Posted by
Lorna Love on Wed, May 22, 2013 @ 07:57 AM
“Selfish,” “rude,” “undependable” and “disorganized” are just some of the words your coworkers may be using to describe you if you are habitually late to meetings. In actuality, you may be none of the above. Nevertheless, perception is reality. If you’re perceived to be unreliable, you will be treated that way.
Chronic lateness creates such a disturbance, that CareerBuilder included 
habitual lateness as one of the top 10 annoying workplace habits. Being late can cause tension in relationships, damage your credibility, create unnecessary stress in your life and wastes money. American CEOs are late to eight out of every 10 meetings. When they are late by 10 minutes every day, it results in a $90 billion loss in productivity for the U.S economy, says Proudfoot Consulting.
The problem can become serious when your tardiness begins to affect the work of those around you. Walking into a full meeting room 15 minutes late can obviously cause a disruption. But don’t think you can’t cause a similar disruption when arriving late to an online meeting. For security reasons, online meeting software lets participants know who is logging on and when. It won’t go unnoticed and will likely cause a disturbance.
Consistently showing up late to meetings is bad enough, but showing up late to your own meeting is even worse. No one can start without you and everyone is sitting around twiddling their thumbs. Your meeting instantly loses its effectiveness because topics will be rushed and people will have to start dropping out before the meeting’s end so they won’t be late for their next appointment. When hosting online meetings you may be delayed even more because of setup time and possible technical issues. Over 50 percent of web meetings start late with technical difficulties being the single most common cause at 34 percent, according to Wainhouse Research. That’s why it is important to choose a conferencing provider that is reliable and allows you to start meetings with one click and no software to install. This will save some time and not delay the meeting any longer.
The bottom line is everyone has busy schedules. One late meeting can make you late for everything else you have scheduled for that day. This is why it’s so important to be respectful of people’s time. If you’re running late, try to send a quick email to one if not all the meeting attendees so they know what’s going on. Conferencing services, like BudgetAudio and BudgetWeb, give you the freedom to access meetings from your desktop, tablet or cell phone. This comes in handy if you’re in route and running late to your next meeting.
Do you find yourself always showing up 10 minutes after a meeting has started? It’s time to reevaluate you schedule and make a change.
If you are interested in learning more about Budget Conferencing services and how we can assist you with staying on schedule, contact us here.
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
Posted by
Lorna Love on Thu, May 16, 2013 @ 08:38 AM
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Does your company frequently use web and audio conferencing? It’s a growing trend that businesses all over the world are using to increase productivity and efficiency, improve communications and enhance business opportunities.
If you haven’t already, you will quickly discover there are a lot of different conferencing service providers out there. Some companies don’t have the capacity to meet all of your needs and expectations.
We’ve come up with 5 tips to help you find the providers who can.
1. Price
Price is probably one of the most important factors in your decision. You want reliable software, but you also don’t want to break the bank. Companies usually use web and audio conferencing to eliminate the high costs associated with in-person meetings. Paying too much for software would completely defeat the purpose. The right conferencing service provider will have various packages that can provide businesses of all sizes with cost effective web and audio conferencing services. Some free services are available, but they will probably end up costing you more in the end.
2. Features
Think about your needs as a business and make a checklist of the different add-ons you require.
Maybe it’s superior audio or HD-quality video. Take a minute and review your “need to haves” and “nice to haves”. Having a list of your essentials will make it easier to eliminate some of the lesser providers.
3. Security
A lot of businesses work with confidential information and it is imperative to their success and reputation that the information stays confidential. Reliable providers such as Budget Conferencing take the necessary safeguards to keep the information you share safe and secure. Passcodes and meeting reports are just a few precautions taken.
4. Compatibility
What platforms are your employees and clients using? Are they using Macs, PCs, mobile devices, or maybe a combination? Do not select a provider until you are certain all of your attendees will be able to access the conferencing software. BudgetWeb can be used is easy to use and can be used anytime, anywhere with no advanced setup or notification required.
5. Other considerations
Lastly, it’s important to know about the service provider itself. What kind of reputation does the company have? Who are some of their other clients and do they have any testimonials to share?
Hope this helps get you on your way to a better virtual experience!
Contact us at 888.983.0700 or sales@budgetconferencing.com today so you can spend more time focusing on your meetings and less time dealing with technical issues.
Photo courtesy: ganderssen1/flickr
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
Posted by
Lorna Love on Wed, May 08, 2013 @ 06:55 AM
Communication is the basis of all relationships and is critical to the success of any business. However, in today’s global economy, it can sometimes be difficult and expensive to get that human connection that is lacking from so many conference calls.
To remain competitive, businesses must invest in communication mediums where they can develop closer relationships with potential clients and maintain strong connections with remote and international team members.
