Your 1st WebConference: How To Make it a Success
Here are some basics to help you manage a successful web conference or webinar:
Before the conference:
1. Preparing your agenda before starting the meeting ensures a smooth flow to the conference. Outline the important topics carefully. Have a list of questions and answers handy.
2. In most cases, meetings should not exceed around 2 hours. Long conferences will tend to create boredom, restlessness, and a reduction in effectivness.
3. Line up all the products, visual aids, and other demonstrations you will need. Coordinate with others if need be.
4. Become familiar with the webinar or conference software. Make sure to be at a test run with your IT people so that you’ll be able to make sure that the audio, visuals, and and applications are working correctly. Make sure links, documents and graphics work, especially if you’re planning on sending sharing them with colleagues. Make sure the font you are using with your visual presentation is large enough to be easily read. Avoid using too many words with your graphic aids, since they tend to look crowded on a computer screen.
Make sure to give yourself enough testing time to work out any technical glitches which may arise.
5. Dress appropriately for the meeting. Intense colored or patterned shirts or blouses can be a distraction.
6. Assemble your presentation team early in order to go over any last minute problems or changes. Test the tools and application to prevent embarrassing moments after the meeting has started. Also send a notice to the participants reminding them of the starting time.
Attention to detail and planning are key factors to a successful video conference or webinar. Your first conference will likely have at least a few small bumps in the road, but each successive conference ensures that the next one will have a smoother result.
