This is the third webinar in a five-part series designed to help non-profits with improving SEO, utilizing Facebook and using other free resources and tools. This session will focus on Google Grants, a program that offers free online advertising to select non-profits. Webinar attendees will come away with an understanding of eligibility guidelines, requirements for participation and program best practices. The featured experts are:

• Kristie Mun, Google Grants senior strategist at Google, manages the application review process with Google-employee volunteers; develops partnerships with external organizations to support non-profits; and collaborates on educational initiatives for grantees.
• Dennis Yu is the CEO of Blitzlocal.com, a 50 person agency specializing in lead generation via Facebook advertising, social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising and web analytics. Yu is a 14-year veteran of online marketing via Yahoo! and American Airlines. He and his teammates also provide pro bono Google AdWords management to select non-profits.
• Brett Meyer is a past Google Grants recipient and currently the communication and web manager for the Nonprofit Technology Network, an association that aims to help nonprofits strategically use all aspects of technology more effectively.

Non-Profits and Google Grants: Your Questions Answered is free and open to any non-profit or organization interested learning more about Google Grants and hearing from both Google as well as a previous grant recipient. Advance registration is required at: https://ccpreview.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=6j7fyas626wj. Non-profits interested in the topic, but unable to join the session, are encouraged to register to receive a recording of the event.

The previous webinars in the series include Your Non-Profit Marketing ROI: Are you measuring it properly?, which examined simple techniques for quantifying SEO marketing efforts, and WordPress for Non-Profits: No Resources, No Problem!, a discussion on how NPOs can generate compelling websites using the WordPress platform. Recordings of the previous webinars are available on ReadyTalk’s website. The final two webinars will cover the topics of Facebook and serving as a non-profit board member.

Visit www.readytalk.com or follow ReadyTalk’s webinar series on Twitter, @RTWebSem, for more information on upcoming webinars.

ReadyTalk, a leader in integrated web and audio conferencing services, today announced a free four-part webinar series to help non-profits with improving SEO, accessing funding through Google Grants, utilizing Facebook and using other free resources and tools.

On January 20, the first webinar, Your non-profit marketing ROI: Are you measuring it properly?, kicks off with experts discussing simple techniques for quantifying SEO marketing efforts and measuring ROI. Participants will come away with an understanding of how to measure marketing channels, plus receive pre-made reports that can be customized as needed. The featured experts are:

• Dennis Yu, CEO of Blitzlocal.com, a 50 person agency specializing in lead generation via Facebook advertising, social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising and web analytics. Yu is a 14-year veteran of online marketing via Yahoo! and American Airlines. He and his teammates also provide pro bono Google AdWords management to select non-profits.
• Gillian Muessig, president and co-founder of SEOmoz, a provider of search engine optimization tools, resources & community. Having helped to shepherd the company through its inception years, Muessig was the recipient of the 2009 World Brand Leadership Award. Known as SEOmom throughout the industry, Gillian travels the world evangelizing for both the company and the search marketing industry.

Your non-profit marketing ROI: Are you measuring it properly? is free and open to any non-profit or organization using social media platforms and interested in quantifying their marketing efforts. Advance registration is required at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/fvalm085h8ib. Non-profits interested in the topic, but unable to join the session, are encouraged to register to receive a recording of the event.

In February, the second webinar in the series will feature experts on Google Grants, an in-kind donation program that awards free AdWords advertising to select (qualified) charitable organizations. March’s webinar will focus on Facebook and how to utilize the social network to increase awareness and engagement on both a national and local level. Additional details for both events will be available on the ReadyTalk website.

Visit www.readytalk.com or follow us on Twitter, @RTWebSem, for more information or for a free trial of ReadyTalk’s web conferencing services.

ReadyTalk today announced it is bringing leading web event experts together for a free webinar to explore the business drivers for web events and highlight how real-world organizations are using them to deliver value. The webinar, How to Make Your Next Business-Critical Web Event a Success: Tips from the Experts, will feature experts and power-users discussing tips and best practices for planning and executing high profile web events.