This is where Budget Conferencing services come in handy. Using the appropriate conferencing tool can help your business operate more efficiently and level the playing field with your competitors.
Looking for an affordable and dependable solution for your communications needs that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Then BudgetAudio Conferencing is the answer you’re looking for. It’s extremely manageable because all you need to get started is a working phone and phone line. BudgetAudio Conferencing can reach hundreds of individuals on just one conference line and it’s easy for everyone to use. Without complicated passcodes or dial-in numbers, you make it easy for your customers and clients to start conversations and build relationships. When selecting BudgetAudio as your conferencing solution, you gain an effective business resource and tool that helps level the playing field with competitors. But, don’t stop there! You can also increase the impact of your meetings exponentially by pairing your audio conferencing with BudgetWeb Conferencing.
Did you know that up to 93% of overall communication is non-verbal? With BudgetWeb Conferencing, businesses have the opportunity to host or attend business meetings using the internet and a computer—or even a mobile device—and increase the effectiveness of collaboration dramatically. BudgetWeb Conferencing can be used for internal meetings with employees who may not be in a single location, or for external meetings with potential clients. Adding online visuals make it possible to collaborate with presentations, videos and more across the web. Webcams can also be used to stream video and add a face-to-face element that is vital in non-verbal communication. The advantages of web conferencing are endless. Telecommuters and remote teams can grow closer together regardless of geography, inside sales can dramatically increase the effectiveness of their sales pitches by moving beyond the stale cold call and clients can feel closer to businesses who they’ve commissioned projects to.
When hosting large events, a great deal of time and money goes into their preparation. You have to search for a physical location that will accommodate everyone and pay for all fees associated with the facility. Sometimes this task alone can take months. Now add high travel costs and inconvenienced remote attendees, and your meeting might not be as effective as you hoped. Today’s virtual events are now managed through event conferencing, a powerful tool to use when you are coordinating a high profile, large-scale event such as town hall meetings, speaker events, training sessions, benefits orientation, or board meetings. And by using tools such as BudgetEvent Conferencing, you even have the option of recording the event and archiving it for later playback. By choosing this alternative, you won’t have to worry about all of the other time-consuming tasks or additional costs.
There are many cost-effective conferencing choices available and sometimes navigating through all of them can be confusing. However, Budget Conferencing can customize a communications plan that is right for your business and help you stay ahead of the competition.
Interested in learning more about any of Budget Conferencing collaboration and communication services? Please feel free to contact us to start using conferencing tools as another way to get the edge over your competition today.
Photo: Spekulator/stock.xchng
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
Social media is a part of my job so I know all about the love/hate relationship people have with conference calls and they are not shy about sharing the negative feelings. Obviously, conference calls are a necessity in business but some times the volume (any one spent most of their day on calls instead of actually "working?") and the timing (raise your hand if you've had to take a call after 5:00 PM on Friday) can be too much to keep a positive attitude about them.
So why not spend some time to show the "good side" of conferencing?
Listed below are 7 reasons to love conference calls:
1. Here, there, anywhere. You can do it from your own computer in your own office. You’re working on familiar equipment in a comfortable environment.
2. Now or later. You can audio and even web conference any time, without travel or advanced notice. Need to jump on a meeting? You can do it in seconds.
3. Hug a tree while you’re at it. Audio and web conferencing are BOTH eco-friendly. Leave a virtual zero-carbon footprint.
4. No excuses. Improve productivity with instant access to your team and customers. People have the information they need, when they need it, no matter where they are.
5. Encore! Encore! Record and replay meetings. Those who can’t make the live meeting can still find out what was discussed. Training can be archived for future participants and review.
6. The next level of playing nice with others. Maximize connection and collaboration. Rich media conferencing can strengthen relationships among employees, business partners and customers by allowing groups of all sizes to work together to find the best solutions and innovations.
7. Boost the bottom line. Avoid the time, cost and inconvenience of travel, whether it’s across town or across the country. And web-based services mean you have no hardware to buy.
Can you think of any other reasons why conferencing is a positive resource in business? Feel free to comment below or follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook. If you are interested in learning more about Budget Conferencing services and how we can assist you, contact us here.
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
You’ve heard the saying - there’s no such thing as a free lunch. You get what you pay for is as true when it comes to web conferencing as it is anywhere else especially when you consider how cost effective and reliable paid services can be when your business reputation is on the line.
Yes, technology and competition are driving prices down, and paid services are very affordable. However, you may still question why pay when you can get it for free. Here are six reasons why you shouldn't take the "freeway" when it comes to your company's web conferencing services:
1. What? What? Can you hear me now? Static, dropped calls, and slow connections negatively impacts your business. Imagine a video freezing in the middle of a sales presentation, or the screen going blank, or a dropped call at a crucial moment. You’ll lose the momentum you’ve been building with that prospect. You need assurance these embarassing issues don't happen, yet you won’t even get timely support from a free services to fix them.
