The Fever Lever Center

Holding a web conference call has long been recognized as a
valuable technique for online collaborations; however, the
potential for using a web conference call as a sales tool is
often overlooked. A web conference call, also known as
teleconferencing, has many uses and benefits. In order to
understand how to effectively use a web conference call as a
sales tool, it is beneficial to gain an understanding of the
traditional uses of teleconferencing and how a web conference
call works.

Common uses for a web conference call include conducting training
seminars and continuing education sessions, conducting market
research, holding press conferences, and coordinating meetings
including operational meetings, board meetings, and investor
relation meetings. From a sales perspective, a web conference
call can be used to hold sales meetings, to make sales
presentations, to provide potential retailers or affiliates with
information on new products or services, to provide press
releases, or even to conduct a live, online auction.

There are many advantages to using a web conference call for such
activities. A web conference call enables the sharing of real
time data and web conference call tools make it possible to
provide access to information used in the web conference call
before, during and after the call. Web conference calls are easy
to use and generally interface with other applications without
the need for any special hardware. A web conference call can be
held by either using a web conferencing service, or using web
conferencing software that can be installed on your server.

When using web conferencing services or web conferencing software
to conduct a web conference call, you generally schedule the web
conference call setting the time, date and duration of the web
conference call. Sometimes there is an option to reserve audio
telephone conferencing so that the web conference call can also
be accessed via telephone although with telephone access the
sharing of files is not possible. Once the web conference call is
scheduled and set up, you can choose which guests you want to
invite to the web conference call and send invitations via email.
Most web conference call solutions automate these steps.

When it is time for the web conference call, you present,
collaborate and share information via the internet using tools
provided through your web conference call solution. Most web
conference call solutions use a voice-over-IP technology that
enables conference attendees to talk back and forth if they have
microphones and speakers. Some even have web cam features so the
web conference call is “face-to-face” so to speak. During a web
conference call, attendees can see what you are doing on your
computer. They can view slides used in your presentation and so
forth as well opening files or documents that you share
throughout the web conference call.

Holding a web conference call for the purpose of conducting sales
meetings, sales presentations and press conferences saves time
and money because the attendees can attend the meeting from
remote locations. The web conference call eliminates travel time
and the expenses of travel. Furthermore, through a web conference
call, hand-outs can be provided electronically rather than being
printed resulting in even more cost savings. A web conference
call enables real-time communications between attendees.

One of the greatest benefits of using a web conference call as a
sales tool is that a web conference call makes it possible to
make sales presentations to multiple decision makers in an
organization first hand, rather than them relying upon the
translation of the information from the presentation that may be
necessary if they are physically unable to attend a sales
presentation due to geographic barriers.

Copyright Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope,
fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing
advice you’re getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing,
or a website owner who wants to make more money from your
website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your
internet business at http://BiznessTips.com

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A successful video or web conference can really give a boost to your organization. Online conferencing is now connecting people in a way that was not possible in the pre-Internet era. However, as powerful a tool as online conferencing is, it works best when you prepare your conferences properly. Here are some steps that you can take to help guarantee that your next video or web conference is a great success.

1. Make sure each of your attendees has enough bandwidth at his or her location.

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to watch a video online when you just don’t have enough bandwidth to get it all. If your participant doesn’t have enough bandwidth there will be latency delays and he or she will not be able to enjoy the experience or participate properly. The amount of bandwidth that is required varies from system to system and also according to what features you will be using during the conference. Features such as video, audio, screen and application sharing have different requirements. Check with your vendor or provider to find out what the minimum bandwidth requirements are, and then make sure each of your locations does indeed have enough bandwidth.

2. Test your web cameras to see that they are working properly.

If video will be involved at any of the locations, make sure that the location has tested their camera to ensure that everything is working satisfactorily. Ideally, all cameras should be tested from within the video or web conferencing system that you will be using. A camera that is working fine in one application may work differently within another system. Check it in advance so that you will not have any surprises on the day of your conference.

