Online video conferencing is a fun way to stay in touch with family and friends. It is also a useful business tool. It lets you meet
with co-workers from around the globe. You can set up meetings with clients and close sales. You can also attend online conferences
for your own education or entertainment.
Online video conferencing can have many benefits for you whether you are holding the
conference or attending it. Here are a few tips that may make your experience more pleasant.
Call Charges
If you are attending
an online video conferencing event that was set up by someone else, you will probably have to pay for your phone call. That call will
most likely be long distance. To keep from racking up a big bill or eating up your cell phone minutes, consider using a VOIP service
to call into the meeting.
You can use a service like Skype that only charges a couple of cents per minute to call any phone number.
If you are doing a two-way video conference, you can do it free through Skype if both of you use the same service.
If you are
hosting the online video conferencing event, keep in mind that while your event may be free, your attendees still must pay for the
phone call. Consider ways that you can lower the cost for them by using a provider that lets them call in with VOIP or absorbing the
cost yourself by using an 800 number.
Sound
If you are the host for an online video conferencing event, you must not underestimate
the difficulties you will encounter with sound quality. Make sure you have a good microphone and position it in such a way that you
will not be so close that attendees can hear your breath, but not so far that your voice is too soft. If you plan to walk around while
giving your presentation, wear a clip-on microphone or make sure your stationary one will pick up multi-directional sound.
When
attending an online video conferencing event, you should wear headphones so you can hear clearly and mute your sound so you do not
send background noises into the conference room.
Be Prepared
Start your online video conferencing event on time and if you
are an attendee, arrive on time so you do not disrupt the room when you arrive. If your microphone will be live, be on guard for external
noises and make sure you are not disrupted. Turn off your phone and put your dog out of the room. Nothing makes you look more unprofessional
than a dog barking or kids crying and taking away your attention when you are in the middle of a video conference.