2. It’s one thing to appear frugal—and something else to be cheap. Free service providers typically make it clear that you are using a free service when participants dial or log in. Do you want to present the image that you’re too cheap to use a paid service? Or, if you’re willing to go cheap on something that’s so outward-facing, do you want your customers and colleagues to speculate on what else you’re willing to cut corners on when no one is looking (or listening)?
3. You might help your competitors to out-compete you. All audio and web conferencing services have to make money to stay in business. While you may not be directly paying for the service, someone is. Free audio conferencing services are typically funded by telecoms to encourage toll calls by users. Other services are advertiser-supported. Do you want to risk an ad from a competitor or simply an inappropriate sponsor showing up on your participants’ screens?
4. The features aren’t top-notch. Free services—or the free levels of some paid providers—are generally far more limited in terms of usability than paid services. If your customers and colleagues are accustomed to feature-rich paid services, they’re not going to be impressed when you can’t do something they’ve come to expect.
5. Time delays = drain on revenue. At worst, bad connections mean wasted time and user frustration. You have to repeat yourself over and over. You’re forced to start conversations several times. But what’s worse is the time you lose that could have been spent on profitable activity. The cost of that lost time is nowhere near as little as a more reliable paid service costs.
6. Kiss customer service goodbye. Do you really expect a responsive live customer service staff to deliver technical support for a product you’re not buying? Remember, you get what you pay for—and with a free service, you’re not paying for people who are committed to your satisfaction.
The bottom line is that “free” services can cost you more and deliver less than a competitively-priced paid service. You may have heard this saying too - the best things in life are free. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to web conferencing services.
We would love to get your feedback on this topic. Have you had bad experiences with any type of free service that you use for business purposes?
To learn more about web conferencing services, contact us to schedule a free demo of our service BudgetWeb.
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
Vertu, a developer of luxury cell phones has recently launched its latest model, the “Ti,” for the cost of $10,000.
The Ti is powered by the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Its titanium case, with leather accents, is promoted as being five times stronger than average ones. The 3.7 inch sapphire crystal screen is the largest ever engineered, practically scratch proof, and five times stronger than other smart phones relative to impact resistance.
Other features include a 8 MP rear camera with auto focus and twin LED flash, a 1.3 MP camera, a 1.7 GHz processor, and 64 GB internal memory.
OK, now let's get why there's a $10,000 price tag. It can be attributed to the 24/7 customer service that you get with your hand-made-to-order device. Instead of apps or even Siri to help you find restaurants or hotels, Vertu Concierge Services allow you to simply press a button on your phone to reach a live person to help with personal requests or tasks. Other services include Vertu Certainty which protects the device, data and in some cases the customer and lastly, Vertu Life provides customized information and articles.
I won't bother telling you about the upgraded $20,000 "Titanium Red Gold Mixed Metals" version but you can learn more about it and the Ti here.
Tell us what you think! Is this a good buy?
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
On this day, March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell spoke the first words on a telephone (to his assistant Thomas A. Watkins):
"Mr. Watson, come here, I want you."
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
Groupon fired its 32 year old founder Andrew Mason yesterday. However, his humbling and charming farewell letter to the company's employees has gone viral for its humorous, self-deprecating, and inspirational tone. See below for the letter in its entirety.
(This is for Groupon employees, but I'm posting it publicly since it will leak anyway)
People of Groupon,
After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I've decided that I'd like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding - I was fired today. If you're wondering why... you haven't been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness to two quarters of missing our own expectations and a stock price that's hovering around one quarter of our listing price, the events of the last year and a half speak for themselves. As CEO, I am accountable.
You are doing amazing things at Groupon, and you deserve the outside world to give you a second chance. I'm getting in the way of that. A fresh CEO earns you that chance. The board is aligned behind the strategy we've shared over the last few months, and I've never seen you working together more effectively as a global company - it's time to give Groupon a relief valve from the public noise.
For those who are concerned about me, please don't be - I love Groupon, and I'm terribly proud of what we've created. I'm OK with having failed at this part of the journey. If Groupon was Battletoads, it would be like I made it all the way to the Terra Tubes without dying on my first ever play through. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to take the company this far with all of you. I'll now take some time to decompress (FYI I'm looking for a good fat camp to lose my Groupon 40, if anyone has a suggestion), and then maybe I'll figure out how to channel this experience into something productive.