The webinar will be on Thursday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern, and will feature opening remarks by Melanie Turek, a principal analyst with Frost and Sullivan followed by a lively panel discussion and question and answer session. ReadyTalk’s training director, Shawn Cardinal, will moderate the webinar and the panelists will include:

• Melanie Turek, principal analyst, Frost and Sullivan – Melanie is a renowned expert in unified communications, collaboration, social networking and content-management technologies in the enterprise.
• Alli Libb, online event program manager, American Marketing Association – In her role, Alli has run more than 100 successful webcasts for the AMA’s audience of marketing professionals.
• Ken Molay, president, Webinar Success – Ken is a prolific blogger on the subject of web conferencing and its applications and is a frequent public speaker on the topic of running more effective webinars.
• Brian Denker, VP of global growth, innovation and leadership, Frost and Sullivan – Brian has been an integral driver in the development and implementation of go-to-market strategies for the organization’s eBroadcasts – a global webinar service offering.
• Bradley Kravitz, marketing operations, RYMA Technologies – Bradley manages marketing operations from lead generation, nurturing, campaign execution and process automation.
• Rachel Stoddart, events manager, ReadyTalk – Rachel’s expertise in event management has helped hundreds of customers create successful web seminars of their own.

According to analyst firm Frost and Sullivan, the global web events services market reached $173.2 million in 2008 and is poised for significant growth over the next 5 years. While expansion in 2009 is moderate, the firm projects that pressure for enterprises to reduce costs will drive the industry to $400 million by 2014.

“Web events are a critical tool for enterprises, both big and small, as they try to conduct business as usual in today’s tough economic environment while eliminating costs, such as travel and downtime,” said Melanie Turek, industry principal at Frost and Sullivan. “This webinar will offer tips for running a successful event and provide ideas that empower companies of all sizes to maintain a worldwide presence while reaping the cost savings and bottom-line benefits promised by web events.”

All event attendees will receive a Web Event Best Practices Toolkit, compliments of ReadyTalk and the American Marketing Association.

The webinar is free but pre-registration is required at http://bit.ly/webevent. Attendees can follow the conversation and ask additional questions on Twitter by using the hashtag: #readytalk.

Visit www.readytalk.com or follow us on Twitter, @readytalk, for more information or for a free trial of ReadyTalk’s web conferencing services.

Comprehensive offering addresses need for professional, affordable web events; ReadyTalk poised to capitalize on significant market growth

ReadyTalk, a leader in integrated audio and web conferencing services, today announced the availability of the ReadyTalk Platinum Web Event, the industry’s first offering to combine web conferencing, operator-assisted audio, broadcast audio, comprehensive event services, recording and social media syndication into one convenient and cost-effective package.

According to analyst firm Frost and Sullivan, the global web events services market reached $173.2 million in 2008 and is poised for significant growth over the next 5 years. While expansion in 2009 is moderate, the firm projects that pressure for enterprises to reduce costs will drive the industry to $400 million by 2014.

“Web events are a critical tool for enterprises, both big and small, as they try to conduct business as usual in today’s tough economic environment while eliminating costs, such as travel and downtime,” said Melanie Turek, industry principal at Frost and Sullivan. “Combining everything required to run a successful event into a single, fixed-price package empowers companies of all sizes to maintain a worldwide presence while reaping the cost savings and bottom-line benefits promised by web events.”

ReadyTalk Platinum Web Event includes comprehensive consulting services before, during and after the event. From guidance on event strategy and registration customization to live event monitoring, a ReadyTalk event manager handles the logistics and technical details throughout the process so customers can focus on engaging attendees and communicating their message.

A key component of the package is the new ReadyTalk Broadcast Audio, which lets participants choose the audio option that is right for them – listening to the event over the Internet or dialing in with their telephone. Because it is optimized for smooth playback, low latency and low bandwidth, Broadcast Audio offers a high-quality listening experience.

ReadyTalk Platinum Web Event also includes post-event services including recording, editing, archiving and reporting. Customers can easily embed their event recording in web sites, blogs and other social media outlets, allowing them to maximize their distribution channels and reach. They also receive a podcast of the recording for added flexibility in distributing recorded content.

“Collaborating with and reaching audiences worldwide continues to rise in importance as companies operate and grow on a global scale,” said Scott King, vice president of sales and marketing, ReadyTalk. “With a fixed cost, the ReadyTalk Platinum Web Event with Broadcast Audio is perfect for reaching large groups and international audiences without blowing budgets.”

