This week I was given the green light to create and promote my first webinar. After creating the content and slide deck, I have been determined to promote my webinar with limited resources. I wanted to take this opportunity to share what I have learned so far.

Here are my recommendations on how to promote your webinar or event for free:

1. Use EVENTSPAN. You can create the speaker's profile, promote your sponsors, tag your event and professionally display the event online. EventSpan also allows you to create a widget, send your event by email/text message, set up reminders, post it to your Outlook calendar, share your event via del.icio.us or even digg it. Yes, all of these services are free.

2. Post a discussion to LinkedIn Groups, Ning networks, Yahoo Groups, professional organizations, Facebook pages/groups etc. that have the members you would want to attend your webinar or event. Your posting should read like a friendly announcement and NOT spam. Discuss specific benefits one will get by participating. (You could even create a blog post to RecruitingBlogs.com like I did).

3. Update your status on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter etc. once or twice with a teaser and include a link to your event. Again, I would recommend using the event posting from EventSpan. Use this an opportunity to connect with your target audience regarding your topic. Don't over promote your event via your status updates, since you don't want to appear desperate.

4. Notify your active contacts (internal and external) about this webinar or event through your normal communication. Put the title of your event or webinar with a link to your Eventspan posting in your email signature. Add it to the side bar of your blog or website. Include it in your LinkedIn profile's contact settings.

5. Leverage your past material. Clean up those old slide decks, add one more about your upcoming event and post them to SlideShare. This can also be posted as an application to your LinkedIn profile. Upload your articles to scribd after adding the information regarding your upcoming webinar/event.

6. Call your close colleagues and mentors to personally invite them to your event. Share your good news and excitement. Ask them if you can send them the event announcement to get their advice. They may have other ideas on how to get a better turnout!

To get started, check out my webinar posting at EventSpan. Please feel free to pass it along to any HR professionals in your network. I would be happy to return the favor to you in the future!