Over the last thirty years, conference calls have gone from a business tool that was the province of only the biggest companies to an everyday way of holding meetings for organizations of just about any size. As such, the competition these days for business is fierce among various conference call providers. This climate can work well for you when the time comes to consider just which of the many conference call providers will earn your patronage.
The first thing to do in selecting a conference call provider is to identify how frequently your organization currently utilizes conference calls. Perhaps you have departments that conduct conference calls on a recurring basis, such as weekly, biweekly or monthly. If your organization is project driven, your usage may be less structured but still result in a number of conference calls held each month. A good way to get a handle on the frequency of your conference call usage is to take a snapshot of the last six months and come up with an average monthly number of calls conducted. In like manner, add the total conference minutes used for the same period and divide by the number of conferences conducted. That will give you an idea of the average number of minutes generated per conference call. Keep this information handy. You will need it later.
Next, evaluate the type of conference call formats used by your organization. You want to be sure that any conference call provider you approach can provide the type of service you need. As an example, should your organization most often use an operator assisted dial-out style of call, there is no need for you to get into discussions with a vendor who offers only a dial-in service. Part of your task is to eliminate conference call providers who can't give you what you currently need.
At this juncture, begin to think in terms of any additional service options you may want to try in the future. Make sure any conference call provider that makes it on your list of potential candidates has those features available. Ever wondered about ad hoc conference services? How about being able to book a conference call via the Internet? Create a formal wish list and have it available to give any conference call provider you seriously consider.
Now that you have a clear picture of the services you already use and the service options you may be interested in using in the future, your next step in to compile your list of potential conference call providers. Most vendors provide enough basic information on their web sites to allow you to determine if they have the potential to be your conference call provider. Once you have a list of potential vendors, contact each conference call provider and indicate your interest in their services. It is during this phase that any potential conference call provider will ask a few questions about your average volume of usage and frequency of conference calls. Provide the conference call provider with this basic information and let them know that as part of your evaluation of each conference call vendor you are speaking with, you are requesting a free demonstration or perhaps the ability to hold a conference call at no charge. This is not an unusual request for a potential client to make of a conference call provider, and the reaction of the vendor will tell you a lot about what level of customer service you could expect as a client.
http://www.articlesbase.com/communication-articles/selecting-a-conference-call-provider-36195.html
Sunday, November 30, 2008
This Call May Be Recorded...
If you're using calling conference services or web phone conferencing, many of these services now offer a recording option. This comes in handy when your meeting minute-taker calls in sick. You can play back the conference, transcribe notes, and pass out or mail copies to all of the individuals that attended, reminding them of the points you covered in the meeting. Or wait until the minute-taker comes back and make them do it.
Armed with the right knowledge, conference call hosting can be a walk in the park. Just remember not to blabber too much, record your call for posterity, be on time, and feel free to mute.
The Mute Key is Your Friend
Make sure to let everyone know that when they are not speaking, they should be muting. Muting your phone will cut down on external noise if you are going with the traditional phone conference method. Plus, if you're hosting a lunch hour meeting, there won't be any unattractive chewing noises to try and speak over.
Make Sure You're Plugged In
This advice may sound kind of obvious, but you might be surprised. If your car coasted to a stop on the highway and wouldn't start again, would you immediately replace the engine or would you check the gas gauge? Before your conference goes into full swing, check all of your cables, plugs, and widgets are plugged in tight and in full working order.
Keep It Short and Sweet
If you rattle on about anything for more than one hour, you're likely to lose at least half of your attendees to the mysterious after-lunch fatigue that affects so many business professionals. Keep things brief and on target, but remember, if you machine-gun speak like an auctioneer, you'll lose just as many participants.
http://www.articlesbase.com/video-conferencing-articles/conference-call-tips-that-will-have-you-hosting-like-a-pro-90334.html
If you're using calling conference services or web phone conferencing, many of these services now offer a recording option. This comes in handy when your meeting minute-taker calls in sick. You can play back the conference, transcribe notes, and pass out or mail copies to all of the individuals that attended, reminding them of the points you covered in the meeting. Or wait until the minute-taker comes back and make them do it.
Armed with the right knowledge, conference call hosting can be a walk in the park. Just remember not to blabber too much, record your call for posterity, be on time, and feel free to mute.
