Online Video represents an amazing opportunity to coach, train or present using new web technologies. There are a host of exciting, easy-to-use, and no-cost options to do coaching via video. After all, video is ideal for client interaction and communication – and it provides a much stronger personal connection to your students or clients.

Aside from the better-known Instant Teleseminar and Go-to-Webinar, there are a handful of hidden jewels (many free) that you can use to take your coaching to a new level. Here are just a few of the cool web resources I use to coach and train via online video:

• DimDim.com – DimDim allows you to host and attend live meetings, webinars or demos using just a web browser – no software to download. You can share and record web pages, documents, whiteboards, audio and video. It’s free for small meetings, or $25 per month for unlimited use with larger groups.

• Yuuguu.com – This online meeting and web-conferencing software may have a funny name, but Yuuguu kicks butt when it comes to screen-sharing. Like most of these resources, there is a free version and there are paid plans with more bells and whistles.

• Ustream.tv – While Ustream is better known as a free webcasting tool, you can certainly use it to make your coaching more personal. Ustream can be especially useful for group coaching, since you can broadcast one to many.

• TinyChat.com – TinyChat gives you the ability host a live video group instantly. This free platform lets you create your own video chatroom and stream up to 12 people simultaneously. You can also use it for private, 2-way video conferencing.

• Skype.com – Let’s not forget the tried and true Skype for free video calls, when you want to see each other for a meeting or coaching session.

These resources allow me to share my screen, provide live, real-time tutorials, and teach as if my client was sitting right next to me or looking over my shoulder. It’s a great way to make the coaching relationship more personal and interactive. Give them a try!

Lou Bortone is an Online Branding Specialist who helps entrepreneurs and coaches build breakthrough brands on the Internet, so they can have more visibility, credibility and profitability. Lou’s clients get more business and make more money, because Lou assists them with innovative online branding strategies, including social media marketing and online video coaching.  Lou is a former television executive who worked for E! Entertainment Television and Fox in Los Angeles. He is also an author and ghostwriter of six business books, a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and a Book Yourself Solid Certified Coach. His website is at www.LouBortone.com.

Who says you can’t run a business from a mobile phone?  When a major winter storm knocked out power to me and a few hundred thousand neighbors, I was left with no technology except my trusty iPhone – the modern day “Swiss Army Knife” for solopreneurs.

Even though I had no electricity, phone or Internet, I stayed connected to the outside world and – more important – my clients, solely via my iPhone.  In fact, using my iPhone web access and various apps, I barely missed a business beat!

I was not only able to check email and surf the net, but my Facebook app and TweetDeck for iPhone kept me connected to and communicating with colleagues throughout the 5 day power outage.  I could “tweet out” my tale of woe and, better yet, shoot video with my iPhone of the damage and destruction, then upload the video directly to YouTube – no computer required!

I could also check my projects in my “Highrise” project management software using my “Bungalow” iPhone app, and even track an order that came in via my PayPal app. (How cool that I could still earn some passive revenue online, even though I was in the dark at home!)

What about rescheduling that conference call?  There’s an app for that!  I used my “Tungle” for iPhone to reschedule meetings that had to be postponed due to the power failure.  I could still make my travel arrangements for an upcoming trip with my “Kayak” app on the iPhone, and then use my handly Flashlight app to find my way around my darkened house.

These smart phones may be smart, but they don’t run forever.  I had to venture out by car once a day just so I could charge the iPhone and maintain some battery power.   All in all, it’s probably not the best way to run a business, but it’s nice to know you can keep your company going in a jam just by using one tiny, but powerful, gadget.

Which just proves that given today’s technology, you don’t have to be powerless just because you lose power!

Lou Bortone is a long-time marketing consultant and branding coach who helps entrepreneurs build breakthrough brands on the Internet.  As an online video branding specialist and award-winning marketer, Lou provides services such as video production, brand development coaching, creative support and video coaching.

Lou is a former television executive who worked for E! Entertainment Television and later served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Advertising for Fox Family Worldwide, a division of Fox in Los Angeles. Lou is an author and ghostwriter of six business books, a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and a Book Yourself Solid Certified Coach.  His website is at: http://www.OnlineVideoBranding.com.

Coaches, Speakers and Other Training Professionals!! You're invited to join me for a virtual tour of my new Facebook application. We'll watch interactive videos, chat live and more! Join me on Tuesday, December 8th at 1 pm Eastern to join the fun. I'll see you there!

Login to Facebook and visit:  GroupCoachingMastery.com/ITV1