3. Check your sound equipment in advance.

If VoIP (audio) is going to be used from within the meeting itself, make sure that all attendees have the right tools needed, whether these tools are microphones, headsets and speakers.

4. Supply your participants with proper access information in advance of the conference.

If audio will be conducted via an audio conference call, make sure all attendees have the access number to dial into and the PIN (Personal Identification Number) they will need to access the call.

5. Conduct a “trial-run” of your presentation prior to the conference date.

The presenters or leaders of the conference should practice in advance. If a presentation will be involved, make sure that whoever will be presenting any material has tested this part of the video or web conferencing system. The presentation that is to be used should be demonstrated to another party BEFORE the date of the actual meeting.

6. Supply web access information to your participants well in advance of the meeting.

Make sure that all of your participants know how to access the video and web “conference room”. Send an e-mail “link” to each participant well in advance of the meeting so that they will be able to easily access the meeting when the appropriate day and time has arrived.

7. Get as much training as you can in the video or web conference system that you will be using.

The host should be very familiar and comfortable with the video or web conferencing system they are going to use. If training is offered by your vendor or provider, then take advantage of this in order to become more familiar with the system. Familiarity with the system will help you to host a flawless meeting or conference.

8. Conduct a test meeting prior to the big event.

Most importantly! Conduct a test meeting or two before the day of the “big” meeting. Tests will help you eliminate as many surprises as possible before you gather all of your attendees. A meeting free of technical glitches will go far to help you achieve the goals of your conference.

The key to a successful online conference, whether it be a web conference, a video conference or a combination of the two, is preparation, preparation and preparation. The more you prepare and the more you practice, the better your online meetings will be.

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Businesses and individuals that find themselves operating on ever-enlarging circles of influence can now cut costs and hassle by incorporating the use of conferencing solutions.

Conferencing software has developed in response to the widening global economy, wherein businesses and other types of international organizations must maintain frequent contact with individuals widespread across nations and the globe.

Conferencing solutions include video and audio conferencing. They are both large and small scale, and can entail as many aspects as might be needed given the situation.

The most convenient forms of conferencing are those that are available through the internet. Both businesses and individuals can hook up with others miles away through their personal computers, for a large meeting or a private conversation.

Audio conferencing entails just the vocal aspects of the meeting. Audio conferencing over the internet is cost effective, as it does not entail the exorbitant costs that are put out by long distance carriers, and this is even more true for businesses. There are many application that are available for audio conferencing, both as software purchases through companies such as Microsoft and applications available for free on the internet that can be used by the individual or small business owner, such as Skype. All the different conferencing packages have their advantages and disadvantages in terms of security, privacy, and reliability, and theses are usually dependant on cost.

Video conferencing is also available through the internet, in real time. Video conferencing usually involves more equipment than audio depending on the size of the meeting. Sometimes, a single monitor is enough to accurately depict several individuals, but more often than not businesses purchase large flat stand-up screens for video conferencing purposes, in order to have each individual at a desk or table visible for the duration.

Video conferencing often includes components that make for easy illustration, such as projected charts and graphs. It can also entail animated components, making the information easy to follow and understand. Video conferencing also offers detailed transcripts of proceedings for later review and other records.

copyright©2006 conferencewebs.net. Visit for more conferencing articles, resources for audio conferencing and video conferencing.

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An active life often makes it tricky to read all the books you would like to. Extended journeys to work and mundane activities might eat up large amounts of free time without you seeing it. A job, taking care of kids or looking after your home all cut down the time available for your hobbies. You could make utilize of the time you spend driving to catch up on those books you can’t get around to reading. Using modern media files, you can enjoy Dance Of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child by Download Audio Book Online, or audible books brought to life by Marcos Witt without ever lifting a book.

