Why You Should Have Online Video Conferencing Regularly

Online video conferencing has taken organizations by storm. Many companies are exploiting this technology to their advantage. There are still many businesses unaware of the potential of video conferencing. Here’s why your IT department should conduct online conferencing for IT regularly using services like Blue Jeans.

Flexible Workplace

Online video conferencing improves workplace flexibility. A study done by global workplace analytics as reported on PC mag shows that there is 3.7 million U.S. workforce working from home half the time. Video conference has changed the traditional office and provides the flexible work timings where employees can spend time with their families and children and yet grow professionally. This trend allows employers to employ professional people outside the geographical boundaries. Working remotely allows businesses to connect quickly with their IT employees to seek professional advice from anywhere in the world.

Increased Engagement

Research shows that people usually multi-task during a phone call rather than a video call. Video conference is more engaging and offers visuals allowing companies to understand their customers and employees better. Businesses can also ensure that employees are paying attention during the conference. As majority of the people are visual learners, it is a compelling case for video conferencing.

Increased Productivity

One of the ways to increase productivity is to share a screen. It helps you save time rather than sending huge files over emails. Screen sharing keeps the team engaged as it allows everyone to be in sync. There is no chance for miscommunication and loss of details. As the entire team is participating, listening, and contributing, it helps increased productivity.

Improved Communication

Online video conferencing fosters better communication and team experience as the meetings can be conducted any time and anywhere with various tools to improve communication. People can share their progress real-time and keep the current status of the project updated. They can also discuss projects, get training to upgrade their skills, and go through performance reviews and have group study circles.
The collaborative notes, video streaming, and other advanced technologies provide a wealth of experience and take collaboration to a new height which no other communication mode can match.

Quality Leads

Having regular meetings with customers help them to understand your products better, and your presentation will stay on top of their mind. It will help generate more leads and also assist in increasing the lead quality. As people attend your meetings since they express interest in your product, you will be readily getting more information about their contacts, demographic data, psychographic information since the customers have committed their time to learn. You can convert these prospective customers into fans by taking this chance and providing value.

Content Marketing

Video conferencing can be used to deliver content as visual, and an interactive material is the trend of the content marketing. Utilizing webinars and recordings to distribute valuable content can be the best way to attract customers. According to the Institute of content marketing, 66 percent of B2B marketers was of the opinion that webinars are successful form of content marketing while 62 percent said that videos are the most efficient method of content creation.

Establish As a Thought Leader

It provides an opportunity for you to establish as a leader in that category. With informative and unique webinars, you can create a buzz in the marketplace with your unique IT concepts and establish yourself as a brand where people want to listen to you. Once people find value in the content you deliver, more people will start listening to you on a regular basis and start converting giving you more business.

New Opportunities

You can use it for bringing in new guests as your partners to promote your services and products. It can have high effect in building a good relationship with the audience. You can also have a strategic partnership with them, which can help you increase number of customers. It will help you to bring new content to the public and increase your brand exposure, which will ultimately lead to more business.

Fine Tune Your Message

Due to real-time feedback visually from the audience on the level of the engagement, your message can be customized and improved to resonate with the public. It helps you deliver the better message and adapt to the circumstances. You can quickly figure out working system. You can assess yourself and your presentation skills, which will give you scope to improve, making yourself better with each passing conference.
In conclusion, it is now a necessity to hold regular video conferences with employees and customers to stay on top of people’s minds and drive organization’s goals and services in this competitive market. It is the best technology that can help you grow by keeping in touch with all the stakeholders of your business all the time.

Source: conferencingadvisors.com

5 videoconferencing fears (and how to overcome them)

More than half (54 percent) of employees regularly take part in work-related video conferences, but not all of them are eager participants, according to a recent report.

In the survey of more than 230 full-time U.S. workers by West Unified Communications, 23 percent of the respondents said that videoconferencing makes them feel uncomfortable, and three-quarters said they still prefer audio to video.

“There’s a definite fear factor among employees when it comes to using videoconferencing,” says Dennis Collins, director of marketing at West. “Just like listening to a recording of your voice makes people uncomfortable, many are uncomfortable with seeing themselves on camera.”

That unease is a major roadblock for many companies that are trying to adopt videoconferencing software and hardware and increase usage among their employees, Collins says.

“You don’t want the tech usurping the attention of video calls. Tech should enable better results, not inhibit it,” he says. “As workplace dynamics shift — with more millennials and fewer [baby boomers] — the use of video will grow.”

Millennials, perhaps unsurprisingly, are most comfortable with videoconferencing tools, according to the report. Of the millennials polled, 61 percent said they frequently use the technology, compared to just 44 percent of Gen Xers and 47 percent of baby boomers.

