Video Conferencing Software

Recording Seminar or Conferences - Maximize Your Profits Today

Written by Robert Jones on October 8, 2009

No one who has put together a seminar or conference will say it just ‘falls into place’ - No, it takes work and effort to have a great seminar. Yet, with all that work done people often forget a crucial part - capturing the seminar itself! You have put in significant time and money - why not make sure you get every dollar back through recording the content of the seminar. Don’t forget about the content your participants offer too.

Protect Your Assets - Recorded Seminars Are Valuable

It isn’t just about keeping an audio version for yourself. Nope - you can capitalize on your efforts too. There are always people that are unable to attend. How much better would your customer relations be if you could offer them an audio copy of the seminar for a reasonable fee. Don’t see it as losing a participant, see it as gaining a baby-step with a future participant.

It isnt as hard as it sounds. With the right type of equipment and a little bit of planning, you can ensure a top quality recording and a quick turn-around time for the final audio. Isnt that the key in any business? Strike while the iron is hot! Get your CDs, MP3s, Podcasts, or any other audio format available for download. Sell it quick and sell it often!

Get Consent To Record Seminars and Conferences - The CYA Clause

This is not legal advice, as I am not a lawyer. So, check with a lawyer and figure out what you need to do to get consent from your participants. You want to be free to use their discussions without any royalty or limitations. Not that you need to hide this from anyone - this is fairly standard fair stuff - just make sure you cover your basis.

Don’t Skimp - Get Good Equipment

A great gadget for capturing conferences and seminars is the Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder. It is quick to set up, provides good quality, and has features that you may have a hard time finding in more expensive models (like 4 mic capsules).

What To Do… And Not To Do On A Web Conference

Written by Peter Werth on August 30, 2009

Web conferencing is very advantageous. But beware, just like attending meetings and presentations in a round table or in a conference room, there are certain things you need to do, particular etiquettes you need to practice and habits you have to avoid.

Do’s

Web Conference Planning

Prepare you presentation beforehand. Send the necessary materials through email or put them live online so that the attendees will be able to read them before the scheduled meeting and presentation.

Be On Time

Common sense will tell you that since you don’t have to travel to go to the location of the meeting, there is no excuse for being late. You actually have no reason or excuse to be late to a web conference as there is no travel involved. It is also impolite to let others wait especially if you are the one who will give the presentation.

Have a Good Location

A boardroom is usually the place for a “real” meeting because of the privacy they provide for you and the attendees… there is no exception for your web conference. Be in your office where there will be no distractions, and the image and sound quality will be the absolute best. Quality is key when running your web conference.

Be respectful

All rules and etiquettes of ordinary meetings still apply. In a web conference where you are not actually inside on room, speaking and gestures may be subjected to misinterpretations; so be careful.

Don’ts

Other attendees might be using a low bandwidth connection so try to hold still. Avoid too much movement You are on TV (sort of) and too much movement is very distracting for others.

You don’t go into a “real” meeting with a hamburger, fries, and coke just yapping away. So don’t be sitting there in front of your screen eating a bowl of ice-cream or something… the same applies for cellphones, printers, music, and anything else that distracts from the meeting. Rules and etiquette STILL apply!

Background noise can be heard on other lines, so be in a quiet space with no distractions.

Avoid using wifi signal Wifi is good if you are out and you need emergency internet signal. But during a web conference meeting, try to steer away from it. Wifi can be very unstable that can disrupt the meeting. Avoid wifi signals at the airport, restaurant, park and even in coffee shops.

You can’t put anyone on hold in a “real” meeting, so don’t fall for that trap just because you have the technology to do so… it’s rude and uncalled for. You want your meeting to flow from point to point, so make it so! If you really need to get out of it, then re-schedule before the start of the meeting as a point of courtesy.

Web conferencing is great, especially for long distance communication. However, you must remember that face to face communication at times is best. In either case, use your best judgement to make the right choice… whether digital or traditional.

Pointers To Hold A Successful Conference

Written by John L Jones on March 10, 2009

In case you have a plan on organizing a conference, then you must make sure that you are prepared to not only offer great content but also great comfort to all the participants. Conferences are considered to be the best place for people to come together and talk about policies; but, uncomfortable settings can make it complicated for participants to use their full potential, and can further harm the conference ambiance as well.

Here are five tips on how to organize a great conference:

1. Great Content: Be certain that the area under discussion in the conference is very appealing. If you are organizing a conference for a specific industry, then try and get renowned people from within it to come and converse at the event. Make sure you pick a Chairperson who knows the topic well and is able to make conversation on it, as well as inspire other people to partake in the conference.