Making the best of your day has become a way of life in today’s frantic world. Audio books such as Tales from the Black Museum: The Hammer Head by Kriswick Jenkinson for sale from Download Audio Book Online fill the dead time in our lives, it might be waiting time in a doctor’s office or maybe buying groceries. Numerous audio-books may be downloaded straightaway in mp3 format these include Pimsleur Farsi (Persian) I Part 3 by Dr. Paul Pimsleur, so utilize your mp3 player and take the opportunity to hear the latest best seller, such as audio-books penned by George Pelecanos without dragging cumbersome books with you.

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The various benefits of audio books include renting or purchasing the book that interests you and listening to it at your own pace. Need to learn a different language? Try audio-books! It’s easy to review progressive business trends, you can even find out about religious or spiritual trends. An enormous selection of literary genres and titles are obtainable. It doesn’t matter if you love history, or you are crazy over politics or if your interested in self help, you can download most audio books now. Options are wide open; it’s simple to subscribe to a program and hire titles or else purchase the title outright.

Reading enthusiasts can invariably find a way to read, even so the thousands of audio titles available offer convenience. A author or actor can enhance the experience of numerous stories. Just reading a book isn’t quite the same experience as savoring an audio title told by Lois P. Frankel, including nuances given during a rendidtion. Hearing audio-books narrated by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark will supply something special to your enjoyment of reading and go far beyond the words on a page. The next time whenever you consider purchasing a volume that could simply gather dust on your bookshelves, please remember an audio book as a different choice.

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There are around ten audio conferencing service providers in the Australian market, three years ago there was a great deal of difference between them. Now it is not so easy to spot the difference. The following looks at the main areas to consider when selecting a conferencing service provider.
Conferencing Service Provider = CSP

Product Suite
Most conference calls now take place using on-demand services because it is the most convenient and cheapest way to meet. All CSPs provide this.
There are some small differences between providers but they are so small that 99% of users will be able to use any service. They are pretty much interchangeable.

CSPs all have long lists of features but the reality is that few users utilise anything beyond muting a line, playing back the names of the attendees and locking the meeting.

A few years ago operator managed was an important service but is now offered by fewer CSPs. It’s use is really limited to people who can afford to pay a premium over automated services or have really big meetings.

Support
When it comes to support, the biggest factor is the type of conferencing platform used and where it is located.

Good service providers use extremely reliable platforms made by a small number of manufacturers. You should expect to hear one of these names, Avaya, Compunetix, Polycom, Presscom, Spectel or Voyant. If you don’t, the CSP is probably using less reliable equipment.

To provide the maximum level of redundancy a conferencing platform should to be co-located with a telephone company’s voice switch/exchange. So in Australia look for names like: Telstra, Optus, Macquarie Telecom, Primus, MCI/Verizon or AAPT.

These are basic facts for the conferencing sales person, you can probably draw your own conclusions if they cannot provide an instant answer.

What Kind of Support Do They Offer?
The very least a customer should expect is that there is a speedy response to an enquiry, service issue or account query. If there are service issues they should be addressed and resolved as quickly as possible. The person dealing with any of these should be readily available and knowledgeable.

Do I Trust My Service Provider?
Companies are often very good at selling but weak at delivering. If you have an issue does the CSP tell you what you need to hear or you what you would like to hear?

Are they easy to work with?
This is commonly a big issue for the services provided by the telephone companies who are rarely known for great customer service.

Price
Not so long ago this came in as a distant third in the selection process after product suite and support. Today, with almost identical services on offer, price becomes a much more important factor.
There is a huge range of prices in the market. The telephone companies have the luxury of being the most expensive. They are typically chosen because it saves shopping around.

Do I Like Working With My CSP?
Only you can judge this. Your CSP should provide the product suite you need at a realistic price. They should be easily available and responsive, giving honest recommendations. It should be assumed that the service is reliable.

Product Differentiation
Again, not so long ago there were real differences, now the differences for most users are unimportant. Of course in the land of marketing there will always be a new must have feature that a sales person will endeavour to convince you is or will be absolutely necessary.

