The Secrets to a Successful Web Conference

A web conference is one of the most powerful solutions a business can have at its disposal, so it is essential to make each individual conference count to ensure the best return on your investment. That being said, here are a few key tips on how to make your web conferencing a more rewarding experience for both you and your participants:
Make it as user-friendly as possible - the easier it is for your participants to attend and join in the collaboration, the more likely they will be to return and participate in your subsequent conferences. Select a provider that offers Outlook integration and a comprehensive list of easy-to-use features and interface
Lighten the load - on your computer that is; shut off any unnecessary programs that are running that could be consuming your bandwidth; these could potentially cause hang-ups, lags, and other service disruptions (plus it will help you stay focused on the subject matter)
If your web conference involves more than a handful of people, turn the sound prompts off. While it might not be bothersome to hear them every once in a while, in a meeting with hundreds - or even thousands - of participants, hearing an alert each time someone enters or exits the conference can become very distracting, if not annoying
If you can avoid it, don't go wireless - utilizing a wired connection will increase your odds of a smoother meeting, and lessens the chance of a lost signal, which can be disruptive to a web conference and leave you unable to pick up where you last left off
Turn off your call waiting - do not assume you're the only one who can hear that beep from the caller on the other line, your attendees can too. Avoiding these small mishaps that chip away at your performance will keep all participants focused, and improve your professional appearance
Avoid placing your line on hold - unless you know your audience loves your "on-hold" music selection, it's best to steer clear of pushing that button. If it is absolutely necessary, consider customizing your music selections to entertain your participants while they wait rather than put them to sleep with the same old elevator music
And lastly, mute your participant's lines - especially when conferencing with large numbers of attendees. At the beginning of your conference, announce that you will be placing all lines on hold to eliminate any unwanted background noise and that you will be addressing any questions or comments at a specified time either during an intermission or at the end of your meeting

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