2. Proactive Participants: When deciding on a method to get participants to register, make sure you attract the best people. Having people at the conference who are aware of and interested in the topic will make it easier for the conference to become a success. Also, Make sure you advertise the conference through different media to get a wide coverage.

3. Good Food: Nothing destroys a conference as fast as bad quality food, or lack of water. Humans are not able to function well when hungry or thirsty, so make sure you talk to the event planner in advance about the food that will be offered. Make sure that the food offered has selection and is high-quality. Additionally, also cater to incorporate any nutritional restrictions some participants might have (like vegetarian options).

Make sure food is provided at regular intervals with snacks and coffee in between as people like to eat something every four to five hours. Provide enough time in agenda for everyone to get food and enjoy it fully before rushing back to the conference sessions.

4. Friendly Service: In case you have volunteers assisting you, make sure you train them to be very friendly and courteous to all the participants. As the participants will be working all day long, there is a probability that they might become shot-tempered or impolite when being asked for change in rooms or other problems that might happen. Nothing will make them ruder or unhappier than a volunteer who is rude to them. As these participants are your guests, make sure you treat them politely throughout their stay.

5. Lodging and other extras: If you are supplying overnight stay facilities, check that the rooms are clean and have proper heating or cooling systems. Notify participants who will be staying over their room numbers when they register, and tell them of any hotel amenities or limitations (all keys at reception, no phone calls from etc) so that they have full information with them.

Other than rooms, also consider what other things you can provide to your guests. It might be possible to get snacks or drinks company to sponsor the conference so you can give participants free snacks other than the ones the hotel provides. It is also nice to get a little reminder of the conference, so consider getting t-shirts, key rings, or mugs made depending on the demographics of the participants.

Seaside Resorts In Lancashire

Written by John L Jones on March 4, 2009

Lancashire County is in the north-west of England and has plenty of sandy beaches. This is one of the most well-liked seaside resorts in Britain, and it also creates a gorgeous contrast with the eastern side of the county which has astonishing scenery and charming landscapes.

Lytham St Annes is the idyllic resort to go to for a seaside trip when you want a tranquil and relaxed setting. It has well-known golf courses that even host a number of championship tournaments. It also has a charming windmill and a big boulevard to walk on. If you are visiting in May, you can even see the British Sand Yacht Championships that take place here.

Blackpool is one more seaside resort that is tremendously trendy with tourists as a result of its Blackpool Sea Life Centre and Blackpool Tower. The resort site has a large sandy beach and other attractions like walks to Anchorsholme in the north. Stanley Park, with its formal gardens also has a lake for boating and beautiful fountains. If you want culture, visit Grundy Art Street in Queen Street.

Another seaside resort in Lancashire County is Morecambe which has a gorgeous bay which offers water sports as well as other forms of fun. It is more than just a tourist spot. Morecambe is also a wildlife site and has many bird species as well as marine life creatures. It is also one of the largest bays in Britain, second only to the Wash.

The best time to go to Lancashire for a bit of seaside pleasure is in summer months, particularly from May to July when the weather is improved and the sun is out. At this time, you can take pleasure in the numerous water sports offered and truly benefit from the seaside. As Lancashire is very well-liked among tourists, it is a good idea to get your booking in advance so that you can be sure to get inexpensive lodgings in good places.

If you get bored on the beach, you can also see other things in this beautiful county. You should visit Lancashire Castle which is open to tourists. It has a priory next to it that dates back to Saxon times. Lancashire City Museum will show you the history of the area.

The Bowland Forest and Pendle Hill are a part of the “Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” and they completely live up to their name with their delightful contours, valleys, picturesque towns, and villages. While here, you can stroll around and discover the area, or rent a bike and see even more of the scenery. The county has a lot of natural parks so you can really have fun here if you are a nature lover.

If you are headed to Lancashire County for a seaside vacation make sure you plan this beforehand, so you can plan out a way to really see this beautiful county and do more than just spend time on the beach. However, since the beaches are so beautiful no one can blame you if you head no further inland than the hotel.

Top 5 Tips To Hold A Successful Conference

Written by John L Jones on February 24, 2009

If you are planning on organizing a conference, then you must make sure that you are ready to not only provide great content but also great comfort to all the participants. Conferences are a great place for people to come together and discuss policies; however, uncomfortable settings can make it difficult for participants to use their full potential, and can further harm the conference atmosphere as well.