The Mute Key is Your Friend
Make sure to let everyone know that when they are not speaking, they should be muting. Muting your phone will cut down on external noise if you are going with the traditional phone conference method. Plus, if you're hosting a lunch hour meeting, there won't be any unattractive chewing noises to try and speak over.
Make Sure You're Plugged In
This advice may sound kind of obvious, but you might be surprised. If your car coasted to a stop on the highway and wouldn't start again, would you immediately replace the engine or would you check the gas gauge? Before your conference goes into full swing, check all of your cables, plugs, and widgets are plugged in tight and in full working order.
Keep It Short and Sweet
If you rattle on about anything for more than one hour, you're likely to lose at least half of your attendees to the mysterious after-lunch fatigue that affects so many business professionals. Keep things brief and on target, but remember, if you machine-gun speak like an auctioneer, you'll lose just as many participants.
http://www.articlesbase.com/video-conferencing-articles/conference-call-tips-that-will-have-you-hosting-like-a-pro-90334.html
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The multitude of users of conference calling services makes it apparent that it is one of the favored means of communication in the business world to date. Companies consider it more cost-efficient, less taxing on the company.s time and personnel, and more effective in fostering business relations in the international scene.
Like all good things, however, conference calling has several limitations. While the numerous positive aspects of conference calling are highly publicized, the limitations are hardly visible.
The most obvious limitation of conference calling is the speed with which it is developed in some countries and the delay in others. Conference calling now largely involves video and data as well as audio conferencing and makes use of highly advanced equipment to deliver these new and improved services to subscribers. The problem with this lies in the availability of these equipments for the world.s majority. Attendance and participation in conferences may now be limited by the fact that potential delegates in areas where the necessary equipment and technological advancement has not yet arrived may not be able to participate at all.
Another limitation is the lack of any set standard for conference calling protocols. Certain measures for order and smooth progress have been set for face-to-face conferences and meetings. For conference calls, no such measures exist. The normal etiquette and standard of behavior necessary is necessary even in these types of conferences to make sure that it would not totally remove the aspect of interpersonal relations in business dealings.
Last, but definitely no less important, is the instances of low security and lack of proper billing standard provided to the clients availing of conference calling services. These conferences are recorded, and the clients should have control over the contents of their conferences. Likewise, they should be properly informed of the breakdown of the costs they have to pay for these services.
From this it is apparent that there is a negative side to conference calling. It is up to a potential user, therefore, to weigh the pros and cons of using conference calls before availing of a particular service.
From: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/12003/conference_call_pricing/what_they_dont_tell_you_about_conference_calls.html
Like all good things, however, conference calling has several limitations. While the numerous positive aspects of conference calling are highly publicized, the limitations are hardly visible.
The most obvious limitation of conference calling is the speed with which it is developed in some countries and the delay in others. Conference calling now largely involves video and data as well as audio conferencing and makes use of highly advanced equipment to deliver these new and improved services to subscribers. The problem with this lies in the availability of these equipments for the world.s majority. Attendance and participation in conferences may now be limited by the fact that potential delegates in areas where the necessary equipment and technological advancement has not yet arrived may not be able to participate at all.
Another limitation is the lack of any set standard for conference calling protocols. Certain measures for order and smooth progress have been set for face-to-face conferences and meetings. For conference calls, no such measures exist. The normal etiquette and standard of behavior necessary is necessary even in these types of conferences to make sure that it would not totally remove the aspect of interpersonal relations in business dealings.
Last, but definitely no less important, is the instances of low security and lack of proper billing standard provided to the clients availing of conference calling services. These conferences are recorded, and the clients should have control over the contents of their conferences. Likewise, they should be properly informed of the breakdown of the costs they have to pay for these services.
From this it is apparent that there is a negative side to conference calling. It is up to a potential user, therefore, to weigh the pros and cons of using conference calls before availing of a particular service.
From: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/12003/conference_call_pricing/what_they_dont_tell_you_about_conference_calls.html
Problem: What do you do when you must temporarily leave the call for personal or work reasons?
Recommendation: When you have to leave the call for a moment it is best to tell the others you will be gone. It is tempting to sneak away in silence and hope they will not notice your absence, but there is always the chance they will ask you a direct question and your silence might be misinterpreted as either withholding or a certain lack of alertness.
From: http://www.conferencecallogy.com/Conference-Calling.html
Recommendation: When you have to leave the call for a moment it is best to tell the others you will be gone. It is tempting to sneak away in silence and hope they will not notice your absence, but there is always the chance they will ask you a direct question and your silence might be misinterpreted as either withholding or a certain lack of alertness.
