Friday, February 20, 2009

Make Sure To Review The Many Different Conference Calling Services Before Choosing A Service

Conference call services are an indispensable tool for business associates to share information and business owners to inform prospective clients. As all people know and realize, unexpected things happen and people are not always available for meetings and office conferences. That?s why conference calls are such a reliable option. You can communicate with people all over the world at any time just by setting up a conference call. Although some people think the whole process is somewhat hard, conference call services are easy to understand and comprehend.

There are many different services available to choose from. The services you choose will depend on the type of call it is going to be. For instance, if you want the call to be informative and not a lot of "Q and A", than you can choose to mute the listeners. Of course, services will vary from company to company, so do some research before signing up with a company.

Having others call up and participate in a call is not very difficult. The way they get into the call will depend on the service who offers conference calling. People may use a number and be automatically connected, or they may have to enter in a pin number to be connected. Many of these services are toll free, so individual listeners do not have to put money upfront, in the US that is. International users will probably be charged long distance fees by their telephone company.

Many conferences call services will have a set amount of people who can attend a call, while other services will allow you to have as many callers as you want. Many of these companies/services will even allow hundreds of callers to participate in a call. However, the more callers who participate, the more money it will cost the host to set up. Many companies will offer "caller packages". These packages are a certain amount of callers who can participate in a conference and you will pay a set rate for that amount. Obviously you don't want to hold a conference for 300 callers and then only have 30-40 call. That would just be a huge waste of money. Then again, you don't want to be cheap and only be able to support 30-40 callers when 500 people are trying to get in. Be sure to know the volume of callers before settling with a specific plan, or you could just pay per caller to make things easier. Of course, you may only need the conference call for 5-10 people, which means pricing won't be that big of a deal.

If you have frequent conference calls and many of the same people call in all the time, you can save your frequent participants to an address book. The address book will then be used to notify your frequent callers of the next upcoming call. The notifications will usually be done by email, and they will contain the phone number and pin code used to enter the call. The email will contain any information the caller needs in order to join the call at the right time. An email may also be sent from the "invitee" to relay important information ahead of time, such as: they will be calling in late, they will need to disconnect early, etc.

All of these conference call services will do everything they can to make both the host of the call and the attendants feel as comfortable and pleased with the service as possible.

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Conference Calling Service Providers Have Dramatically Changed The Way Businesses Communicate

In the todays world, communication is key. That begin said, a business would have a lot of trouble if they could not communicate on a regular basis, especially if the business associates were always traveling. Obviously, business meetings are still a great way to give and share information with one another, but there are occasions when everyone can not meet at a specific time or place. Thats why conference calls services are such a reliable option and the benefits are truly wonderful.

Considering how much time and money it takes for traveling expenses, such as food, lodging, gas/airfare, your wallet could take a nasty hit. If your the owner of the business and pay all those employee business expenses yourself, your looking at a pretty hefty price. Imagine being able to contact and share information with all those people, who may or may not be scattered all over the world, all at once. Well, you don't have to imagine it, as people are using conference call services everyday, and you can too.

Most conference call service providers allows quite a number of people to participate in a call. If you have a large network of people all over the world, you can easily connect them all to the conference and begin discussing recent news and events, as well as any job announcements or promotions, right there over the phone. Setting the call up and having people connect isn't hard either. You will all have a phone number and all you have to do is dial it. Sometimes you may be required to enter in a pin code, but that shouldn't take more than a few seconds. Once everyone has successfully joined the call, conduct business as you normally would if you were in a board room, its that easy.

Many of these conference call services offer a flat rate for conference calls and the number of people participating. Obviously, a large amount of people in the conference equals a much large price. The amount of time the conference lasts will also effect the overall price as well. If you plan on paying for the entire bill, it can get pretty expensive, especially if you have 35 business associates who need to discuss things for an hour and a half. However, many services offer the option of having the bill divided up amongst each individuals long distance carrier, based on the amount of time they were connected. Most of these conference call service providers do not require reservations, so you are free to start up a conference call whenever you would like. A large majority of these services will also have customer support standing by, so if any problems arise you can be sure it will be taken care of.

