Video Conferencing Versus Audio Conferencing: Which One Is Right for You?

Conference calling in a business atmosphere is no new thing, but the technology to conduct such calls is definitely always changing. Both video conferencing and audio conferencing are great tools for any business, but one may be more suited for your particular business than the other. Both have their merits, but there are many factors that should be weighed before making a final decision as to which one is right for you.

The decision should be based on not only your preferences but should also factor in the other individuals that will be using the conference calling service and those individuals you will be holding conferences with. There are five questions in particular that you should address before deciding on whether you should conduct conferences through video or conduct them through audio.

1. What is the goal you are trying to achieve for the team?

The first question has to do with the goal that you want to reach by conducting conference calls in the first place. If you and your team are just looking for a means by which to all communicate simultaneously, then audio conferencing may be suitable. On the other hand, if your goal has to do with gauging someone's response to a particular matter -- whether it is a customer, an associate, or someone else -- then you may find that video conferencing is more useful.

2. Will members be comfortable being on video?

Another important question to address when choosing a conferencing option is whether those individuals you will be conferencing with will even be comfortable using a video conferencing service. Some individuals find themselves very uncomfortable being on video, and you would not want this to discourage somebody from attending an important conference.

3. What if some are on video and some are not?

Another important thing to address is other individual's capabilities as far as conferencing goes. Some individuals may not have the option of participating in video conferencing, and they may feel left out of the loop if this is the way that you plan to communicate. If some team members do not already use video conferencing, you could also point them in the right direction for downloading a free program so they may begin using this useful tool.

4. What is the cost of each version of conferencing?

Cost should always be an issue as well, especially when it comes to business expenses. The fact is there are free versions of each type of conferencing programs. But you must determine if the free versions are sophisticated enough for your business and if not, how much it would cost for a better program?

5. How is the video quality for video conferencing programs?

Finally, you need to determine if the video quality for the program you choose will be up to your standards. If you plan to conduct or view presentations using your video conferencing program, you want to be sure the quality is good enough to get the most out of your meeting and the materials presented.

Both video and audio conferencing can work for almost any business, but one may work better than the other for you. It really all depends on what kind of business you will be conducting and who you will be conducting it with.

Author Andy Court has been participating in communications forums for about 5 years. He consulted to the free conference call system initiated by Rondee.

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