as a chance to participate -- not just the most proactive callers -- but I wouldn't force participation. I believe participants have the right to "lurk" silently.

(7) Not using your unique personality.

"June" has such a charismatic personality that her classes would fill with eager prospects if she read the phone book aloud for an hour.

"Bill" has such weak, tentative delivery that his classes actually turn away prospects who love his website.

Teleclasses can be fun for both leaders and participants -- and there's no more convenient way to learn information. Once you get going, you may be hooked on excitement. And

Strategic Internet Marketing means attracting clients to your website. Many e- businesses have built huge successes on a foundation of teleseminars.

But to win with teleseminars, you have to avoid these 7 traps.

(1) Charging too much or too little.

Charge nothing and you may attract sign-ups, but they're often no-shows. Some openly search for content they can use in their own classes. Many will disappear as soon as you ask for a dollar.

Many marketers start with no-fee classes and then charge as their reputation grows.

But when someone finds your class for the first time, she or he may be unfamiliar with what you offered before. And the whole dynamic of a class will change when you charge even a small fee.

(2) Choosing a ho-hum topic.

If you can frame your subject to show that you will help people make money, lose weight and/or find a soulmate, you'll attract more motivated participants.

(3) Wasting time on the call.

Remember participants pay with their time, whether or not you charge for participation. Ten minutes for a sales pitch, ten minutes for roll call, twenty minutes for participants to "share" why they're here. Now you've got twenty minutes to deliver content.

Better to plan on fifty-eight minutes of value with a one-hour class. You can follow up with an email to remind participants who you are.

(4) Creating sleepy titles for your teleclasses.

My course "7 Best-Kept Secrets of Client-Attracting Websites" generates more interest than ""How to Write Copy for Your Website."

And that's not as sizzling as it could be.

A problem-solving class might be called: "Creating an 'Aha!' Moment Just When You Need It"

Mary Lynn, of The Writers Center, calls her novel-writing class, "Write your novel -- in one day!"

A class on the business of creativity was re-named, "As you earn more, keep more!"

(5) Turning the class over to your Inner Grinch.

Focus on moving to something wonderful, not avoiding something horrible.

"Most businesses fail! Will yours be one of them?"

becomes

"One percent of home businesses will gross six figures this year - and yours can be one of them!"

Of course, you must be able make that claim honestly and ethically -- and a few testimonials wouldn't hurt.

(6) Being too modest and humble to take charge of your own teleclass.

Be prepared to cut off long-winded questions and participants who want to give "advice" to other callers.

Stay focused, organized and on topic. Make sure everyone has a chance to participate -- not just the most proactive callers -- but I wouldn't force participation. I believe participants have the right to "lurk" silently.

(7) Not using your unique personality.

"June" has such a charismatic personality that her classes would fill with eager prospects if she read the phone book aloud for an hour.

"Bill" has such weak, tentative delivery that his classes actually turn away prospects who love his website.

Teleclasses can be fun for both leaders and participants -- and there's no more convenient way to learn information. Once you get going, you may be hooked on excitement. And

offered before. And the whole dynamic of a class will change when you charge even a small fee.

(2) Choosing a ho-hum topic.

If you can frame your subject to show that you will help people make money, lose weight and/or find a soulmate, you'll attract more motivated participants.

(3) Wasting time on the call.

Remember participants pay with their time, whether or not you charge for participation. Ten minutes for a sales pitch, ten minutes for roll call, twenty minutes for participants to "share" why they're here. Now you've got twenty minutes to deliver content.

Better to plan on fifty-eight minutes of value with a one-hour class. You can follow up with an email to remind participants who you are.

(4) Creating sleepy titles for your teleclasses.

My course "7 Best-Kept Secrets of Client-Attracting Websites" generates more interest than ""How to Write Copy for Your Website."

And that's not as sizzling as it could be.

A problem-solving class might be called: "Creating an 'Aha!' Moment Just When You Need It"

Mary Lynn, of The Writers Center, calls her novel-writing class, "Write your novel -- in one day!"

A class on the business of creativity was re-named, "As you earn more, keep more!"

