me?
Here’s where you can get a little fancy and make your Google Hangout On Air available to anyone you invite.
Instead of sending your audience to the Google Hangouts On Air page or your YouTube channel to watch the broadcast, you can grab the YouTube code and embed it on a private page or blog post on your own website.
Then, send the page link to everyone you’re inviting to watch. Post it on social media. Hire skywriters. Send carrier pigeons.
Your fame boosting assignment:
This week, give Google Hangouts a whirl. Hangout with a friend, a colleague or your grandma. Once you’ve run through the basics, pick a date and start promoting your official premier broadcast event. Your fans are waiting.