How to - web conferencing for small businesses






by Betty Johnson


A web conference is an online meeting where participants communicate live via the Internet and share information like documents, images and videos. With the current increase in popularity there are numerous companies to be found online which offer free conferencing facilities. Comparison websites such as Conferencecalls.co.uk are worth a visit as they offer customer-based reviews on a number of popular providers.

There is often confusion surrounding various types of conference calls (Webinar, video conference, voicemeeting, web conference) and their descriptions, especially for anyone new to this form of communication. There are lots of articles explaining this at Conferencecalls.co.uk. Basically a Webinar and web conferencing are one and the same thing, information is output from a central point to a remote audience. Video conferencing is more like an ordinary voice call but with a visual element.

There are three meanings to the term 'web conference' the event itself, the software used or the features included. Free conferencing is often one of the more basic packages which offer just audience viewing rather than interaction, not too far removed from a voicemeeting. Various packages and their benefits are explained at Conferencecalls.co.uk but in a nutshell, the more advanced the equipment, the more features can be added including desktop or application sharing.

Preparing for a web conference is not as complicated as might be imagined provided that the major factors are in place: the room, equipment, light and sound. The location for the broadcast should be quiet and free from avoidable interruptions, as for a voicemeeting. Make sure that there is enough space for people, chairs/tables and all of the equipment that will be used. 24 hours before, physical equipment like whiteboards should be set up and all electrical devices need to be tested.

Sound is a very big part of web conferencing and it needs to be spot on for participants to understand clearly what is being said, much the same as for a voice conference. Never use poor quality microphones and find a way to eliminate external noise factors like traffic. Always use natural light where possible and set up with the video camera facing away from the source of light.

In respect of resources, cost and equipment needed, a web conference has definite advantages over other forms of conference call. To view, all that participants need is an Internet connection and either speakers or a headphone set. Making a broadcast uses only a nominal amount of Internet bandwidth, is not too technical to set up and can be done inexpensively. More details are available from Conferencecalls.co.uk.

Web conferencing provides an ideal way of communicating and the benefits to businesses are obvious. There are numerous possibilities for its use on a day to day basis to communicate with external staff from the office. It is also an ideal format for company presentations and training and negates the need for time spent travelling as well as the expense. Look for more good ideas at Conferencecalls.co.uk.

Web conferencing is an excellent way to pass on information to potentially thousands of people in geographically diverse locations at the same time. Free conferencing is available so it does not need to be expensive nor does it require a huge amount of technical expertise and it is much more personal than a voicemeeting. As with any service, finding a reliable provider is paramount and if lacking a recommendation, help is available in the form of Conferencecalls.co.uk or similar comparison sites so make full use of them.




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