Posted by Kathleen S on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 @ 10:06 AM
Anytime we talk about technology, many of us get scared, eyes glaze over or we attempt to use language that is at best "fuzzy" to us and likely others.
Whether you are an assistant looking at conferencing options to present to your boss, a manager looking to pitch conferencing services to their board or staff, or anyone looking to communicate their communication needs to their IT staff; we wanted to attempt to demystify the audio and web conference calling lingo. Here are a few common key phrases and definitions to understand. We will try to have a few blog postings this week on additional keywords.
Moderator - The person facilitating the conference or event. The moderator can be the person leading or hosting the event, however it is usually most productive if the moderator is a person other than the primary speaker.
Conference Quickstart. Conference Quickstart allows a host to turn off Music on Hold so participants may start the conference prior to the host joining.
Host dial-out. Instant connect allows a host to dial-out from the conference to bring in an expert, other participants, or initiate a meeting "on the fly". InstantConnect may be launched using a DTMF command or fly View.
DTMF or Dual Tine Multi-Frequency signals - Also called touch-tone dialing. The tones that are heard when you press the buttons on a touch-tone telephone.
Web conferencing - A term that describes the industry forming around the creation of virtual events. This industry is a convergence of technology developed to provide cost-effective interactive communication channels for individuals and businesses. Webcast A presentation in which a live event is recorded and streamed over the Internet, or archived for viewing at a later time.
You can read about more definitions and keywords at www.flyconferencing.com/glossary.
Posted by Kathleen S on Thu, May 21, 2009 @ 09:20 AM
As more and more people begin using conferencing as part of the standard way to conduct business---the question is poised, what are the do's and do not's of conducting a conference call? Yes, I do mean conference call etiquette. We seem to have business etiquette for introductions, making presentations---but for those who are venturing into webinars and demos via web conferencing---how can I ensure a professional call and experience?
Like any meeting the key is to practice and prepare ahead of time. If you are using a new audio or web service for the first time-make sure to test out your dial-in number and passcode, check your equipment (speaker phone, handset or web cam) and of course make sure that you have all your documents or presentation materials ready (if you are conducting a demo or sharing).
Here are our first official 5 tips (we will post another 5 tips tomorrow before the holiday weekend).
- Plan ahead for an efficient and effective meeting. In the conference invitation, inform participants of the purpose, agenda and time limit for your meeting.
- Forward the Audience Invitation to each individual invited to attend. This will provide them all the information they need to quickly and easily enter you're audio and web conferences.
- Dial in to your conference 5 to 10 minutes before the start of your meeting to prepare yourself and to prevent your guests from waiting for you on hold.
- Start the conference with a roll call to confirm attendance and inform all participants of who is on the conference.
- Advise participants who are not actively speaking to mute their phones in order to eliminate background noise.
Please email or comment to provide your top tips and suggestions for ensuring a professional audio or web conference call. We will work on assembling this list over the next few weeks and share our top 25 list both on our website and blog. Please visit
www.flyconferencing.com for more information.
Posted by Kathleen S on Tue, May 19, 2009 @ 07:02 AM
Web conferencing is still a relatively new technology, but one that companies are finding extremely valuable when it comes to organising online meetings with clients. It is cost effective, quick, and incredibly easy to arrange.
One example of how web conferencing can help a company lies in the field of executive search and procurement. In this field, it is not uncommon to hear of executive search consultants travelling thousands of miles to meet with and arrange interviews with potential candidates for high level positions. Now, these same consultants can instead log on to their computer, engage in a web meeting with candidates, and find out all they need to know about that candidate and their ability within minutes. All of this without visiting the airport, or paying anyone's expenses. In fact, an international executive search firm recently attested to this added value. They stated that, where before it would have cost close to $20,000 to arrange for the interview cycle for one position to be completed, it now costs nothing. This is because it was all done over the Internet using a web conference provider.