Conference calling has truly revolutionized the way businesses communicate with each other. Some may consider conference calling a luxury, but for a growing business to succeed, it more of a necessity. So don't turn your back on it.

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Monday, February 16, 2009

Now, Setting Up A Reservationless Conference Call and Web Conferencing Is Easier Then Ever

Participating in a conference call is "easy peasy lemon squeezy". All you have to do is call up a number, and sometimes enter in a pin code, and bingo, your connected. However, setting up a conference call requires a bit more thinking and planning, as well as some money from your wallet, in most cases. There are different services that companies offer, and you have to consider those when planning out your conference call. The three basic types of conference calls are reservationless conference calls, operator assisted conference calls, and web conferencing.

The most common type has to be reservationless conference calls. This type of service does not require a lot of details nor hassle. You will give the company the information they ask for and in return, you are given a phone number and, usually, two access codes. If you are ready to start the conference call, simply call the number given to you and enter your pin code, which would be the first code. Since this is reservationless conference, people will have to call up themselves and use the other pin code, which should have be given to them by you, via email or some other method. Of course, you will be the first to arrive, so just wait patiently until others start calling in and joining the call.

Operator assisted conference calls are another option you may wish to consider. This service will allow you the option to have an operator call each participant at a specific time and manually add them to the call, rather than you doing it. During the call, the operator may be consulted if you have any problems or requests. They will monitor the overall call and record it if you deem necessary. This type of service is much more expensive then a reservationless or web conference, but its still an excellent choice for people new to conferencing.

Web conferencing is probably the most popular way to hold a conference. These days, everyone has a personal computer with internet access, so don't be too worried about leaving people out. The only problem with this method is that you may need some software in order to host the call. In some cases the software may be expensive, yet in others, the cost may be minimal. It basically depends on the company/software. Problems may arise with the software during the conference, so you may need to have technical support on hand as well, which will usually cost more. Although there can be issues with web conferencing, its still a great way to communicate with others.

Now you know the type of conference calls you can create and be a part of, Congratulations! You are now ready to set-up a conference call yourself. Its natural to be a bit nervous about hosting a conference for the first time, but don't worry. Most companies will walk you through the entire process step by step and answer any questions you might have.

 

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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Audio, Web Or Video Conference Calling - All 3 Help Businesses Communicate But Which Is The Best

Businesses need a means of communication, period. Sometimes communicating with many business associates can be tough, as not everyone can attend a meeting at a moments notice. Also, business owners may need to inform potential clients about an opportunity or product and the only way to really get the point across would be to talk to them. Sure, emails can be used and sent to hundreds of people, but emails are a bit impersonal, and sometimes they just don't get the job done. Thats why conference call services are such a wonderful asset to the world of communication.

There are a few different types of conferences, and the one you choose will depend on the topic, or the meeting agenda. There are two main choices, which are audio only and web only. However, its quite common to have people who go with a mix of the two types. Think about the information you plan on sharing and decide whether or not it would be better with "pictures, videos, and slide shows" or just plain old talking.

The audio only conference calls are quite simple and all you need is a telephone. The person hosting the call will, of course, have to set it up through a conference call service, but other than that the whole process is easy to understand. People can join in one of two ways. The first method: the host of the call will dial the individual numbers and add each of them to the call when they answer. The second method: the potential participants will dial the numbers that were given to them and be connected to the call. They will either be connected directly to the conference or be asked to enter a pin number to be granted access.

The web only conference is conducted via the World Wide Web, obviously. This type of conference allows the host to share information with all attendees, such as slide show presentations and videos. The host may either choose the information to be read-only, or he may allow the participants to download it to their computers. Discussions are usually done via an IM board, instant messaging board, where people may talk at will.

The audio and web conference is basically a combination of the two that offers the same features. In this instance, you will not use a telephone for the audio, but a computer microphone or head-set. All participants do not have to have a a microphone or head-set, only the ones who wish to talk require it. As long as the participants have working speakers, they should be able to hear everything clearly. Web/audio conferences are basically board room meetings without the boardroom, which makes it the most appealing option, as you don't even have to leave the comfort of your home.

