In the last post I talked about my big move to the east coast where I was sent to open up my west coast company’s new operations. I felt honored to be selected for such an important role and was up to the challenge and excited for the opportunity. It was a big change for me to be sure but such things only come around every so often and I seized the chance.

I had a big challenge ahead of me and much on my plate in terms of coordinating efforts. Video conference was going to be a big part of the process for me. I needed to be able to communicate with my team back home without traveling back and forth. Phone and email, while obviously important on a day to day basis, would not give me the versatility that I needed at this point in time. Video conference would allow me the flexibility to achieve the goals we were setting and changing almost hour to hour.

Video conference was one of the first things that I sought after moving into the offices. It has brought many benefits including the ability to:

• Show management construction and design drawings on the spot and have them approve. This was incredibly important as we were setting up our physical space as well as getting down to business.

• Have up to the minute meetings regarding budget. Our finances changed nearly minute to minute – we needed to be able to adapt according to whatever was thrown our way.

• Collaborate on projects. While I was on one coast there were still important projects happening on the other. We needed to be bi-coastal in our efforts and video conference allowed us to work closely with team members regardless of our distance.

Popularity: 20% [?]

I started working with this great company on the west coast about five years ago. I really loved what I did and I loved the company as well as the area in which I was living. I worked my way steadily up the ladder and when the owners came to me with a proposition I had a difficult time refusing the offer though it meant a huge change in my life. They asked me to open up the company’s new east coast operations which meant moving my life across the country; but it was an opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down. I was excited to make the move and get things up and going in the new office. I had a lot of great ideas and was anxious to start implementing them.

One of the things that I was absolutely steadfast about using was video conference. The fact of the matter was that the east coast office was eventually going to be an independent entity but for now we were working very, very closely with the west coast headquarters. We needed a way to effectively communicate and email and phone calls were not going to cut it since we had so many people working on simultaneous projects on our team.

We didn’t have the budget for back and forth travel. I was on my own physically but could call on the support of my west coast team through video conference – something that I was going to be calling on a lot in the weeks and months to come. I knew that with effective communication on my side I could get the answers that I needed, as well as introduce topics that could be addressed by all the appropriate parties at the same time. More in the next post about how video conference would become an integral part of our move.

Popularity: 18% [?]

It is a fast and furious world of business that we are operating in from day to day. Those of us in the trenches know the pace at which we need to move in order to stay in the game; slowing down is not an option. There is money to be made, clients to win over, projects to complete, and businesses to grow. It may be chaotic and, at times, downright stressful but for those of us who truly love what we do we thrive on the energy of getting it all done.

Of course getting it all done is easier than ever with modern technology on our side. Web conference, for example, is one of the ways in which companies of all sizes are able to stay on pace with their projects and satisfy clients’ changing demands at a moment’s notice. Web technology available through web conferencing makes available shared applications – allowing participants to share information back and forth easily and conveniently.

Think of what web conference can really bring to the table in this day and age. Companies are just as likely to do business with people the world over as they are to do business with someone down the street. This requires better methods of communication – especially when collaborating on specific projects that need to be handled on the spot. Components are submitted for review, changes are requested that need to be made immediately, and adjustments may continue to be forthcoming. Web conferencing allows for the ability to adjust quickly to new information and to react accordingly. Web conferencing – and other resources of its kind – make companies look good and show their clients that they are able to adapt to whatever changes they throw their way. Things move fast. Companies want to be able to work with vendors that can keep up. Web conferencing allows that to happen.

Popularity: 26% [?]

At the pace that we all live our lives it helps to know that certain things are on the calendar; that there are set activities on which we can count and that will help us stay on track and reach our goals. This is especially important for those who are working in a situation in which they may not be in the same physical location as their co-workers or superiors. The work-at-home situation or even working in a different location when a company has a number of different offices in operation, can present challenges that require consistently superior communication. Setting scheduled meetings helps to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that there will be a forum in which they can share and receive information. Audio conferencing can allow for successful meetings regardless of the location of the participants.

By setting up scheduled audio conferencing sessions in which you can invite participants who may be working independently they have the peace of mind of knowing they have the ability to “check in” and communicate with co-workers. Audio conferencing allows for participants in all locations to simply dial in to the given number, input the access code, and join the conference call. Audio conferencing meetings that are scheduled to take place on a regular basis offer a number of benefits including:

• Accountability. Working on your own or out of the physical loop of team members can mean that projects can easily go off track. Having scheduled audio conferencing meetings in which participants must give a status report and will be asked questions can motivate workers to stay on top of their assignments.

• Updates. When working on projects the scope of work can change unexpectedly. Audio conferencing can allow for ongoing updates that ensure that everyone is working with the same information.

• Brainstorming. Working alone can often feel like working in a vacuum. Audio conferencing allows for co-workers to bounce ideas off of each other and get answers to their questions.

Popularity: 32% [?]

When teleconferencing services are most often considered they are considered for business uses. They are spoken of – and rightfully so in most cases – as tools for helping companies conduct their business most effectively; of allowing parties in all parts of the world to communicate with ease despite their physical distance and share information that will allow them to do business together conveniently. This is all true. Audio conferencing allows participants – as many as you want – to dial into one single phone call to share in the information being disseminated. Web conferencing allows users to share information online and walk participants through documents that they are all able to see at the same time – in addition to hearing the speaker explain the material. Video conference allows those in meetings to see the speaker as well as hear the speaker; a wonderful tool for businesses that are striving for effective international operations while still maintain their personal touch.

All of these services are infinitely beneficial to businesses of all sizes in all industries. But they are also infinitely beneficial in the personal realm as well, especially as friends and families so often live lives far apart from each other and still want the ability to communicate without any obstacles in their way.

In fact, audio conferencing may allow for family members who are traveling to touch base week to week so that friends and family back home can hear about their adventures all at once. Web conference can just as easily be used to share school papers from grandchildren far away or architectural plans for a home to be built on another coast. Video conference allows people to actually see the friends and family most precious to them – as well as to hear them.

In modern times, modern conveniences abound for business – as well as personal use.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Anyone in business knows the process of closing a big deal. It can go on forever – seemingly, anyway. There are hoops to jump through, dances to dance, and shows to perform in an effort to show prospective clients what you have to offer. This is a big deal and must be handled appropriately in order for things to have the desired outcome. The added challenge comes from the fact that companies are connecting with each other from all over the world. The ability to do business in this manner is wonderful but it also presents logistical challenges especially when trying to close a big deal.

Luckily there are options for giving a sales pitch a personal touch without having to come out of pocket for travel expenses in this delicate economy. Teleconferencing services bring something to the table that can hold up to the modern way of doing business. Video conference, especially, allows for people who are far apart to still connect in a personal manner.

By setting up video conference, participants can see and hear each other as if they are physically in the same room. Speakers can lead a meeting in this virtual manner without ever breaking stride on their message. What this means for those participating in a video conference and trying to close a deal is the ability to:

• See and hear each other so that questions so can be responded to immediately. Questions that are answered put potential clients at ease; you don’t want to leave any room for doubt.

• Show prospective clients that you are able to quickly adapt to any situation and remain responsive to their needs regardless of the distance between you.

• Demonstrate your comfort level with modern technology.

• Allow potential clients to really get to know your personality; it’s one thing to hear someone’s voice on the phone and quite another to see them in “person.”

Popularity: 24% [?]