Below are five tips on how to arrange a great conference:

1. Great Content: Make sure that the theme the conference is being hosted on is very attention-grabbing. If you are arranging a conference for a particular industry, then try and get distinguished people from within it to come and speak at the event. Make sure you choose a Chairperson who is well aware of the topic and is able to converse on it, as well as encourage other people to participate in the conference.

2. Proactive Participants: When making a decision on a way to get participants to register, make sure you attract the finest people. Having people at the conference who know and are interested in the topic will make it easier for the conference to become successful. In addition, Make sure you publicize the conference through different media to get an extensive coverage.

3. Good Food: Nothing destroys a conference as quickly as either bad food, or lack of water. Humans don’t function well when hungry or thirsty, so make sure you talk to the event organizer beforehand about the food that will be provided. Make sure that the food provided has variety and is good in quality. Furthermore, also cater to incorporate any dietary restrictions some participants might have (like vegetarian options).

Try to make sure food is supplied at regular intervals with snacks and coffee in between as people like to eat something every four to five hours. Provide sufficient time in schedule for everybody to get food and enjoy it fully before rushing back to the conference sessions.

4. Friendly Service: If you have volunteers helping you, make sure you train them to be very friendly and gracious to all the guests. As the participants will be working all day long, there are chances that they might become shot-tempered or rude when being asked for changes in rooms or other issues that might occur. Nothing will make them angrier or unhappier than a volunteer who is rude to them. Since these participants are your guests, make sure you treat them graciously throughout their stay.

5. Lodging and other extras: If you are offering overnight accommodation, check the rooms to make sure they are cleaned properly and have good heating or cooling systems. Inform participant who would be staying over their room numbers when they register, and notify them of any hotel facilities or restrictions (all keys at reception, no phone calls from etc) so that they have full information with them.

Other than rooms, also consider what other things you can provide to your guests. It might be possible to get snacks or drinks company to sponsor the conference so you can give participants free snacks other than the ones the hotel provides. It is also nice to get a little reminder of the conference, so consider getting t-shirts, key rings, or mugs made depending on the demographics of the participants.

Places That Should Not Be Missed In Lancashire

Written by John L Jones on February 17, 2009

Lancashire, a county in the north of England is filled with sandy beaches, moors, hills, and beautiful landscapes. If you are looking for a picturesque vacation in which you can take long walks, enjoy local sights, and spend time on the beach, then this is the place for you. Lancashire is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK, and has the best beaches in the country.

The county was very important in the industrial revolution as it had a thriving textile industry. You can still see some of these in the towns inland. The coastal towns of Blackpool, Morecambe, and Southport are all seaside resorts catering to tourists and are very developed because of the tourist population.

In case you want to get a taste of the country, just move towards the north. Here you can take long walks especially around the Pennine Hills and the Forest of Bowland which falls under one huge reserve.

The history of the county is very rich as well. This is where the Pendle Witch Trials of the 17th century was held. A dozen women were blamed of being witches in what were to become England’s most famed with trials. They apparently murdered ten people around the Pendle Hills area. You would be able to see the reminders of this at the Burnley and Pendle bus service “The Witch Way” which goes to Manchester and has a logo representing a flying witch. The hills still signifies witchcraft and at every Halloween host a gathering at the top.

Whilst in Lancashire, there is a lot more to do than to just spend time on the beach. Visit the Forrest of Bowland as it is one of the most attractive places in the county. This jungle served as inspiration for “Lord of the Rings,” so you have got to visit it to see what it was about that struck Tolkein.

The last Temperance Bar in the UK is in Rawtenstall and is known as Fitzpatricks. It was founded in the 1890s and serves blood tonic, black beer, and other great drinks. If you are in Waterfoot don’t miss The Boo which is a location for arts performances. Blackpool is one of the UK’s finest resorts, and is a must see place particularly for families. The children will be in love with the amusement park, the Sea Life Centre, and the Blackpool Tower. So, if you are planning a holiday with kids, they definitely will love the place and will insist on visiting every now and then.

The Ashton Memorial was an endowment by Lord Ashton and positioned in Williamson Park in Lancaster. It looks very similar to St. Paul’s cathedral, only this is situated in the jungle and not in Vatican City. It is a memorial for Lord Ashton’s wife, and inside it are an art gallery and a butterfly house.

While in Lancashire, don’t forget to watch a game of cricket as the locals are very serious about their game. You should spend an entire day here, but. Make sure to pack a picnic lunch so you are able to enjoy the game thoroughly.