Another great feature of a web meeting is that, while some parts of a meeting are relevant to everyone, others are not. So with a web conference, attendees can surf the net, check emails etc. Until their part of the meeting comes up.
There are many providers of web conferencing services out there. If you run a business, contact them and get a quote that suits your business. It will transform the way you communicate, as well as save you money. Please visit www.flyconferencing.com for more information.
Posted by Kathleen S on Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 09:58 AM
There are many reasons why companies are finding it financially prudent to choose a good web conference provider, but one of the main ones is that of time. Having to get everyone together in a room to have a meeting is one of the most awkward tasks that anyone can undertake. It does not matter the quality of the attendees to a meeting, or the number even, no matter how hard you try, something always goes wrong.
Take the attendee who gets stuck in traffic for example. The problem is not their fault, by any means. However, their lateness means that, at best, the meeting will start at least ten minutes late. And everyone who attends a meeting draws a salary, so any delay means money is being wasted.
Then there is the fact that someone might forget their notes that were given to them two days before a meeting. This slows the whole meeting down, and prevents pace being set. Then enthusiasm will dwindle, and the meeting will fall flat.
Imagine, however, being able to have everyone at the meeting on time, and being able to show them state of the art tables and diagrams that convey your message effectively? This is web conferencing, where the attendees can insert their own graphics into a web conference, and even ‘sign out' at any point, to answer their emails for example.
Find out your nearest recommended web conference services provider, and see what a difference this cutting edge technology can make to your business. Please also visit www.flyconferencing.com to view our audio and web services.
Posted by Kathleen S on Fri, May 15, 2009 @ 09:13 AM
Ever find yourself in a meeting where you don't really need to be there? This is no reflection on the people who have called the meeting, but it could be a meeting that has some aspect of the agenda that you really do not need to be present for. This happens to anyone who is involved in business, with the many departments and projects that are taking place at any one time. This variance means that, inevitably, at some point you will find yourself effectively redundant to the agenda. This means that your time is being wasted.
Imagine being able to cut out this time wasting. Imagine being able to ensure that any time the meeting becomes irrelevant to you, you can drop out for a few minutes without this being awkward, and check your email or make a call. Then when the meeting becomes relevant to you again, you drop right back in and get involved.
This is exactly what web conferencing is like. On the web, a conference call involves a web cam and/or a web connection with microphone. If at any point the meeting becomes something that is nothing to do with you, you can simply log out and get on with the important stuff. When it comes back to you, or it is your turn to contribute, for example, log back on after an alert, and get down to business.
There are a number of web conference providers in your area. Investigate them, and find the right package for you and your business. We also ask you to visit our website,
www.flyconferencing.com for more information.
Posted by Kathleen S on Thu, May 14, 2009 @ 11:06 AM
Conference calls used to be quite clunky affairs, where connections were lost and people talked over each other. No one really knew how to improve them and most companies arranged no more than a few here and there, due to their inherent difficulty and potential to go disastrously wrong.
These days, however, conference calls are a lot more advanced. Many service providers use high quality lines with instant connection times, and no overlap between speakers and their voices. This means that making a conference call these days is simpler, more practical, and less expensive.
The ease at which one can now arrange for a conference call to take place within minutes is quite staggering. Service providers are so effective and efficient these days that the can have all the attendees connected within seconds, and can guarantee no down time when the call is in progress. This means no embarrassing silences, or moments where misunderstandings can take place.
The beauty of conference calling lies in the connectivity. Say there had to be a panel interview for a candidate for a post in your company. They had already passed the first phase of interviewing, and were now being assessed for their ability to deal with quick fire questions under pressure. A good quality conference call can ensure that the questions are delivered quickly, and with minimum fuss. This leaves the panel members the easy task of noting whether the candidate can stand up to pressure. And no one has to leave the office.
Find out where your local conference call services provider is and give them a call. You may be surprised at the benefits he service brings to your business. Please also visit our website at www.flyconferencing.com for more information on conference call services.
