Now that Google Talk is gone, and has been replaced by Google Hangouts, it seems to be making a quiet but significant impression on the social networking scene, especially with business users. In fact, the rapid yet subtle growth of the new Hangouts service has been largely driven by business users; users who enjoy this versatile free conferencing service from Google. As a result of the increasing popularity of Hangouts for business, it makes a great deal of sense to take a few moments to discover just how Google Hangouts can be put to work for your business.
It’s such a hot topic right now, that VAClassroom is offering a session about using Google Hangouts in this year’s Summer Skill Camp 2013.
1. Use Google Hangouts to Connect with Your Clients
Whether one-on-one or group conversations, Hangouts allows you to share photos, emoji, and video, as well as talk, with your clients. Hangouts can be used for individual or group coaching; as a membership site; or as a simple connection tool using video.
The fact that you can only have 10 people “In” your hangout might be seen as a disadvantage at first blush but, in fact, it can be turned into an advantage; you can use Hangouts to create feelings of intimacy and exclusivity for the clients you allow “In” to your Hangout; making them feel Special, with the focus you place on their needs.
Also, although you can only have 10 people “In” your Hangout, you can have more than that watching, so the numbers connecting can be increased that way.
2. Use Google Hangouts to Gain New Clients
One of the hottest trends in client acquisition over the last couple of years has been the webinar. Instead of long sales letters, traffic is driven to webinars, where they can watch and listen to a presentation, which is a combination of content and pitch. At the end of the presentation prospects will typically have an opportunity to buy whatever is being promoted with a call-to-action; usually accompanied by a “have to buy it now” scarcity element of marketing.
There’s a reason that webinars have become popular as sales tools – they work. The downside for many has been the cost of conferencing services, particularly for those just dipping their toes into the practice. Systems such as GoToWebinar and Adobe Connect – while the top choices in the webinar world – come with a hefty price tag; a price that can be too much for a newbie to manage.
Using Google Hangouts eliminates the cost dilemma and, once again, you can either limit the number of viewers to people who are “In” your Hangout with you, or you can invite as many people as you want to watch along.
3. Use Google Hangouts to Create a Product
One fairly quick, easy, and inexpensive way to create a product is to make a video, and Google Hangouts is a great choice for doing this. Your video product might be you teaching something; a video recording of a coaching session; a Hot-To video; or you conducting an interview with an expert in your niche in the Hangout. This is a great way to make the product unique – to you, and to your business.
You can record these Hangout sessions, but an even better option is to do it live, because if you then link up with your YouTube channel, the Hangout session is converted and placed on your channel. This gives you a product you can sell many times over.
So, to sum up, these are The Top 3 Ways Small Businesses Use Hangouts – which is FREE to use, and quick, and easy…
Connect with current clients – either to build relationships or as part of a product or service they have purchased
Acquire new clients – harnessing the power of the webinar, which has been financially out of reach for many small business and solopreneurs up to now
Create a video product – harnessing the power of video to create your unique selling proposition
Getting clients, keeping them, and creating products – 3 Great Ways to Use Google Hangouts for Business!
For more on how to use Google Hangouts for business, check out this article by Tim McDonald, Intro to Google Hangouts.
And if you want more from Google Hangouts for your business webinars….
Check out the Hangout Plugin for WordPress for enhancing the power of Google Hangouts. It makes available some of the features you wish was built into Google Hangouts, but aren’t. These include the ability to collect registrations and build your email list, set up reminders, set up follow-up and broadcast email sequences. It also helps you to monetize your webinar. And all this through your WordPress website. Quite impressive!