The differences in how employees react to videoconferencing in the workplace aren’t just generational, nor do people’s videoconferencing fears revolve solely around their concerns about how others will judge their appearances, according to West’s report. Employees worry about everything from public speaking (a concern expressed by 42 percent of the women polled and 34 percent of the men) to the background setting (a preoccupation for 15 percent of the male respondents and 25 percent of the female respondents).

Collins says both individuals and businesses can do things to ensure that people feel more comfortable — and more empowered — when using videoconferencing tools. Here’s a look at users’ top fears, plus tips for overcoming them.

1. I don’t look good on camera

“There’s an old adage that says the camera adds 10 pounds,” Collins says. “Overcoming the fear of seeing yourself on camera takes time and boils down to just getting used to it.”

In addition to just hoping that you grow more comfortable with the idea of seeing yourself on-screen over the course of several video conferences, concentrate on what you can change. For many people, it starts with wardrobe, Collins says. On the “no” list: stripes and busy patterns, which he says don’t translate well to video. Instead, go with solid, neutral colors.

Style of dress may also be a concern — though, compared with their colleagues in the office, people who work from home are probably more likely to fret about what to wear.

“Some people, especially remote workers, are afraid that others won’t think they’re working if they show up wearing a sweatshirt,” he says. “In many workplaces, that stigma [of working outside of the office] seems to have eroded, but if you’re worried about it, then dress up a bit for the meeting.”

2. Everyone can see what I’m doing

It’s not uncommon to multitask during conference calls — you might message others, check email or continue to work on the side. If you’re just on the phone, your fellow attendees likely won’t be aware of what you’re doing. But when you’re participating in a video conference, your actions are on display. This might appear to be a disadvantage of video vis-a-vis audio, but Collins says it may make videoconferencing a better medium for a meeting.

“When you’re on video, it’s clear what you’re doing. On conference calls, you’re probably not doing anything well — listening, working, whatever,” he says. “Generally, people who participate in video conferences are more prepared than they are for conference calls.”

In the West survey, 92 percent of the baby boomers polled reported an increase in attentiveness on video calls, compared to 78 percent of Gen Xers and 68 percent of millennials. If you’re worried about how others might perceive you, it’s best to eliminate all distractions beforehand, Collins says. Log out of messaging apps, silence your phone and tune out email alerts.

3. My house is too messy to be on camera

Three-quarters (76 percent) of the respondents said that distractions such as background noise or clutter in their colleagues’ home offices are major videoconferencing annoyances, according to West. If you’re logging on from home, consider staging your background. This means choosing a location that’s quiet, well-lit and free from clutter, Collins says.

“You need to become aware of your virtual presence,” he says. “Are there dirty dishes behind you? Is your dog running around? Most people aren’t video producers, so they’re unaware of how their surroundings can be distracting to others.”

You should also consider the context of the call when choosing a background. If it’s a quick status update of an internal team of colleagues, your setting can be more relaxed. If it’s a call with a vendor, consider staging the background, Collins says.

“And whether you’re logging on from your home or the office, make sure your window blinds are closed if it’s sunny,” he says. “You don’t want the camera to blast out from the background light, leaving you as a shadow.

4. I hate public speaking

One-third of the men polled and 42 percent of the women reported that their fear of public speaking makes them uneasy during video conferences, according to the report.

“People are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death,” Collins says. “I’ve seen CEOs who are passionate and energetic in small groups, but they’re not that way when they step onto a podium. It’s all psychological.”

As videoconferencing continues to grow more common, Collins says companies need to consider offering professional coaching to help employees overcome their fear of public speaking. However, just 23 percent of the respondents said they had received video etiquette training.

If your company doesn’t offer training in public speaking, consider seeking it out on your own. And until you become more comfortable, remember that there should be no stigma attached to calling in over the phone instead of logging on with video, Collins says.

“If you’re totally uncomfortable with speaking on video — to the point where video conferences are a speed bump instead of something that expedites progress — it shouldn’t be an issue to call in,” he says. “In the end, it’s about getting your work done efficiently, however that may be. This sort of thing takes time.”

5. I’m worried it won’t work

Many people are plagued by technical concerns — the audio or video not working, or the software not connecting properly, for example. Collins says the best way to conquer this fear is to familiarize yourself with the technology by testing it beforehand.

“Test the software, test the hardware, and test everything else, too,” he says. This includes performing a dry run to check on lighting, camera angles, audio quality and any other factors that could create distractions for fellow attendees.

“Take some time to visualize what others will see,” Collins says. For example, “make sure you don’t have confidential information written on a whiteboard behind you and that your lighting looks good,” he suggests. “This will help you feel more comfortable when it’s time for the real thing.”

Source: cio.com