Conference Call Etiquette You Need To Know

Conference Call Etiquette You Need To Know

by D Ruplinger

I have worked for large company for several years and have been on more conference calls, tele-seminars, and tele-training calls than I can remember. Those experiences have led me to develop a list of "Conference Call Tips and Etiquette" that can help make conference calls more pleasant, run smoother, and help avoid embarrassment. I'm sure the list I've put together isn't all inclusive but it does cover the major things I have experienced or learned about during the course of all those calls I've been on.

-- Find a quiet place. Background noise will be heard on the call and it can be very distracting to other participants. If you are at home and have small children playing nearby or have a noisy dog, try to find the quietest part of your house. The other participants on the call will appreciate it. If it is not possible to be away from the noise, mute your phone whenever you are not talking. Pressing *6 will mute most phones.

-- Avoid Using A Cell Phone. Try to avoid calling into a conference call from a cell phone whenever possible. Cell phones add tremendous background noise to a conference call. If a cell phone is your only choice, muting the cell phone is a necessity whenever you are not speaking. Also, make sure you are not driving when you are on you the call.

-- Be on time for the call. Don't get on the call late and expect someone to catch you up with what is going on while everyone else waits. It is rude and disrespectful to the other participants to not be on time. It gives them the impression that your time is more important than theirs.

-- Don't Use The Hold Button. Do not put the conference call on hold if your phone has hold music or those annoying beeps that sound every few seconds. To say it is a huge interruption and distraction for everyone else on the call is an understatement. I was once on a conference call for training on a new software product our company was introducing. Someone else put the call on hold for nearly 20 minutes and we ended up listening to her hold music for the entire time. If you have to leave a conference call for any period of time, hang up the phone and call back in when you are ready to rejoin.

-- Be Cautious With Cordless Phones. If you are joining a conference call from a cordless phone make sure the phone does not have a lot of static background noise. Usually static background noise starts when you start to get out of range of the phone base or is you get near another device that interferes with phone such as some small electric appliances and answering machines.

-- Avoid Shuffling Papers. One very annoying thing that some people do on a conference call is shuffle papers. It sounds very loud on the phone. Other small potentially noisy habits to avoid are : continually clearing your throat, tapping your pencil, drumming your fingers on the desk, etc.

-- Be Aware Of Whether Or Not Your Phone Is On Mute. If you do put your phone on mute while on a conference call, and it is always a good idea to do so whenever you are not talking, remember to take it back off mute when you talk. Likewise remember to put it back on mute when you are finished. Nearly everyone who has been on conference calls regularly can recount at least one memory of someone forgetting to put their phone back on mute and then saying something that was definitely not intended for the ears of the other conference call participants, such as a negative remark about something relating to the call or another person on the call.

-- Be Polite. Do not try to talk over another person on the call even if you feel you have a very important point to cover. It is in bad taste to do so and will result in everyone else on the call not being able to understand what you or the other person is saying. Be patient; wait until the other person has finished; and then talk.

Following the above tips can help make conference calls more successful, and more importantly, take up the least amount of time possible so you can get to 1,000 other tasks you have to accomplish like taking a time management course! But that's another story.

About the author

D Ruplinger is a featured writer for http://www.conferencering.com/. For more information about conference calls visit http://www.conferencering.com/.


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You may use this article provided you leave the article unchanged, acknowledge the author and include the resource box with live links.
Ron Passfield

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Three Ways Flat Rate Conferencing Can Help Grow Your Business

Three Ways Flat Rate Conferencing Can Help Grow Your Business

by Tom Parker

There is no question that teleconferencing is revolutionizing the way that people do business, both on the Internet and offline.

Internet marketers, coaches, consultants, counsellors, major corporations, even Sunday School teachers are using teleconferencing to stay in contact with their staff, clients, potential customers, and classes without having to set up a meeting place.

Teleconferencing has also added a new dimension to the way people can teach and deliver information over the Internet. Seminars and classes can now be held for hundreds of people at the same time without having to leave their homes. With a preset date and time, people can call a number and either learn more information about a topic or participate in a forum of discussion.

Charges for admission to these types of calls can be anywhere from $20 to $30 up to $100's of dollars for typically one hour.

Three Ways To Boost Your Income And Grow Your Business

Teleconferences can lead to an amazing growth in your income, and credibility as an expert on a given situation. You can also ADD more to your conferencing by utilizing flat rate conferencing.

Flat rate teleconferencing is simply setting up an account for unlimited monthly conference calls for a set rate. By doing so, marketers are seeing exponential growth in both their reach of new customers and as a byproduct, their income.

In watching this use of flat rate telenconferencing among individual marketers, corporate executives, coaches, and consultants I have singled out three ways that flat rate conferencing can lead to added growth and income.

1. Talk As Much As You Want.

Typically the average conference call would last for one hour. But, there are times when the conversation, and/or, meeting would take on a whole new life and 60 minutes just isn't enough time. But, either the call is cut off or the host has to pay extra charges.

