Interactive video conferencing is a game changer—not just for your business success but for individual participants as well. It takes a special set of skills to run the perfect interactive video conference. The good news is, however, that anyone can attain video conferencing perfection! Here are some hard and fast tips that will take your video conferencing from ordinary to extraordinary!
Focus Is Key
When you are video conferencing from the comfort of your own office it can be easy to multi-task and get distracted by other things. The answer to this issue is pretty simple: don’t let yourself get distracted. Remember that people can see you in a video conference and if you look like you’re not paying attention it can make you look bad. A rule of thumb for this one: don’t do anything in a video conference that you wouldn’t want to be seen doing in an in-person meeting! You are a professional so remember to act like it.
Know the Technology
You should plan for a video conference by making sure all the technology you use for it is up to snuff. You could have the best web camera for video conferencing Blue Jeans and still, if you don’t have it plugged in right or even on it won’t make a bit of difference! It’s also a good idea to reboot your computer ahead of time and to close out of any apps you don’t need while video conferencing. It would be quite inconvenient for your email app to continuously notify you of new emails while you’re trying to video conference with partners across the country or world!
Working out the technology also means giving yourself enough time before it to check out that everything is working right. Connect onto the meeting several minutes in advance to help identify any issues and fix them before the meeting. Also, have a backup plan in case something happens to the equipment you are using. Remember that video conferencing apps are available for every device on the market, so you could attend or conduct a meeting from your smartphone or tablet if you had to.
Follow Up
Video conferencing is so incredibly valuable, but it’s also only one step in the process. It’s a good business practice to follow up with participants after the conference is over. Perhaps you’ve had additional ideas or you feel there are some things that need further clarification. Whatever it may be can be handled via email so that you can make sure everyone is on the same page.
Be Prepared
Make sure when you’re going into a video conference that you’ve planned it and prepared your talking points. Through a video conference it will very obvious if you haven’t adequately prepared for the meeting, so make yourself look good and be ready. Have everything out in front of you and ready to go as the meeting begins – you don’t want to have to disappear halfway through to get something you forgot!
Talk into the Camera
One thing that is tricky about technology is that it can be awkward to use at first. You should try to think about the camera as a person and direct all of your comments to it. The best video conferencing systems on the market make it so that you can look at a person and talk directly into the camera at the same time, but if you don’t have a system like this you will need to train yourself to speak to the camera.
Look Your Best
It might seem a little silly, but you want to try and look your best for video conferencing. This is different than looking your best in person, because the camera can create subtle changes that are always apparent until you’re being seen through its lens. There are few tips to remember when doing a video conference. First, make sure the lighting is in front of you and not behind. When it’s behind you it can cast shadows and people won’t be able to see your face well, which is one of the benefits of video conferencing! Second, have the camera at a angle so it’s looking directly at you and not from below. This is, quite frankly, not even a flattering angle for a supermodel, so just avoid it. Last, even though video conferencing only shows you from the shoulders up, you should be aware of what you’re wearing. Avoid bold patterns and wear solid colors. Just remember to keep it modest and tasteful and you should be a winner!
Conclusion
Anyone and everyone can learn to be a pro at video conferencing! Following these simple tips will make you look like you have got this whole video conferencing thing down and that you are a consummate professional. Plus, it will make an impression on people that you know what you’re doing and should be listened to, and that will help to advance your business and career!
