When it comes to servicing my clients I am an absolute stickler for details - I only want the best for them because this is the best reflection on me and my company. Successful business is built on customer relations - on clients knowing that they can count on you to deliver what they need in the most efficient manner possible. I have found - in the most recent years as technology has continued to expand - that web conferencing allows me to deliver the best results for my clients; giving me the ability to immediately and comprehensively respond to their business needs in the most professional and effective way that I can.

Web conferencing is the modern day equivalent to booking a conference room and getting down to the business of the day - conveniently facing those with whom you are conducting this business. While the modern world has expanded our ability to do business it has stretched us very thin in a number of ways. We can do business with someone half way around the world because of technology but it has limited our ability to deliver personal service unless of course we have the money to travel to visit that client and most of us do not.

Web conferencing allows for the best of all worlds - the convenience of being able to conduct business around the world and the ability to still deliver personalized service. We can logon to a scheduled web conference and conduct a meeting like we would under any traditional circumstances. The only difference, of course, is our physical location. Web conferencing shows us that we do not have to be in the same room with someone to show them professional, courteous, personalized customer service. The best results are the only results that will do for me and web conferencing gives me the best tools that I need to success - hands down.

Popularity: 27% [?]

In the last post we talked about the current job market and the stress that it has put employees under. Many have had to endure the loss of their job and are now pounding the pavement in a job market that is competitive to say the least. Companies that are hiring are bombarded with resumes and applications when a job position is open and they certainly don’t have the time to be able to meet with every applicant that comes their way. Instead, they look to job search engines and even recruitment agencies to narrow down the applicant list based on set criteria. From there it is up to the company to weed through the competition to identify those who may fit the position most appropriately.

As we began talking about, video conference is a great way to consider applicants for a particular position because it allows companies to “meet” with those who meet initial criteria – without committing to an in-person meeting which can cost time and money. With so many people applying for one position it is important to be able to quickly weed through the pack and identify those who are worth meeting. There’s only so much information that you can garner from a resume or application; actually talking to the person gives companies far more information regarding the applicant’s personality and how well they might fit into the organization. While it may be inconvenient to set up a traditional meeting, a meeting via video conference allows for a much more convenient and accessible way to conduct a pre-interview and get to know someone without having to actually be in the same room with them. Then, of course, should you actually like the person who you meet through video conference you can then make arrangements to meet them for a more traditional, formal interview.

Popularity: 24% [?]

The job market is tough right now as so many of us are well aware. Companies nationwide have had to cut their workforce in lieu of closing their doors entirely and employees have suffered the repercussions – forced back out into a job search that often leaves them empty handed; especially when you consider how many people they are up against for one position. From an employer’s standpoint – those that are hiring anyway – there is obvious difficulty in weeding through what can be hundreds and even thousands of applications and resumes for one position. We look to the experts to help us pare down the choices and we set any criteria that are important in order to save time in our search.

No one has the time to interview the multitude of candidates who may be appropriate for the position especially when it means reaching out to potential candidates who are in other parts of the country. There is a financial – as well as time – consideration and it makes more sense to rely at least partially on the modern technology available to us. Video conference is wonderful in this capacity.

Video conference is a part of the overall landscape of teleconferencing services and serves to connect people in a way that allows them to see as well as hear each other; a meeting that does not require the sharing of physical space. Video conference has been used in a variety of ways in business and hiring is one of them. Employers who have at least initially narrowed down the potential candidates for their open position can then have the opportunity to review those candidates through video conference – keeping the investment (both financial and time) low. More in the next post about how video conference can make a big difference in the hiring process…

Popularity: 25% [?]

Web conferencing has become all the rage in businesses across the world. Why? In all likelihood because it coincides so deeply with the trend of doing business on a global scale. We are no longer confined to our own towns and cities; we are able to reach across the miles and conduct business just as easily as we would with someone down the street. But one of the reasons that we are able to do this so comfortably is because of the communication tools that we have available to us. Web conferencing allows us to communicate with each other seamlessly without having to be in an actual office together; and that is a huge benefit considering that none of us have the travel budgets anymore to fly off at a moment’s notice for a meeting or to work on a project.

Through web conferencing you can communicate with meeting participants, discuss a topic back and forth, access the same documents live over the web and essentially do everything that you would do in a traditional meeting without having to actually be in the same space.

We use web conferencing in order to keep in touch with our other offices – of which there are five around the world. Time differences are an issue in our business – we are always trying to coordinate our meetings but with web conferencing we can forget trying to coordinate five offices in a physical location and instead set up a date and time for a web conference during which all of our participants meet as scheduled.

Teleconferencing services as a whole – audio conferencing, web conference, video conference – have allowed us to work as a team despite our physical separation and this is a substantial benefit in this day and age when everything moves so fast and furious.

Popularity: 33% [?]