With flat rate conferencing you can host your call for as long as you want with no worries of extra charges or disconnections. People are more at ease and can have added time to grasp what is being taught or talked about.

2. No reservations needed.

With regular conference calls you need to reserve your bridge in advance. With flat rate calling, there is no need. You can set up calls wihthin a minutes notice if need be.

This works well with telecommuters and for staff meetings.

3. You can set a conferencing budget.

If you can budget something every month you can use it to grow your income. With flat rate teleconferencing you are able to know every month how much you'll be spending on it and know how much you'll be earning with it.

If you're using teleconferencing to hold paid seminars or courses you can hold as many as you want each month for the same price.

People Are Learning More And Enjoying It

Teleconferencing has not only changed the way that people do business online, and added a new income avenue, but it has also helped alot of people get started with their own business, changed the way they learn, has helped coaches and counselors give more attention to their clients, and Sunday School teachers lead a lesson to shut ins and people who were on vacation.

And people are enjoying the new option of attending a seminar or class without leaving thier home.

Flat rate conferencing is going to add a new way for people to experience this more often and give businesses, and teachers, a new tool to reach more people.

About the author

Tom Parker has put together a website to help people who want to host a teleconference or class, and has made it affordable for everyone! http://www.affordableconferencing.com/ is your place for reliable, affordable, reservationless teleconference lines for easy hosting. Go and check out the rates and get your conference started today!

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You may use this article provided you leave the article unchanged, acknowledge the author and include the resource box with live links.
Ron Passfield

Ron Passfield, PhD, affiliate marketing coach, is developing his affiliate business through the step-by-step coaching provided by the Affiliate Classroom:
http://www.affiliate-marketing-coach.blogspot.com/

Learn How Conference Calling Can Seal The Deal

Learn How Conference Calling Can Seal The Deal

by Alan Jason Smith


In today's business environment, companies that excel embrace the global dynamics of an international market with conference calling. The international market opens doors in many countries for increased competition, increased business, and increased profit. The international market has affected foreign policy, and continues to be a key point to success for many companies across the board. Larger markets and target groups increase potential clients. These increases provide room for growth, and please investors with the potential for wracking up the dollar signs.

While an international market allows for increased sales and a broader target group, international markets can also increase costs and burden. International markets require significant travel budgets, communication budgets, and increased attention to cultural differences. Companies who work across a single nation as well as with many countries must be familiar with local customs, and must embrace business traditions that may vary across borders.

Business dealings that occur in person present a particular challenge. Deals that require more than once staff member increase travel budget exponentially. As more office members become involved in an international transaction, the travel plans can become more complicated and the bottom line benefits of the deal are lessened with the expenditure. Conference calling to close the big deal offers an attractive solution to the mayhem that is traveling to meetings, and does so at a considerable advantage to both parties.

Conference calling provides a mechanism for meeting with many people in many places across the globe. With a conference call meeting, no one has to pack. There are not expense forms to fill out with a conference call. Because a conference call is not in person, business men can concentrate on the business at hand and not on which handshake or form of eye contact is more acceptable. Conference calls reduce travel costs because participants can take the conference call at their personal desk.

Conference calls can be crucial to sealing the deal even when they involve only members from one side of a deal. Conference calls are en effective way to disseminate information across a corporation quickly. Conference calls packages that allow for calls without reservation and at any hour of the day afford companies instant access to all members of their team. This means that company personnel assets in one place can also positively impact company actions in another region.

Conference calls to seal the big deal also offer some unique services. Operator-assisted conference calls ensure quality communication for all parties involved. Operators can be available for only the onset of the call, or can stay online for the duration of the call. Operators monitor the quality of the call, and ensure that all participants have a clear connection and can hear what is being said. Operators can record conversations held during a conference call, providing a record for all interactions during the call.

Conference calls can be beneficial for large-scale important meetings, as well as smaller meetings. Confernce calling occurs regardless of the weather, and can be an effective substitute for personal meetings when inclement weather arises. Conference calls provide increased opportunities for emplyeees at one job site to communicate with employees at another job site. This inexpensive method of communication increases the avenues of communication and opens new doors to coporate communication. Foreign deals, intercompany meetings, and other opportunities to interact that were once neglected due to travel costs can now be successfully completed with conference calling. When closing the big deal, companies can utilize all of their best players at a fraction of the cost with conference calling.

About the author

Alan Jason Smith is the owner of http://www.abeconferencecalling.com/ which is a great place to find conference calling links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.abeconferencecalling.com/

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You may use this article provided you leave the article unchanged, acknowledge the author and include the resource box with live links.
Ron Passfield

Ron Passfield, PhD, affiliate marketing coach, is developing his affiliate business through the step-by-step coaching provided by the Affiliate Classroom:
http://www.affiliate-marketing-coach.blogspot.com/

VOIP Service: Sign Up And Save

VOIP Service: Sign Up And Save by Ron King

If you want to save money on your telephone service using the internet, you will need to sign up with a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service provider. They will sell you the necessary equipment and assign you a number, which is used like a regular phone number.