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A popular conference calling website that specializes in providing low cost audio, video and web conference calling solutions

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Thursday, February 5, 2009

How Would Conference Calling Services Help Improve My Business?

Many people ask "Would conference call services help my business?" Yes, it very well could help your business quite a bit. However, it will depend on your particular business and what it is you really do. You could have a conference call on pretty much any topic, but sometimes a conference call would be pointless. If your part of a small family owned hardware store, do you really need to have a conference call to inform people that you have hardware supplies? No, of course not. Thats why conference calls are usually used by larger businesses who have employees who travel frequently, or its used by business owners and entrepreneurs to inform hundreds of prospects about a "GREAT" NEW product or opportunity.

If you own a business, or are part of a large business, you may find yourself frequently using conference call services. It may seem like a basic three-way phone call to you at times, but these conference call services can hold dozens of people, and sometimes hundreds as well. When you stop and think about it, it does make a lot of sense. Why would a person spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for travel expenses to get from "here to there" in order to meet with clients and/or make it to board meetings? All they have to do is go through a conference call service provider and they can talk to any amount of clients or business associates they need to.

Obviously, not everything can be done over the phone and your associates or clients may need a visual representation to understand what it is you are talking about. Well, theres a solution to that problem too. Its called a web conference. A web conference will allow you to share videos, files, pictures, and presentations with the participants as if you were actually face to face with all of them. Its pretty much the same concept as a telephone conference call, except you don't use a telephone, you use your internet connection. In todays society, its rare to see a business man, or even a stay at home mom, without a computer or laptop. So, having others join the web conference should not be a hassle.

Of course if your new to conference calling, you shouldn't sign up for a conference call service right before a big merger or sale. You might come across as a bit unprofessional if problems arise and you don't know what to do. Therefore, you should try a newly acquired conference call service with family, friends, and/or co-workers in order to get the hang of the service.

Conferencing calling is a great way to lighten the load of traveling expenses for you and/or your employees. The option is always there and people are using conference call services every day, so what are you waiting for?

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A popular conference calling website that specializes in providing low cost audio, video and web conference calling solutions

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Monday, February 2, 2009

Great News - Conference Call Services Are Not As Complicated As You Think

Among this world of many things, theres the not-so complicated and the really complicated. For example, the inner workings of a car or boat are complicated, while making a peanut butter & sandwich or ham sandwich is not. For a business, having things that are simple and direct is an absolute must and thats whys conference call services are such invaluable tool. For those who haven't caught on yet, conference call services are not complicated and can be used whenever you need them.

Hosting a conference call is more complicated than joining one, but still quite simple. All you do is call a conference call provider and set up the call. They will ask you a few questions, such as what time you want the conference to start, an estimate of the length of the conference, the amount of people who may be attending, and any additional features you may want to have during the call. Once all those questions have been answered, you will be given a telephone number and possibly two pass codes. The first pass code is yours and the second one is what you will give to the people who wish to attend the conference. Give the phone number, the time of the call, and the pass code to everyone who wishes to participate, and then get ready to have yourself a conference call.

When the time comes to start the conference call, you will dial the number and then enter in your pass code. You will then be entered into your conference area where you will await the other callers. The participants will dial the phone number given to them and enter in the code they received. The very first person to enter the conference will usually hear on-hold music until the next caller dials in. Most of these services allow people to join at any time, so if you happen to be late, don't worry, you can still join in on the call.

The host, or presenter, will have a variety of options at his disposal. The most common option is mute, which can be used to mute the entire room or just the host, allowing other members to talk. This is a great way to do some Q & A and allow only a few people to be heard at one time, rather than everyone trying to speak up at once. All of this will be done through a series of button combinations, or you can just ask the operator to do it for you, if you have an operator assisted call that is.

There are so many different options and companies out there that it is hard not to come across a conference call service you like. Conference calling is a valuable asset to every business, and those who use conference calling services truly appreciate the benefits.

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A popular conference calling website that specializes in providing low cost audio, video and web conference calling solutions

 

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