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Archive for the ‘How Tos’ category

Choosing the Right Conference Tool

April 26th, 2010

Audio or web conferencing? Which is the right one for your company? The choice between the two communication tools might seem unlikely since web conferencing itself has an audio component, but they can be two very different communication tools.

Audio conferencing is essentially a multi-way call that involves more than two parties. There are even phones that are produced specifically for this in the market. On the other end, web conferencing utilizes the power of the internet to allow real time communication regardless of location. Unlike audio conferencing, it offers a host of other features such as whiteboard, file transfer and video streaming.

According to online reports from AMI Research, most small businesses will opt for audio conferencing in the coming year. This can likely be explained by two things: that despite obvious growth web conferencing has yet to achieve full market acceptance and audio conferencing solutions is often the more affordable option. The latter is even more relevant when you consider that smaller businesses are often working with a tighter budget. web conferencing or audio conferencing

The AMI report predicted increase spending on both web and audio conferencing products in the next few years. Combined, the total market for the two products is expected to grow from $1.5 billion to roughly $2.7 billion by 2014. AMI Senior Consultant Karen Nielsen suggests that small business is driving the push towards conferencing products.

Part of this can be attributed to the fact that starting out with a smaller budget forces small business to adopt a savings mindset. In fact, Nielsen was quoted online as saying, “We would expect the greatest growth in usage for both audio and web conferencing to come from the small business segment with under 100 employees.”

So, if you own a small business, now may be a good time to explore conferencing options. It is highly likely that most audio conferencing users will turn to web conferencing products as their needs change over time and their companies grow. In the meantime, web conferencing companies also need to keep smaller enterprises in sharp focus. So by all means, research both audio and web conferencing companies and compare their offerings. Remember, with the kind of spending expected on these products in the next few years, if you are not utilizing them, your competitors certainly will be.

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Posted in How Tos, Web Conferencing

Tags: audio conferencing communication tool small business web conference

Using Web Conferencing to Succeed in Your Business

April 8th, 2010

What does it take to ensure success in your business? The truth is there are no real simple answers, but there are guidelines that can set you on the right direction towards success. While specifics will vary from business to business, the following tips will give you a head start on building a solid customer base regardless of the scope of the business. web conferencing gets you to the top

Profit Bearing Habits

While not an exhaustive list, the following will give a basic idea of ways get your business into the customer base building mode:

The customer is king, or queen: It may sound like a tired refrain to say that the customer is always right, but this adage still rings true today. Always be willing to listen to your customers and be prepared to go the extra mile for those that aren’t quite satisfied.

Upgrade your skills: There is always something new to learn in just about any field. The smart business owners stay on top of changes in their industry so they can stay ahead of competition in services and offerings.

Importance of network: There are so many opportunities for building vital links for your business. These include trade shows and expos, family gatherings and even high school reunions. This simply means letting others know what you do in order to create your own opportunities.

Get the right tools: No business can succeed without the necessary implements of the trade. Computers and various types of software are pretty much bare necessities these days. However, other solutions that are fast becoming must haves include web conferencing tools, smart phones and internet based promotional tools.

Add to this list as needed for your business. This is simply a guide that can serve as a springboard to profitability. Many businesses choose to promote themselves online as it is more cost effective method over traditional advertising. The boom in business video conferencing and web collaboration tools use underscores the need for fast and reliable communications. Keep in mind that if you ignore the basics of good business habits, your competitor won’t.

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Posted in How Tos, Web Conferencing

Tags: web collaboration web conference

Digging Yourself Out of an Email Mess

April 2nd, 2010

With the dominance of the internet in our lives, email horror stories as abundant as snow in the East coast this winter. Emails have played a role in major lawsuits and have made up the more salacious aspects of tabloid stories. This is not a petition for removing emails from our lives; on the contrary, emails, if properly managed can be kept for a variety of reasons.

Business Policy on Emails

For many companies, especially larger enterprises, managing emails is simply a part of the company’s records management policy. For this reason it is best to avoid using the company’s email for personal correspondence. Company emails are kept as part of the company’s records for reasons including:

Dealing with possible future litigation
Evidence of business activity
For archival purposes

Ways to Manage Email

Most email applications like Outlook have their own built-in management features. Even so, a high volume of emails can still be overwhelming. Below are a few simple steps to keep track of emails:

Use folders generously and label them properly. Nothing is worse than digging through a long list of old emails to find a specific one.
Answer emails promptly and delete those no longer needed.
Keeping your message succinct – this will make answering them easier.
Set up an address book and use it.
Use special tags for categorization.
Subject lines should reflect content of the email.

Storing Email Attachments

In business communication emails frequently come with attachments. By storing the emails on your computer and removing them from your inbox will prevent your email storage quota from being reached too quickly. No one wants to have an important email bounced because of a full inbox.

Email is often a convenient way to transfer files used in web presentations. This further highlights the need to title emails properly and organize them in appropriate folders. This way they can easily be inserted into PowerPoint presentations without a hitch. Emails itself can also be inserted into an online meeting. This will be guided by the company’s policy as it relates to employee hierarchy and viewing policy. The format also allows for the creation of video emails, which can be saved and viewed later depending on the web conferencing solution being used.