How to Hold an Inexpensive Web Conference

Running a business can be expensive but there are ways to cut costs and keep operating successfully. With more and more people doing business with companies and individuals that don’t necessarily live or work in their hometown, things like web conferences can be a major part of doing business. Many people tend to think of web conferences when they think of futuristic, high tech movies where people can beam themselves from location to location. However, web conferences are an important part of business and can really improve communication.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Find out if your web conference attendees have an instant message service. If they don’t suggest that they get one. Yahoo, AOL and MSN all have instant message services that can run fairly smoothly on most computers. They aren’t large programs that take up valuable space either. Choose the one you’re most familiar with and suggest that everyone download and install it. To make it simpler, you can send out the link to the program in the meeting confirmation. Make sure you use one that you are most comfortable with so that you can assist others should they encounter any problems. If you don’t currently use an instant message service, download Yahoo instant messenger or Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger. Both are very user friendly and widely used. Make sure you give yourself at least a week to get a basic understanding of the instant messenger and its conferencing feature.

2. Conduct the appropriate follow-up and confirm that everyone will be in attendance and has downloaded and installed the instant message program you sent out.

3. Login to the instant message program an hour before the web meeting to ensure that your connection is functioning properly. If you prefer, you can log in a couple of hours prior to give yourself enough time to trouble shoot any issues.

4. Do a test run with someone to make sure that you fully understand the conference or private chat feature of the instant message program you are using. This will give you an opportunity to explore the different features and try to prepare for any potential issues that may arise.

5. Conduct your web conference. Do your best to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in the conference.

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on 6/23/2008 One option to hold an inexpensive web conferencing is to own it rather than pay monthly fees. Check RHUB (http://www.rhubcom.com) web conferencing appliance.