5 Video Conferencing Tips From The Pros

Do you want to get more out of your video conferencing experiences whether it is securing a new client, holding a staff meeting with your team, or discussing creative projects with a colleague? Or are you just new to the world of video conferencing and looking for some tips to give you a leg up? You've come to the right place! In this post, we will introduce you to five video conferencing tips the pros use that will help you get more out of your video collaboration experiences and drive business success.

1. Use The Mute Button to Your Advantage: That mute button you see is there for a reason and if you want a more efficient, professional, and impressive video conference call, you should definitely be using it. Whenever you are not speaking, hit the mute button. This will cancel out any background noise that may interfere with the call and cause you to miss something that someone has said. It is also polite to do this for the person you are conferencing with so that they don't have to hear background chatter or anything else that could distract them. 
2. Dress The Part: You may not be having an in-person meeting with the other participants, but they can still see you; which means you should look just as professional as you would if you were meeting them in person. However, with video collaboration, you have to take it a step further because the wrong colors could be distracting in front of the camera. Stay away from patterned clothing or anything that will be harsh on the eyes. Instead opt for neutral or solid colors. 
3. Don't Try to Control Every Aspect of The Conference Call: Even if you are leading a conference call, you don't want to dominate the conversation. You don't have to be the person speaking at all times and controlling every detail of the video conference call. Allow room for others to speak their mind and be heard. This will get them actively engaged in the meeting, rather than just becoming a passive participant. It also shows your respect for the other participants when you allow them to give input or contribute creative ideas. Practice self-awareness when speaking and consciously make an effort to keep the conversation open and flowing. 
4. Come in Prepared: If the purpose of your video conference call is a presentation, practice for it. Don't go into the meeting with the mentality that you can just wing it. You'll just set yourself up for failure and create a chaotic, ill-prepared environment. Have your talking points ready and, if you have the time, play around with a video recording software a couple of times to get a sense of how the video conference call will flow and how you will lead the conversation.
5. Make Introductions (But Keep it Short): Nobody likes long, drawn out introductions, especially if there are several conference call participants involved. Rather than taking five to ten minutes to introduce yourself and others, keep it pithy with the basic "John is here", "Karen is here", etc. Simply allow for everyone to identify themselves and then move forward to the meat of the conversation. No need to waste time for you and others when you can focus strictly on the goal of the video conference call.  

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