From: http://www.conferencecallogy.com/Conference-Calling.html
Problem: It is sometimes unclear who owns the meeting.
Recommendation: Conference calls must have a designated leader. When I dialed in recently, the operator wanted the company name, the code name and the leader's name. I didn't know the leader's name and the operator would not let me on the call. So much for self-managing conference calls. Know the leader or be the leader and make it clear up- front to all involved.
From: http://www.conferencecallogy.com/Conference-Calling.html
Recommendation: Conference calls must have a designated leader. When I dialed in recently, the operator wanted the company name, the code name and the leader's name. I didn't know the leader's name and the operator would not let me on the call. So much for self-managing conference calls. Know the leader or be the leader and make it clear up- front to all involved.
From: http://www.conferencecallogy.com/Conference-Calling.html
Problem: What do you do when others are late in joining the call?
Recommendation: Begin the meeting when three are present and five minutes has elapsed. In this era where speed is everything, timeliness is more Godly than ever. Don't waste time with unfocused light conversation. Avoid the temptation to gossip about the ones you are waiting for. If you must wait, stay silent and privately review the agenda and prepare your comments.
From: http://www.conferencecallogy.com/Conference-Calling.html
Recommendation: Begin the meeting when three are present and five minutes has elapsed. In this era where speed is everything, timeliness is more Godly than ever. Don't waste time with unfocused light conversation. Avoid the temptation to gossip about the ones you are waiting for. If you must wait, stay silent and privately review the agenda and prepare your comments.
From: http://www.conferencecallogy.com/Conference-Calling.html
Sunday, November 9, 2008
If you've been considering using a conference calling company for a business meeting or social group meeting then you’re probably already aware of the difficulty it can be in choosing a reliable provider.
Choosing a company that has the best price and the best service is the ultimate goal.
When you're finished reading through this you'll have the information you need to make a wise decision about choosing a good provider.
When selecting a conferencing call provider it's important to make sure that they offer the most up-to-date technology so that your calls are clear and understandable by everybody online. Additionally they should have services available 24 hours a day including tech support.
Unfortunately some providers are unable or charge extra to have certain numbers of people on their conference. In a highly competitive market it really doesn't make sense not to choose a conference call provider that can suit your needs and handle as many callers is you need. It's important to have this issue ironed out prior to your call.
An easy to work with provider will offer a phone number and access to the conference that is simple and easy to understand for people wanting to join the call. Nothing is more aggravating then having to jump through a bunch of hoops in order to get logged into a phone call. A simple system will make your conference calls much more successful.
As the range of conferencing solutions becomes greater there is no reason to settle for a conference calling company that does not provide the services that you need.
From: http://www.idealconferencecallingservices.com/conferencecallingcompanies.shtml
Choosing a company that has the best price and the best service is the ultimate goal.
When you're finished reading through this you'll have the information you need to make a wise decision about choosing a good provider.
When selecting a conferencing call provider it's important to make sure that they offer the most up-to-date technology so that your calls are clear and understandable by everybody online. Additionally they should have services available 24 hours a day including tech support.
Unfortunately some providers are unable or charge extra to have certain numbers of people on their conference. In a highly competitive market it really doesn't make sense not to choose a conference call provider that can suit your needs and handle as many callers is you need. It's important to have this issue ironed out prior to your call.
An easy to work with provider will offer a phone number and access to the conference that is simple and easy to understand for people wanting to join the call. Nothing is more aggravating then having to jump through a bunch of hoops in order to get logged into a phone call. A simple system will make your conference calls much more successful.
As the range of conferencing solutions becomes greater there is no reason to settle for a conference calling company that does not provide the services that you need.
From: http://www.idealconferencecallingservices.com/conferencecallingcompanies.shtml
If you've been considering using videoconferencing as a means of training and delivering information to a group of business associates or through a social group there are three important concepts for you to know.
These factors include the ability to be streamlined, versatile, and deliver a clear effective message.
Unlike using a simple conference call provider, video or web conferencing is useful if the process is streamline and allows you to communicate information quickly and easily. Today through online integration via the Internet you're able to communicate critical messages with sales associates through powerful online tools that are easy and simple to use.