In the last post we talked about how video conference can add so much to a company’s need to maintain control during what can be a chaotic transition. Our company, for instance, was experiencing its own transition in that we were adding another office to our existing branches that already included our headquarters and two other locations. We were now adding a third location that was just as far from headquarters as the other locations. But because employees were switching between offices and because we had sent key people to the new location to get up and operational we had a real need to communicate as effectively as possible. Video conference gave us the tools that we needed to communicate with each other as often as we needed to and to manage a situation that could very easily get out of control.

Some of the benefits provided to us through the use of video conference include:

• The ability to set a punch list and check in on a daily basis as to who is doing what, if the goal has been accomplished, and what, if anything, needs to be handled in order for it to move forward in a positive direction.

• The ability to hear each other out and do so respectfully in as close to a meeting situation as possible. We couldn’t be in each other’s presence physically but at least we could see each other and that went a long way towards helping us to better communicate.

• A heads up to any potential obstacles. With things moving so fast we needed to know right away if anything could put us off track. By meeting on video conference we were able to do just that and manage whatever came our way very quickly.

Popularity: 25% [?]

There are times within every business organization when there is unavoidable transition; and the ensuing chaos can either be managed or succumbed to by employees. Obviously in an ideal situation it’s best when the transition is managed effectively but distance can be a hindrance to this if the company in question has a multitude of locations. In this situation, video conference can be an enormous benefit to an organization.

Video conference allows people to see as well as hear each other over the web; and it’s become a serious tool in a business world that continues to grow on a global scale. Businesses are – more and more – dealing with the reality of managing a variety of offices and the need to communicate with each other in a more effective manner continues. Audio conferencing used to be one of the only methods of communicating with multiple parties at the same time but video conference takes it to the next level. It has been extremely helpful in our current situation as we expand our operations.

Our current transition includes the opening of another branch of our operations. Our headquarters is in one location and we have two additional offices on opposite sides of the country. This third office will be opening in the middle states and it has put us in the position of having to coordinate four offices in terms of communication. We can either do this as effectively as possible and maximize our potential for success or we can give it less than 100% effort and suffer the consequences that come with that. We went all in by scheduling video conference meetings several times a week during this transition and it has helped us to navigate this choppy period of time. In the next post we’ll talk about the benefits that video conference has given us.

Popularity: 22% [?]

If you have ever tried to lead a discussion with a multitude of people – with differing opinions and strong personalities – then you know how difficult it can be to keep things on track. This is a challenge in person; can you imagine the difficulties that come with leading such a discussion when the parties involved are not in the same room? Modern teleconferencing services, however, have allowed those in charge of such conversations to take the reins with authority for effective and successful results.

Audio conferencing services today are much different than the conference call of yesterday. Today’s audio conferencing allows for a full range of services that allow you to better control your experience and utilize those tools that will optimize your chances for success. Some of the services that are optional with audio conferencing include:

• The option of a full-time operator to manage the event including the ability to have the operator provide lectures and Q&A. You can, of course, lead the call yourself but having the option of an operator can come in handy depending on the circumstances.

• The option of digital record and playback so you can keep careful track of what happened during the meeting and can refer to the playback for easy reference.

• Web conference so that participants can reference information online real time during the actual audio conferencing session. This is especially important when going over project paperwork.

• Self Registration for detailed attendance report and extra level of security.

There are many ways in which companies communicate with each other these days and audio conferencing is just one of them. Look for a vendor that provides comprehensive audio conferencing services along with web conferencing and video conference for a full range of options when it comes to communicating with your clients, vendors, and co-workers.

Popularity: 29% [?]

No matter where a client is in the world and no matter where their vendors are, they expect to be paid the appropriate attention when they need it. The responsibility of the modern business is to demonstrate to those for whom they do work that they can rise to the challenge put in place by distance. With so many of us doing work with companies around the globe we need to be able to communicate effectively despite the physical distance and within the parameters of cost-effectiveness. Video conference is one of the most effective tools currently available to help us combat distance and give our clients the attention they need and deserve.

With video conference in place participants in web conferencing services can see each other as well as hear each other; giving us the most accurate alternative to a traditional meeting without actually having to be in the same physical location. Video conference is one among the many tools in the web conferencing arsenal – put in place to help us better communicate in this electronic age. More than anything video conference is a great way to demonstrate firsthand to our clients how receptive and responsive we can be to their needs regardless of distance. Video conference offers:

• The chance to see your audience. Phone conferencing is great but sometimes the message can be lost in translation, so to speak. Video conference allows you to see the people you are talking to and vice versa so that the message - and its intention - is clear.

• That personal touch. Face to face meetings are always best but, let’s face it - in this day and age it’s not always economical. Video conference allows you to personally address your clients without incurring the cost of travel.

• The chance to show your dedication. Clients want to know that their needs will be addressed quickly. Video conference shows that you can handle whatever comes your way.

Popularity: 21% [?]