Audio And Web Conferencing Basics

Written by Steven Bryan

It's possible these days to host a very efficient conference call simply by using computers or Web phones connected to a broadband connection. As effective as the spoken word is by itself, audio and web conferencing is a much more powerful business tool.

Combining voice and visuals
Thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), your employees no longer have to gather around a conference phone to meet with associates working in other offices. VoIP can turn just about any computer into a telephone, which means that everyone simply sits at their workstation to participate.

Adding the visual elements to a traditional conference call greatly increases its value, though, which is where audio and Web conferencing comes in handy. It's almost like a high-tech version of "Show and Tell," but this type of conference does get the point across quickly.

Audio and Web conferencing applications
By preparing a series of slides to go along with your spoken presentation, you can use audio and Web conferencing in various ways:

Instant feedback: Collaboration is one of the best reasons to hold a meeting. By showing and telling your employees about new designs, processes, campaigns, or policies, you can get their feedback more efficiently than by just sending them a document or presentation.

For the most effective use of audio and Web conferencing, you may want to email the presentation to each participant ahead of time. They can have it handy during the conference and jot down notes and questions as the presenter speaks.

Product launches: For your associates, you can outline the benefits of a new product or service and show how to effectively market it. The presentation also can be recorded for buyers who are interested in your product.

Corporate training: When rolling out a new software package or upgrade, you can demonstrate the functions and features as well as answer specific questions from conference participants.

When used correctly, audio Web conferencing actually can be more economical than a traditional conference call. Connecting participants via the Internet can eliminate the long distance charges that typically are incurred when employees are located in another country.

Using a provider
Unless you have a web conferencing system in place and the IT staff to support it, you'll probably have to rely on a third-party company that provides audio Web conferencing services. You'll want to compare at least 3 or 4 service providers to find one that can handle both the audio and visual aspects of the meeting for a reasonable price. Use BuyerZone's free request for web conferencing quotes service to be connected with several qualified web conferencing services.