For more articles on how to buy teleconferencing, visit www.HotAirConferencing.com.au

Ian Wells is the CEO of HotAir Conferencing. He has been in the conferencing industry for 12 years, working in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK.

He established the first specialist conferencing services in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and is widely regarded as the founder of the Asia Pacific conferencing industry. Ian has been the General Manager - Asia Pacific for MCI Conferencing which was the largest service provider in the region during his tenure and the Managing Director, Australia for Genesys Conferencing. For more articles abouy teleconferencing go to http://www.HotAirConferencing.com.au

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Does your company need help with an animation project?
Stock animation can help. Stock animation is used primarily on
the web and on TV. They are used to present information, to
entertain and to keep the viewer interested in what is
happening. They are used across many industries from news
organizations to engineering firms. Because of the great need
for animations many companies have begun to sell stock animation
to help streamline the creative process.

Most animation projects are time intensive and require a lot of
creative thought and energy. Stock animation help reduce the
time, thought and energy that is needed for a project. Stock
animation is often used as a starting place for the animator.
The animator will then build on the animation to get the desired
result. Stock animation is also used as a background for other
creative elements. Suppose that you want to make your own DVD.
Do you have the skills to make a quality animation for the
background? If not you could use a stock animation to help make
your DVD look like it was professionally done. Stock animations
can be used as backgrounds to make on screen text more
interesting. News companies use this all of the time to make
plain text more interesting.

Formats

Stock animation comes in several different formats. Each
format is suited for a different purpose.

Animated Gifs

Gif stands for graphics interchange format. These are the small
and often annoying animations that you see on web pages. You can
find thousands of stock animations in this format for free
download on the internet. The quality of these animations is
usually very poor as they were designed to be compact for use on
the internet. Generally you should stay away from this type of
animation, except for a very few cases, as they often annoy the
user.

Flash animation

Flash animation is the most versatile of all the formats
as they can easily be converted for use on TV or DVD. Flash uses
vector graphics which means it stores most of the information
about the animation as a mathematical formula instead of pixel
by pixel, frame by frame. This is useful because it can be
scaled easily to fit any size that is needed. Stock animation
for Flash is harder to find and will usually cost money.
However, they can save a lot of time.

Composite animation

Composite animations are created by combining several
different animated elements together to create the finished
product. These animations tend to be very high quality and very
visually appealing. They are often used for TV because of their
high quality. You will almost always pay a premium price for
these animations. But, you will get what you paid for. Composite
stock animation can give your project a very professional and
creative look very quickly.

Each stock animation format has its use. The type of project
will determine the best type of stock animation. If used wisely,
stock animation will save time and energy. Stock animation will
also give your projects the professional look that you want.

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There is a new fad that has been gaining in popularity recently. This fad is of the use of training videos for various subjects. The use of training videos has been widely used for various things such as: in the work place, for dog training, educational training, work out or exercise training, sports training, and much more. But in order for these training videos to serve any kind of purpose, it is important to effectively use them. If you are one of those people that struggle with this, let this be your guide on how to effectively use training videos.

Whatever your reasons are for using training videos, there are some things you should follow. First of all, it is not good to watch training videos when you are half asleep or tired. If you do this, you will not pay much attention to it and thus you will learn nothing. An example: an employer is having all of his employees watch a safety video before the lunch hour. The employees are hungry and tired, so they are not paying much attention. The solution: the employer should show the video when the employees are fed and more awake. Also, if you or others find it hard to pay attention and start to lose focus, get up and take a breather before continuing with the training video.

Next, if the training video is teaching you how to do something or how to use something, then practice it while you watch the video. You can then pause and rewind as necessary. An example can be if you are learning how to better your golf swing. Practice as you are watching. Have your golf clubs right there with you. Another example is if you are watching training videos on how to train your dog. If the training video shows you how to make your dog sit, then try this as you watch the video. It is much easier to practice what you are taught if you do it while you are being taught. Lastly, take notes if you are unable to rewind or re-watch the training videos. This way you will have something to refer back to about what you were just taught.