Posted by Kathleen S on Wed, May 13, 2009 @ 12:12 PM
Using a conference call provider to enhance your organisation's effectiveness is quickly becoming the norm for many people today. The beauty of conference calling is that it can bring together a number of people at one time, and this can facilitate business at a level that, for some businesses, has been previously unheard of.
Imagine being able to turn on your computer and make an instant connection with any number of associates in your field of business. Then imagine being able to conduct business at high speed, with emails being sent in seconds, and roll-outs of new projects being completed within hours.
Meetings happen quicker and much more effectively with online conferencing. The company representatives can identify a time for a meeting to take place, and then request that all of the relevant people are there at that time, and then he can prepare all of the relevant documents and upload them to his system.
Then when everyone is ready, he can simply upload the documents of all to see at the central web server that the provider as made available. At this point all of the people involved in the meeting can simply look at the relevant documents and add to the creative thinking that is taking place. All every easy, and all very quick.
If you are in any way responsible for the procurement of communications systems in your organisation, then take the option of online conferencing seriously. It could very easily be the solution that can transform the way your business gets things done. Please visit
www.flyconferencing.com for more information.
Posted by Kathleen S on Fri, May 08, 2009 @ 03:33 PM
Web conferencing and conference calling is quickly becoming the preferred way to do business when it comes to meetings. The cost of travelling perhaps hundreds of miles just to close a business deal is now pretty much a thing of the past. Companies are quickly realising that there is a different way of doing things. And hooking up with a business associate online is that way.
Your preferred online conferencing provider can easily connect you up with a service that will enable you and your organisation to hold online meetings within hours. From web conferencing resources, to software that you can input into any virtual meeting, the technology is truly staggering, and is transforming the way business is done. The impact on international business alone is considerable. Many companies are now reporting savings in the thousands just because they have chosen to hold meetings online, rather than transporting their executives across country, or across the world.
Imagine being able to call a meeting, and then invite your colleague, who is currently on placement in, say, Africa. You are based in the USA, and prior to this you would have had to arrange either a scratchy telephone call, or a visit to the plant that he oversees.
Not anymore. Hook up with a high speed internet source, and talk to him in real time, with video and audio.
It is no wonder that so many businesses are operating in this way. Find out what online conferencing can do for you and watch it transform the way you do business. For more information on web conferencing please visit www.flyconferencing.com .
Posted by Kathleen S on Wed, May 06, 2009 @ 12:36 PM
Welcome to the first blog posting of FLYers Blog (of Fly Conferencing). We hope you can visit periodically (even daily) to read our postings on relevant, timely information related to audio and web conferencing services.
We will do our best to provide practical uses of audio & web conferencing, ways to cut down on organizational costs, new services and tools and some basics on conference call etiquette, how to run a better conference call and of course, how to set up a conference call!
For those who are more advance in the ways of conferencing we hope to provide details of innovate uses of conference services such as saving the environment, conducting recruiting sessions and interviews, lowering travel costs and how to continue to service your clients and constituents in this economy without spending a lot of money.
On the topic of spending money; I will start our blog with one brainstorm idea: What does it cost for one overnight business meeting? $500, $1000 or more?
For example:
Airfare: $450, Hotel: $200, Meals: $50, Taxi/Car Rental: $50, Binder/Presentation Materials: $50. Total cost: $800*
One conference call : 60 mins x 4 participants x .05 per minute =
Total Cost: $12.00*
Even if we add all the bells and whistles including web conferencing with recording, personalized greetings etc...60 mins x 4 participants x .14 per minute =
Total Cost: $33.60*
*Pricing & actual costs varies of course*
The question is---was the extra $750 plus really worth it? What was the return on your investment of time and money?
"Fly our way"....with Fly Conferencing and the FLYers Blog. Visit www.flyconferencing.com for more information.
Let us know what you think about our articles and of course...feel free to post all sorts of comments, feedback and if you have them, glorious and "fly" reviews!
Cheers-
Kathleen
FLYers Blog Editor
kathleen@flyconferencing.com