These tools are available in a variety of applications and can be used by practically anyone. They allow you to be versatile and promote your message easily.
One should agree that by taking advantage of web or video conferencing you can easily benefit from its flexibility. As a tool that allows long-distance conferencing you're able to put together important projects with colleagues and employees from around the world. This can be done quickly, and gives you the ability to deliver a powerful effective message.
In today's highly competitive business environment communicating your message to associates in a clear and easy to understand manner is critical to success. By using video or web conferencing you can do this more effectively than ever before by providing real-time charts graphs and data that clearly spells out competitive advantages that you can take advantage of right away.
When thinking of using a conferencing service having a streamlined approach with a clear concise message allows you to effectively communicate your message without complication.
From: http://www.idealconferencecallingservices.com/videoconferencing.shtml
These factors include the ability to be streamlined, versatile, and deliver a clear effective message.
Unlike using a simple conference call provider, video or web conferencing is useful if the process is streamline and allows you to communicate information quickly and easily. Today through online integration via the Internet you're able to communicate critical messages with sales associates through powerful online tools that are easy and simple to use.
These tools are available in a variety of applications and can be used by practically anyone. They allow you to be versatile and promote your message easily.
One should agree that by taking advantage of web or video conferencing you can easily benefit from its flexibility. As a tool that allows long-distance conferencing you're able to put together important projects with colleagues and employees from around the world. This can be done quickly, and gives you the ability to deliver a powerful effective message.
In today's highly competitive business environment communicating your message to associates in a clear and easy to understand manner is critical to success. By using video or web conferencing you can do this more effectively than ever before by providing real-time charts graphs and data that clearly spells out competitive advantages that you can take advantage of right away.
When thinking of using a conferencing service having a streamlined approach with a clear concise message allows you to effectively communicate your message without complication.
From: http://www.idealconferencecallingservices.com/videoconferencing.shtml
Today, more and more people are searching for a convenient and easy to use tool for having a audio conference call.
As of late many people are using web conferencing or video conferencing because out the recent developments in streaming video.
Some may begin to wonder whether or not audio conferencing is still a viable option.
After reading through this article you'll quickly realize that not only is a viable but it's a smart solution for those that are on a tight budget but still want to remain productive.
Below are some of the basic elements you'll need in order to have a successful conference call.
1. Make sure that the person who is holding the conference call is comfortable with the duties that the position will entail and the technical requirements of the conference call provider. Nothing will make people feel more comfortable and unwilling to participate if the presenter is fumbling around and does understand how the phone system works.
2. Having a predetermined agenda will allow the call to move forward at a nice pace and keep everyone focused on the purpose of the call. Just meandering around talking about this subject in that subject will become boring to some and make them ultimately not want to participate. Staying focused and on track will allow you to have a successful call.
3. Plan a test call prior to the actual live call itself. Knowing how all of the equipment works what buttons do what, will keep you from being in an embarrassing situation if you try to accomplish a technical task involving the phone system and you're not familiar with how it works.
These are just a few of the items that help make up a successful audio conference call. Having these basics down is a great first step and will make any attempt getting a call going much easier.
From: http://www.idealconferencecallingservices.com/audioconferencing.shtml
As of late many people are using web conferencing or video conferencing because out the recent developments in streaming video.
Some may begin to wonder whether or not audio conferencing is still a viable option.
After reading through this article you'll quickly realize that not only is a viable but it's a smart solution for those that are on a tight budget but still want to remain productive.
Below are some of the basic elements you'll need in order to have a successful conference call.
1. Make sure that the person who is holding the conference call is comfortable with the duties that the position will entail and the technical requirements of the conference call provider. Nothing will make people feel more comfortable and unwilling to participate if the presenter is fumbling around and does understand how the phone system works.
2. Having a predetermined agenda will allow the call to move forward at a nice pace and keep everyone focused on the purpose of the call. Just meandering around talking about this subject in that subject will become boring to some and make them ultimately not want to participate. Staying focused and on track will allow you to have a successful call.
3. Plan a test call prior to the actual live call itself. Knowing how all of the equipment works what buttons do what, will keep you from being in an embarrassing situation if you try to accomplish a technical task involving the phone system and you're not familiar with how it works.
These are just a few of the items that help make up a successful audio conference call. Having these basics down is a great first step and will make any attempt getting a call going much easier.
From: http://www.idealconferencecallingservices.com/audioconferencing.shtml
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