VOIP providers are useful and very cheap. Most providers offer VOIP connections free of charge. They make their money by charging for calls to the regular telephone network. Most providers allow you to call any phone number in the world for a moderately low fee. For modest monthly fees (about $8-$20), they offer unlimited calls to certain geographic areas. They also provide voicemail, call forwarding and conference calls, at no extra charge.

Vonage, BroadVoice, Diamond, iConnectHere, Lingo, mywebphone, Packet8, and VoicePulse are some of the major VOIP providers. Most of these companies are based in the United States; some also have offices in other countries.

VOIP equipment includes a broadband modem and an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) or IP phone. Both the ATA and IP phone connect directly to the modem, but the ATA allows you to use older analog phones. No matter which equipment you use, it has a unique number that identifies your current IP (Internet Protocol) address. If you're constantly on the move, your VOIP provider tracks your current IP address, which allows people to contact you no matter where you are.

Even if you're using your Internet phone from a single location, a VOIP provider is usually still necessary. The majority of residential Internet connections have 'dynamic' IP addresses, so every time you reconnect to the Internet, you have a different IP address.

The VOIP provider is also useful, because people can contact you by entering your user name, rather than your IP address.

When choosing a VOIP provider, keep in mind the protocol they use. SIP seems to be the emerging standard. It offers fairly easy connection routes between different VOIP providers. H.323 and IAX protocols are sometimes offered in addition to SIP. Skype, popular for PC-to-PC VOIP systems, uses a proprietary protocol, so it is not easy to connect to the Skype network from another VOIP provider.

It is a bit of work to research and set everything up, but the sooner you start, the quicker you will be able to look back and say, "Why did I wait so long?"

About the author

Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit http://www.voip-solutions-now.com/ to learn more about this subject.

Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

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You may use this article provided you leave the article unchanged, acknowledge the author and include the resource box with live links.
Ron Passfield

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Skype Lets You Make Free Phone Calls Online

Skype Lets You Make Free Phone Calls Online by Jim Edwards

Copyright 2005 Jim Edwards

Everywhere you turn phone companies offer 3 or 5-cent long distance phone calls, or even unlimited long distance for a flat fee monthly.

Now you can make reliable calls using the Internet for anywhere from 0 to 2.3-cents per minute.

Welcome to Skype, the Internet telephony company that has set the traditional telephone world on its ear.

Recently purchased by Ebay for 2.6 billion dollars, Skype stands ready to revolutionize worldwide voice communication simply because they enable you to carry on crystal clear voice communication with anyone else in the world with a either a phone or Internet connection.

What's the catch you ask?

Well, to make phone calls, you need a computer, a microphone, speakers, a modem, an Internet connection and the free Skype software you can download from www.skype.com

To make a free phone call, you need someone on the receiving end with a computer, Internet connection, and the Skype software installed.

To make a call from your computer to a land-based phone virtually anywhere in the world, you must pre-pay for calling minutes in blocks of 10 Euros (approximately $12 U.S.).

One block of calling minutes gets you about 500 minutes of calling time, or a little over 8 hours of talking time.

Skype uses a technology called IP telephony.

IP telephony first appeared commercially back in the lat 1990's with services like Dialpad.com, which initially offered phone calls from computers to land-based phones in exchange for watching online advertising.

This model soon failed, but the thought of making ultra-cheap phone calls through a computer did not.

And, as the recent mega sale of Skype reveals, a market now exists that can put Internet telephony to work on a grand scale, or at least large enough to make eBay pony up with a lot of cash and stock to give it a try.

Once you install the software, you log onto the service and can make phone calls to other Skype users through their computers at no charge.

You can set up a call list, much like an instant messaging "buddy list" so with a couple clicks of the mouse you can ring your friends up for a chat.

Or, if you pre-pay for calling minutes, you can enter in the country code and phone number of your pals, click a button, and their phone or cell phone will ring.

Skype also allows you to hold conference calls with up to 4 other people at the same time, making it easy to hold group meetings.

Skype includes a group chat feature which allows you to hold a group chat session with up to 48 other people at the same time... excellent for "webinars" or even planning that next family reunion.

Skype also allows you to transfer files to and from other users, perfect for sharing photos, music and short video clips with your pals.

Tip: Get a good headset microphone.

It makes using the service more enjoyable and also eliminates the echo created by your own speakers feeding back into your PC's microphone.

About the author

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and co-author of an amazing program that teaches you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website, affiliate links, or blogs... without spending a dime on advertising! Click Here>
http://hop.clickbank.net/?ronpass/ezarticles

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You may use this article provided you leave the article unchanged, acknowledge the author and include the resource box with live links.
Ron Passfield

Ron Passfield, PhD, affiliate marketing coach, is developing his affiliate business through the step-by-step coaching provided by the Affiliate Classroom:
http://www.affiliate-marketing-coach.blogspot.com/