Creating a Realistic Virtual Meeting

By now, we've all experienced a lousy video conference call during the pandemic. As this hysterical video from tRIPP & tYLER and Zoom, there can be many snafus to make video calls a nightmare! As COVID continues, video conferencing solutions that make meetings feel more like the office and less like a comedy sketch are key. Here are some tips for creating a more realistic virtual meeting.

• Light Your Way. How often have you seen a video or photo and thought how great someone looked in it, only to learn it was just fancy lighting? Lighting is just as important on a video call as it is in a blockbuster movie. To create the best lighting for our video conference, put your primary light source behind your camera. Doing so allows the light source and your camera to focus on you, and will not create a glare on your screen.
• The Right Angle.  The angle of your camera is key to looking your best. Your camera should face you directly and be at eye level to ensure your focus stays on your attendees. Be sure to look at your camera, and not at the image of yourself in the small frame in the corner of your screen. If you're using a second monitor, be sure you're looking where the camera is and not at the other screen. Looking somewhere other than at your camera can be very distracting for your attendees. And remember, there's no need to sit on top of the camera! Sitting at least an arm's length away ensures you're not too close.
• Choose the Right Camera.  When the pandemic began, employers raced to find a way to have employees work from home. As long as staff could communicate with a built-in webcam on their computer and its microphone, that was good enough. Now that we've spent several months out of the office, we realize that if you want to have the best video quality, an external web camera is critical. The camera on your computer doesn't move, so you can't change your view. With an external camera, like the 4k video resolution option offered in our Smart Video Conferencing Bundle, you can move the camera to meet your needs. Camera isn't eye level? You can adjust without putting a stack of books under your computer or lowering your desk chair to the floor. With the camera's 120-degree field of view, you can move about your office and present from a whiteboard or monitor behind you easily. Doing this makes your meeting feel more like one you would have face-to-face in the office.
• What Did You Say?  Using the speakers and microphone built into your laptop can often be a risky proposition. The microphone picks up all of the background noise in your area, and those tinny speakers can often sound terrible. With our Smart Video Conferencing Bundle, you can use a six-microphone array HD Speakerphone to get some of the clearest audio you've heard. With its noise suppression technology and acoustic echo cancellation, you won't have to worry about your attendees hearing you typing or dealing with that annoying echo. While headphones can work in a pinch, wireless earbuds can quickly run out of power and a wired headset leaves you tethered to your computer.
• Setting matters.  When you're looking for a background for a video conference, less is more. While you may love your collection of rare art glass, your attendees may be distracted by all of the colors behind you. The same rules apply if you're in a cluttered workspace. To know what you will look like on camera, sit down at your workspace and take a selfie with your camera. Now you have an idea of what your attendees when your camera is on. Make sure to remove any objects that may detract from your presentation. Many video conference attendees opt for the backgrounds that come with their video platforms like Teams or Zoom. The best background is one that is neutral and professional. Nobody believes that you're at the beach or on Mars anyway.
• Look your best. Being comfortable when working from home is something for which we all strive. After all, if you're not meeting with clients or prospects or having an important employee meeting, there isn't always a need to dress for work, right? Think again! Most people present more professionally when they feel professional. So if you usually wear a suit and tie to a client meeting, plan to do the same for a video conference meeting. When it comes to clothes, avoid patterns, stripes and plaids. Solid, primary colors work best. Avoid complicated jewelry or anything that may make noise when you move. If you're going for the business on top and then wearing shorts or sweats, remember that if you have to stand up or be moving around while presenting, everyone will see your full outfit.  

With these simple, yet practical tips, your video conference meetings can feel pretty close to actual face-to-face ones. Add in Fraser's Smart Video Conferencing Bundle, and you'll have a top-quality video and audio to impress during your most important presentations. To learn more about our Smart Video Conferencing Bundle, click the link below. We can provide a virtual demo and show you all of the capabilities you can experience.