If there's one piece of wisdom that this simple pilgrim would like to impart upon you: have the courage to start with the customer. My biggest regrets are the moments that I let a lack of data override my intuition on what's best for our customers. This leadership change gives you some breathing room to break bad habits and deliver sustainable customer happiness - don't waste the opportunity!
I will miss you terribly.
Love,
Andrew
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
Scheduling and conducting interviews are a tedious, time-consuming, and an expensive process that is necessary to recruit qualified employees. Total recruiting costs can reach 3-5 times the employee's salary! However, more companies are turning to online job interviews to virtually meet with candidates for simple reasons – to save money and simplify the process. Web conferencing solutions, which are generally utilized for real-time meetings, presentations, and training online, are equipped with the capabilities to replace the need for face-to-face interviews with online interviews which are still interactive and effective but can be conducted with a candidate at any time regardless of his/her geographical location. Simply, web conferencing eliminates complex scheduling logistics and any travel costs.
There are many articles for job candidates who are participating in online interviews but not so much for the interviewers who are responsible for conducting a professional and glitch-free interview. Listed below are five tips for those who are thinking about testing the waters in online interviewing:
1. The first and most important tip is to partner with a web conferencing company who provides savvy and reliable service such as BudgetWeb, to host your online interviews and other web conferencing needs. Yes, there are “free” services out there, but do you really want to risk your reputation and make a lackluster impression because of poor audio and web quality?
2. Practice makes perfect! Whether you’re a novice or pro at online meetings, it’s a good idea to conduct a mock interview to ensure you are comfortable with the service and available features as well as asking questions via camera.
3. Location is everything. Don’t wait until the day of the interview to decide where you will conduct it. While prepping for the interview, be aware of what the candidate may see and hear in the background. Cut off cell phones, make sure the lighting is good, and remove any distracting objects located behind you.
4. Don’t think you can get away with underdressing by just looking professional chest up. You are expecting the candidate to woo you, so it is important for you to be dressed the part (and prepared!) as if it was a face-to-face meeting.
5. Record and playback your mock interview and/or the first couple of interviews to see what you could improve on and to ensure the interview process is effective. You can get insight by the candidate was comfortable and dialogue was as intuitive as a face-to-face meeting.
5a. It is your responsibility as the interviewer to provide an intuitive and productive experience for the candidate so it is imperative that you ensure he/she has access to a web camera and conferencing details in advance. Also, find out if the candidate has a favorable comfort level with an online meeting, which could affect his/her performance, so you can provide any tips or a tip sheet as needed.
Hopefully, I’ve gotten you excited about trying online interviewing! If not, the cost and time savings alone are reason enough to try it at least once. You can learn more about BudgetWeb here or feel free to schedule a complimentary 30-minute (and no strings attached) demo. You will see how our robust suite of features make it easy to conduct online meetings and interviews. Happy recruiting!
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings
Cupid and Conference Calls? Yep, it could happen!
Being in the conference calls and web meetings' space, we've seen our share of interesting conferencing call topics.
There was a time at Budget Conferencing, when we've seen where Social Networking companies have used our services. Or the time when one of the professional basketball teams used our service. (Hope no one got traded on those calls!)
This past Presidential campaign, our services even powered some Candidate calls and virtual townhall forums.
So, maybe the Budget Conferencing Conference Calling and Web Conferencing platforms can help you get a tad more "lucky" at getting a Valentine's gift, dinner, flowers, or chocolates.
Here are some ideas:
- Conference Calls for Singles: Hey, maybe we are shooting ourselves in the foot by not adding this to our business model. But how about getting a group of blind date individuals together on a conference call? Add web and you can share each others' photos and even turn on a webcam. What a way for those singles out there to possibly meet an eligible Valentine!
- Singles Reunion: So between Facebook and all of the classmates websites, maybe you just might rekindle some high school crushes. Can you imagine inviting your classmates from 20 years ago to a conference call?
- Valentine's Day Candy Sales: Own a store? You KNOW you have to put all of that red-wrapped candy on clearance. Jump on a Conference Call powered by Budget Conferencing to determine your pricing strategy.
- Couples Conference Calls: Ok, so we gave a shot out to the Singles. Now it is time for the couples. Whether Conference Calls for Couples' being counseled, or for those getting together to see old friends and family, our call services can be used for both business and personal usage. What a way to get get old friends together!?
- Las Vegas Web Meeting Weddings: Skip all the dating, the singles reunion, and the couples conference calls for pre-marital counseling or otherwise. Let's get married on a Web Conference! What a great way to share a video webcam, and get up to 125 of your closest friends and family onto a conference call!
Whether clearing out candy, or counseling couples, our conference call services and web meetings can power your Valentine's day needs.
Even if you don't choose to conference with us today, have a Happy Valentine's day from us at Budget Conferencing.
BudgetConferencing.com | @BudgetMeetings