Web Conferencing:
Web conferencing just needs
an Internet connection and a browser. This means that while you're listening
to a call for instance through audio conferencing (a telephone conference
call), you also can see a related presentation, report or photograph on your
computer screen Web browser. This is done through Web conferencing features.
Web conferencing is one of the newer technology advances. And web
conferencing is here to stay! It's growing in popularity. So get used to
this evolving technology. And start learning some of the terminology and
features associated with web conferencing. Here is some web conferencing
talk:
Web Conferencing -
Web conferences are also called Web meetings. A presenter utilizes
Web conferencing to show a visual to his geographically-dispersed audience.
For instance, the presenter may walk the Web conference participants through
training on a new software program; through a sales or contract bid
proposal; through a Website tour; through a PowerPoint slide show; and more.
To join the Web conference,
participants or attendees go to an URL announced by the Web
conference host, organizer or scheduler (that's you if you're
in charge of the meeting) and put in their passwords or meeting code. You
(the meeting organizer) will purchase your web conferencing services from a
company that will provide you with the URL and any needed set-up support.
Your meeting attendees are just participating in or joining your online
meeting so they do not need to have a Web conferencing account or vendor.
That's your purchase. As the meeting organizer or scheduler, you will start
the actual meeting by first entering your account information and logging
in. Then the invited attendees can join in the online meeting by entering
their passwords.
Obviously, all of the Web
conferencing participants need an Internet connection and Web browser.
You're probably using one of the popular Web browsers now such as
Internet Explorer. And while you don't have to use Web conferencing with
audio conferencing (a telephone conference call), people often do. Some Web
conferencing service vendors offer an audio conference call optional feature
as part of their sales package. The benefit of the audio portion is it's a
way you can talk about what you're seeing too (though you can write notes or
chat in Web conferencing).
Some of the things you can
do through Web conferencing include that you can...
...collaborate on documents
in real time, including actual editing.
...share ideas in real time
(and securely through encryption security).
...perform live product
demonstrations and/or sales pitches.
...hold online meetings,
presentations and training.
...show any application on
your computer to the participants.
...share applications.
...do web tours.
...have chat amongst
participants or Q&A sessions.
...have interactive
meetings live amongst geographically dispersed field offices or teams.
...meet one-on-one with
someone or have many participants in the meeting.
It doesn't take much, if
any, training to host or participate in a Web conference. Your Web
conferencing service provider will tell you what little you need to know to
get started, including any minimum computer hardware requirements. There are
many Web conferencing services vendors such as WebEx.com and
GoToMeeting.com. Search the Web for others; or ask colleagues what Web
conferencing service they use.
Look at several Web
conferencing service providers (also called online meeting service
vendors). Perhaps make a spreadsheet of the vendor prices and features
before choosing one in particular to try first. And try another the next
time if you're not completely satisfied with your first choice. Or better
yet, take advantage of any trial offers to give Web conferencing a test run
before the actual purchase and before the actual real meeting you'll
organize and/or host.
The big benefit of
Web conferencing is everyone with a computer browser can do it from
their desk without traveling to a meeting room or even to the next office.
And it's an affordable option for most companies that takes very little
know-how or computer savvy from participants.
(c) Karen Porter
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Also, try:
Tip Sheet #10: An Overview of Web Conferences, Audio Conferences
and Video Conferences (Including When to use Them)
Tip Sheet #11: How to Plan & Implement Web Conferences (Plus Participation
Tips Too)
Tip Sheet #12: How to Plan & Implement Audio Conferences (Plus
Participation Tips Too)
Tip Sheet #13: How to Plan & Implement Video Conferences (Plus
Participation Tips Too)
available from The
Effective Admin Store.
Click here:
Web conferencing, audio
conferencing and video conferencing. If your boss or company is not
utilizing any of these meeting formats he or she will soon. Count on it!
This technology is not going away! Get an overview of all three tech meeting
formats and learn the basics about them so you'll have a good foundation of
what everyone is talking about.
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roduced by Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™ and Founder and President of The Effective Admin:
"My specialty is
serving administrative professionals like you with job performance and career
management advice. I have 24 years experience interacting with the 'real'
workplace and working administrative professionals."