To help companies learn more about conducting successful web events, ReadyTalk is hosting a free best practices forum on Thursday, December 10, at 2:30 p.m. EDT. Experts from Frost & Sullivan and the American Marketing Association will discuss tips and best practices for planning and running large-scale web events. Registration and additional details are available at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/jnlmjf893dbc.

ReadyTalk Platinum Web Event and ReadyTalk Broadcast Audio are available today. Visit www.readytalk.com or follow us on Twitter, @readytalk, for more information or for a free trial of ReadyTalk’s web conferencing services.

ReadyTalk was the recipient of the 2009 People’s Choice Award at DEMOgala for the launch of the ReadyTalk Media Player. The Media Player enables customers to embed web conference content on social media platforms, blogs, YouTube and other web sites.

DEMOgala is a technology conference and exhibition hosted by CSIA, Colorado’s technology association. This year’s event featured more than 50 speakers on 22 different panels discussing the newest trends in technology. ReadyTalk was one of 20 companies selected out of 130 applicants as a Showcase Company to exhibit innovations at DEMOgala. From the Showcase Companies, ReadyTalk was selected as the winner of the People’s Choice award for its innovative media player.

ReadyTalk Media Player, which does not require a download, is the first player in the industry to give users the ability to embed recorded web and audio conferencing content into Wordpress, MoveableType, LiveJournal and others. The launch of the Media Player follows ReadyTalk’s recent launch of Conference Center 4, which provides more robust user controls for scheduling and managing audio and web conferences.

“The new media player is another example of ReadyTalk’s dedication to providing social media tools that allow customers to distribute conference content to any audience,” said Scott King, vice president of sales and marketing, ReadyTalk.

Scott also spoke at DEMOgala with Adeo Ressi, of Thefunded.com. Together, Scott and Adeo discussed the topic of Building Your Business on a Shoestring and Avoiding Losing Control. They discussed different approaches to funding including boot strapping and partnerships.

For more information on the ReadyTalk Media Player and ReadyTalk’s web and audio conferencing services visit www.ReadyTalk.com.

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ReadyTalk, a leader in integrated audio and web conferencing services, today announced the launch of ReadyTalk Media Player, enabling customers to easily embed and share conference recordings on social media platforms, blogs, YouTube and other web sites.

ReadyTalk Media Player, which does not require a download, is the first player in the industry to give users the ability to embed recorded content into a user’s site of choice including Wordpress, MoveableType and LiveJournal. Today’s launch of the Media Player follows ReadyTalk’s recent launch of Conference Center 4, which provides more robust user controls for scheduling and managing audio and web conferences.

“Organizations and bloggers can now embed their web conference recordings into web sites and blogs with ease,” said Scott King, vice president of sales and marketing, ReadyTalk. “The new player opens up a world of possibilities, enabling customers to easily repurpose and share content. Our customers are demanding more sophisticated social media tools to publish content in an easily consumed package and to share the content in any way they wish – our new player delivers on those demands.”

The new media player is another example of ReadyTalk’s dedication to providing social media tools that allow customers to distribute conference content to any audience. ReadyTalk is also the only conferencing provider to offer a podcasting service with a hosted RSS feed and subscription page.

The innovative player automatically scales to fit a user’s screen, offers previewing by thumbnails and is playable in full screen mode. The ReadyTalk Media Player is compatible with any browser—FireFox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.

For more information on the ReadyTalk Media Player and ReadyTalk’s web and audio conferencing services visit www.ReadyTalk.com.

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For more information:
Bo Bandy
Marketing Communications & PR Manager
ReadyTalk
303-209-1593
bo.bandy@readytalk.com
Twitter: @bo_knows_

ReadyTalk today launched Conference Center 4, adding online customer support and enhanced conference management tools, further establishing ReadyTalk as a leader in integrated audio and web conferencing services.

“We recognize that our customers are looking to do more than create a meeting and send an invitation; Conference Center 4 gives busy professionals tools to easily coordinate and run great web and audio conferences by managing an attendee’s status with greater detail,” said Scott King, vice president of sales and marketing, ReadyTalk. “We’ve also incorporated a Resource Center that makes it easier for customers to access tutorials, utilize best practices information and review FAQs.”

Furthering its dedication to customer support, ReadyTalk’s Conference Center 4 includes online customer support available via web chat. The new chat function allows customers to get real-time support and assistance whenever they need it.

