When I was a kid, my dad would always stress the importance of forming “good habits,” because, as he would say, the bad ones only get harder to break as you get older. And while I didn’t put much thought into it at the time, now I see how right he was (and still is).
Today’s technology is ever-evolving. Often it seems as though once you’ve managed to master one product or service, it’s being replaced by something else. Audio, web, and video conferencing is no different. Sure, modern conferencing services are more user-friendly than ever before, but hosting a conference is no easy feat; it’s easy to get lost in traditional introductions and complex PowerPoint® slides and spreadsheets. When that happens, you run the risk of losing the art of “hosting” to business formalities and miss out on the chance to meet your participants in an impactful way.
So, with the help of our friends at PGi, we have compiled a list of event best-practices that will help to keep your participants engaged and eager to come back for more:
- Practice – the saying “practice makes perfect” is still used today because it’s true. Nothing slows down a meeting faster than a host fumbling over the technology. Not only will it cause your participants to lose focus, but many will view it as a waste of their valuable time, making them less likely to attend your future conferences. Today’s audio conferencing and web conferencing solutions offer a robust, comprehensive list of features to improve communication and collaboration that, although user-friendly, require practice to navigate and execute properly.
- Eliminate the guess work for your participants – as the conference host you should leave little to the imagination when it comes to what your participants should expect from attending your conference. This includes everything from why they were invited to participate and how your participants will join the conference, to the agenda, meeting goals, dress code (for web and video conferences), etc.
- Cut out unnecessary downloads – opt for and video conferencing, audio or web conferencing service that does not require specific browsers or special downloads for participants to join. That way you can ensure all of your attendees will arrive on time and without any hassle
- Organization is key – even in a virtual conference, disorganization will lead to distraction, confusion, and ultimately a lack of participant engagement. Before the start of your meeting preload your PowerPoint slides and presentation materials into your conference so they are readily accessible as soon as you begin
Audio, Video or Web Conferencing Services
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