Insights from Randy Marcotte, CEO of Perfect Video Conferencing
To avoid creating a cloudier cloud, take some time to really think about what you are looking to get out of your video conferencing software to make the most out of your investment.
1. Know how video conferencing saves you travel costs and time
Adapting to video conferencing essentially means the money that goes into travel costs for in-person meetings can be saved and put to other uses. With video conferencing, it is easy to feel as if we are in the same room as someone who may be an entire country and time zone away.
However, not all meetings need to be over video. It's important to know when to use video conferencing to stay on track and maintain productivity, but to also be wary about it becoming the new "water cooler."
2. Know why your business size matters
Video conferencing can be as simple as a Facetime call with your grandmother, although that software is not plausible for the workplace. Is your business small or medium-sized? Do you allow your employees to work from home? Depending on these factors, that may affect the type of video conferencing software you choose.
3. Know how to adhere to best practices with video conferencing
The most important practice associated with video conferencing is maintaining good meeting etiquette. This includes muting your microphone when other people are talking, raising your hand when you have something to contribute, and maintaining eye contact with the person you are speaking to.
4. Know how to best deploy the video conferencing technology
To avoid any technical difficulties, it's imperative to consider the most effective ways to deploy video conferencing technology. If you like to do your work in a crowded coffee shop, unplugged from an Ethernet cable and on public Wi-Fi, you aren't going to have the smoothest video call. Similarly, if you are on an older laptop, the video quality may not be the greatest and it's not the fault of the video conferencing software, it's often just the internet connection.
5. Know how much you want to spend
Consider thinking about what you want to gain out of video conferencing. Do you want to create a more connected workforce? Do you want to save on travel costs? Then, create a budget based on what you want to accomplish. Talk to a provider who can help you zero in on the best product for your particular goals. It's important to understand that the more money you are willing to spend, the better-quality video conferencing technology you are going to get. Simply put, you aren't going to get the premium services when using freemium services.
6. Know there may be resistance with videoconferencing
Often, there are great intentions at the beginning of a large change in an organization, but adoption can occasionally be a big hurdle. Some employees may be able to figure out the technology themselves, although a good 80 per cent in an organization need to have their hands held. The most successful companies are those whose leaders push the idea of video communications to get used to the idea of seeing each other face-to-face.
Typically, video conferencing is used internally for businesses, but there is no reason why a company cannot use video in their marketing strategy and to engage with customers.
If you are considering a video conferencing technology for your business and would like more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