Conference Center 4 also allows customers to upload confirmed attendees lists giving them the flexibility to use third-party registration services. In particular, the feature gives those who charge for their events the ability to take advantage of Conference Center’s confirmation and reminder emails. The enhancement provides customers their choice of third-party systems while benefiting from Conference Center’s advanced email capabilities.

ReadyTalk, a leading provider of integrated audio and web conferencing services, has been a finalist on the list of the Best Companies to Work for in Colorado for the past three years, placing first in 2007 and runner up in 2009.

For the fourth year, Coloradobiz has joined with the Colorado State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management and Jobing.com, to produce a list of best companies to work for in Colorado. ReadyTalk is classified as a small company with 25-99 employees. All ReadyTalk employees were surveyed by Modern Think, an independent workplace-excellence consulting firm. For a complete list of Best Companies to Work for in Colorado please see http://www.cobizmag.com/articles/best-companies-to-work-for-in-colorado-09/.

“For me it makes all the sense in the world that engaged employees are the ones who are going to deliver outstanding customer experiences both through the products that we build and the customer service that we provide,” says Dan King, ReadyTalk CEO. “We’ve always endeavored to provide an environment that’s consistent with having highly engaged employees.”

ReadyTalk’s distinction in 2009 places them on a short list of prestigious companies who have received the award three times in each of the last three years. There are only six other companies who can claim the same honor.

“Our aim is to build lasting relationships with our customers and our employees,” continues King. “We believe that if we deliver reliable and easy to use products and hire people that really care about customers, the bottom line will take care of itself.”

Dan King’s philosophy is reflected in the results of a recent survey of ReadyTalk customers which found that 90% of customers surveyed would recommend ReadyTalk’s services.

The Denver Business Journal surveyed 300 Denver-area privately held companies based on the percentage growth for fiscal years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Participating companies were then ranked by total revenue across five flights. ReadyTalk was recognized as the tenth fastest growing privately held company in the “Flight III” category, designated for companies with gross revenues between $7 million and $16.9 million.

On the subject of their growth, Dan King, CEO of ReadyTalk states, “We are proud to be recognized by the Denver Business Journal for our exceptional growth. Our success is a tribute to our employees who work tirelessly to develop and support a service that meets the needs of thousands of business professionals on a daily basis. We are fortunate to have such a talented workforce that is dedicated to our customer’s success.”

ReadyTalk’s audio and Web conferencing services allow its customers to conduct online meetings with remote participants replacing the need for expensive travel. Their online event services can be used for cost efficient lead generation, large trainings and public outreach and education.

The Denver Business Journal recognition is the third award that ReadyTalk has received in the past several months. ReadyTalk was a nominee for the Colorado Technology Association’s prestigious Apex Awards and is a finalist for Best Companies to Work for in Colorado 2009.

“As an active member of the Colorado business community, ReadyTalk is committed not only to supporting the needs of its valued customers, but also to the local organizations and programs that serve the most disadvantaged members of our neighborhoods,” said Scott King, ReadyTalk vice-president.

Headquartered in the heart of Lower Downtown (Lodo), ReadyTalk is committed to bringing awareness to the need for volunteerism, and to empowering, educating and renewing the desire for volunteer efforts in the Denver community. It is in this spirit of giving that ReadyTalk has established a solid reputation of corporate leadership in the local philanthropic arena

“While there are many local programs deserving of recognition and assistance, this year, all proceeds from the Race for Charities will benefit two Denver-based non-profits, the Young Philanthropist Foundation and Work Options for Women,” added King.

The Young Philanthropist Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging youth in philanthropy by creating opportunities for kids and families to give back to their communities, while Work Options for Women is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless and impoverished women learn skills so that they can be successful in the work force.

Recognizing the inspiration that our animals provide, ReadyTalk is proud to invite all four-legged friends to participate during the “Walk with Paws” portion of the event. Prizes will be awarded to winners of both the Men’s and Women’s age brackets, as well as for “Best Dressed Dog.”

In addition, all participants will be automatically entered into a post-race raffle that will feature prizes including race memorabilia signed by Denver Nuggets superstar, Carmelo Anthony, premier restaurant gift certificates, and much more!

To learn more about ReadyTalk and the upcoming Race for Charities, please visit www.readytalk.com/race.