Remember to keep all of these tips in mind in order to effectively use training videos. Always know that you are doing yourself no good if you are not paying any attention to the training videos. Be aware that if you don’t practice what you are seeing on the training video, it will not set in and you may not learn anything. With the right frame of mind, you should be able to gain more knowledge from the training videos you watch.

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Web conferencing solutions are applications of Web conferencing technology for business communication purposes and have an important role to play in an increasingly global economy. Companies are increasingly embracing Web conferencing solutions not only to cut down the travel expenses but also to speed up decision-making processes by allowing key people to collaborate instantly, no matter where they may happen to be physically located.

Web conferencing solutions allow participants to share information in the form of files, applications or PowerPoint presentations - they can even poll. The participants usually sit at their desks and share information either through an interactive whiteboard or through text messaging. They can also speak to each other using a normal phone or a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone and even share videos via Web cams.

Some of the most popular Web conferencing solutions are Microsoft Office Live Meeting, Genesys Meeting Center, Raindance Web Conferencing Pro Seminar, and WebEx Meeting Center. All of them offer tools considered as standard. These include Web-based PowerPoint presentations, chat, document sharing and annotation, whiteboarding and application sharing. However, they differ in terms of their multimedia features, meeting management tools, and integration with telephone conferencing.

Genesys and WebEx have the capabilities to show slide transitions, play the audio and video integrated with presentation, and allow live videoconferencing. These solutions also allow the connection of the name of the conference participants with the telephone numbers they used to dial in so that presenters can easily mute, un-mute and dismiss callers through a Web based console.

Eventually, Web conferencing solutions might become just another feature within other productivity applications. The recent acquisition of Placeware by Microsoft and the addition of the term ‘Office’ to the name of its Live Meeting service is a signal that the company may bundle Web conferencing solution with its popular Microsoft Office suite.

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Are you really using the power of modern technology to make your business more profitable? Sure, you are using e-mail, you have a web page and you may be reaching your clients and customers with an electronic mailing list, but are you using web and video conferencing to hold virtual meetings with your employees, customers and clients in different geographical locations? Here are six ways how web and video conferencing can help you to increase the efficiency of your enterprise.

First however, it is important to know what web and video conferencing are. Web conferencing is when two or more people “meet” over the Internet to share information and ideas. Web conferencing systems typically provide tools that allow participants to perform “Online Collaboration” by working together over the Internet, sharing applications and documents.

Some web conferencing tools include the ability to share one’s desktop, allowing participants to “present” information, be it a PowerPoint Presentation, an Excel Spreadsheet or a Word Document with other attendees of their web conference. It is even possible for participants to remotely control other participants’ computers. Video conferencing allows participants to see and hear each other using head sets and web cams, and is usually included in good web conferencing system.

Now take a look at how some companies are already getting the benefits of this cutting- edge technology:

1. They are holding “web meetings” with prospects, customers, clients and fellow workers without having to incur any travel expenses. These face-to-face meetings are conducted using the click of a keyboard and the movement of a mouse.

2. They are demonstrating and supporting products and services without having to send people to far-flung destinations. Web conferencing can enable your staff to get behind the desk of your client and do the trouble shooting or give the training that you may be currently doing, without having to send your support staff out on expensive personal visits.

3. They are holding virtual training and classrooms for students, employees and clients . Schools and Universities in particular are using web and video conferencing to create “virtual classrooms,” while companies are training their employees at several locations using combined web and video conferences.

4. They are giving online web and video support to clients . Live chat boxes are great, I use them all the time, but the support you can offer when your technician can take over a client’s computer and really fix the problem is much more powerful. And, when your client can see who is helping him or her, it really adds a special “warm and fuzzy” touch.