(5) Turning the class over to your Inner Grinch.

Focus on moving to something wonderful, not avoiding something horrible.

"Most businesses fail! Will yours be one of them?"

becomes

"One percent of home businesses will gross six figures this year - and yours can be one of them!"

Of course, you must be able make that claim honestly and ethically -- and a few testimonials wouldn't hurt.

(6) Being too modest and humble to take charge of your own teleclass.

Be prepared to cut off long-winded questions and participants who want to give "advice" to other callers.

Stay focused, organized and on topic. Make sure everyone has a chance to participate -- not just the most proactive callers -- but I wouldn't force participation. I believe participants have the right to "lurk" silently.

(7) Not using your unique personality.

"June" has such a charismatic personality that her classes would fill with eager prospects if she read the phone book aloud for an hour.

"Bill" has such weak, tentative delivery that his classes actually turn away prospects who love his website.

Teleclasses can be fun for both leaders and participants -- and there's no more convenient way to learn information. Once you get going, you may be hooked on excitement. And

with a one-hour class. You can follow up with an email to remind participants who you are.

(4) Creating sleepy titles for your teleclasses.

My course "7 Best-Kept Secrets of Client-Attracting Websites" generates more interest than ""How to Write Copy for Your Website."

And that's not as sizzling as it could be.

A problem-solving class might be called: "Creating an 'Aha!' Moment Just When You Need It"

Mary Lynn, of The Writers Center, calls her novel-writing class, "Write your novel -- in one day!"

A class on the business of creativity was re-named, "As you earn more, keep more!"

(5) Turning the class over to your Inner Grinch.

Focus on moving to something wonderful, not avoiding something horrible.

"Most businesses fail! Will yours be one of them?"

becomes

"One percent of home businesses will gross six figures this year - and yours can be one of them!"

Of course, you must be able make that claim honestly and ethically -- and a few testimonials wouldn't hurt.

(6) Being too modest and humble to take charge of your own teleclass.

Be prepared to cut off long-winded questions and participants who want to give "advice" to other callers.

Stay focused, organized and on topic. Make sure everyone has a chance to participate -- not just the most proactive callers -- but I wouldn't force participation. I believe participants have the right to "lurk" silently.

(7) Not using your unique personality.

"June" has such a charismatic personality that her classes would fill with eager prospects if she read the phone book aloud for an hour.

"Bill" has such weak, tentative delivery that his classes actually turn away prospects who love his website.

Teleclasses can be fun for both leaders and participants -- and there's no more convenient way to learn information. Once you get going, you may be hooked on excitement. And

s over to your Inner Grinch.

Focus on moving to something wonderful, not avoiding something horrible.

"Most businesses fail! Will yours be one of them?"

becomes

"One percent of home businesses will gross six figures this year - and yours can be one of them!"

Of course, you must be able make that claim honestly and ethically -- and a few testimonials wouldn't hurt.

(6) Being too modest and humble to take charge of your own teleclass.

Be prepared to cut off long-winded questions and participants who want to give "advice" to other callers.

Stay focused, organized and on topic. Make sure everyone has a chance to participate -- not just the most proactive callers -- but I wouldn't force participation. I believe participants have the right to "lurk" silently.

(7) Not using your unique personality.

"June" has such a charismatic personality that her classes would fill with eager prospects if she read the phone book aloud for an hour.

"Bill" has such weak, tentative delivery that his classes actually turn away prospects who love his website.

Teleclasses can be fun for both leaders and participants -- and there's no more convenient way to learn information. Once you get going, you may be hooked on excitement. And

as a chance to participate -- not just the most proactive callers -- but I wouldn't force participation. I believe participants have the right to "lurk" silently.

(7) Not using your unique personality.

"June" has such a charismatic personality that her classes would fill with eager prospects if she read the phone book aloud for an hour.

"Bill" has such weak, tentative delivery that his classes actually turn away prospects who love his website.

Teleclasses can be fun for both leaders and participants -- and there's no more convenient way to learn information. Once you get going, you may be hooked on excitement. And you'll be surprised at how many participants become clients over the next two years.