5. They are saving thousands of dollars in travel costs by cutting down on commuting and travel and time spent out of the office . “As a result of this technology, our need to travel between offices has been greatly reduced, which has already saved us thousands of dollars,” says Saul Rothschild, Information Systems Manager at Steel Encounters, Inc.”

In times of rising fuel costs, web and video conferencing can really make a huge difference to a company’s bottom line. Companies using web conferencing are not only able to cut down on their travel expenses, but their sales representatives, trainers and support staff also get to spend more productive time in the office and do not lose valuable hours sitting in a car or on a plane.

6. They are thinking “outside the box” and devising new ways to work now that they are free of geographical limitations . The companies and organizations that have adopted web and video conferencing technology are marketing products and services, conducting training and giving support as if all their employees, prospects and clients were working together under one roof. Company meetings, sales meetings, employee training, and product launches are now being conducted with a new 21 st Century flair.

So, consider your own business or activity and think of how web and video conferencing could help you to work more effectively with all your constituents without having to leave your office.

Dan Richmond is CEO and Co-founder of MegaMeeting.com. His company provides web conferencing and video conferencing services for individuals, businesses and educational institutions. Dan can be reached either via the phone at (818) 783-4311 or via e-mail at DanR@MegaMeeting.com. Visit their website www.MegaMeeting.com for more information.

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Web Conferencing is, very simply, a meeting, conference or seminar that is held over the World Wide Web. Web conferencing can refer to audio, video or text-based conversations and are conducted in real-time.

Web conferencing is an incredibly useful resource for anyone who trades within a global market place. It literally allows you to be in two places at once - sitting at home or in your office whilst conducting a meeting with someone one the other side of the world.

In its simplest form web conferencing can take the form of free downloads such as Microsoft NetMeeting or Yahoo Messenger. Subscribers can participate in text-based ‘chats’, inviting others into their conversations and being able to communication in real-time. Add a simple digital camera to this equation and you have the beginnings of an elementary web conferencing application.

At the other end of the scale, the most sophisticated applications allow seminars and presentations to be made to hundreds of delegates at the same time. Meetings can be fully interactive, allowing question and answer sessions, the sharing of files and documents and slide show presentations to be broadcast.

What Can I Do With Web Conferencing?

How you choose to use web conferencing will very much depend upon your line of work. A webinar (an online seminar) is less interactive than a web meeting, but is a very effective means of presenting sales pitches, performance reviews and delivering staff training.

A web meeting on the other hand, can be fully interactive not only in terms of audio and video but also by allowing the sharing of documents and files and viewing them online.

What is Online Collaboration?

Online collaboration is an excellent resource for project management, especially when team members are located in different geographical locations. Online collaboration provides an advanced level of document management and file sharing. Documents and files can be viewed, modified and updated online and in real time.

What Are The Benefits Of Web Conferencing?

The main benefits of web conferencing are to be found in terms of time and money savings. The need for travel is greatly reduced, and therefore so are the associated costs of travel - tickets, accommodation, subsistence, to name but a few. Employees spend less time waiting for flights, travel or just generally being away from their desk and therefore have more time to spend productively.

Enhanced communication is another benefit of web conferencing. Where colleagues could perhaps only meet face to face a few times a year, for example, web conferencing allows them to meet on a daily basis, if required. With people talking more, work gets done more efficiently and more accurately.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of web conferencing depends on how sophisticated an application you need. Low-level, one-to-one systems can be set up these days for virtually nothing. The most advanced systems, unsurprisingly, can run into thousands of dollars. Careful research, however, and thoughtful analysis of what you need from a web conferencing system can allow you to budget accordingly and match a system to your needs. The chances are, if you are spending money on travel then you will recoup the cost of your web conferencing software over time.

Diane Parker is a web content writer who specializes in internet related topics. Her conferencing articles include: web conferencing software, choosing a web conferencing tool and internet conferencing.

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