5 Common Video Conferencing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Admit it. We have all been stuck in one of those awful online meetings.
Someone’s microphone sounds like it is inside their sock. Another is calling from the shadow realm and there’s always one poor soul constantly having to reconnect to the call every five minutes.
With over half of us now working online, these video conferencing mistakes are still driving us mad every day. So what can you do so as not to appear unprofessional when making your next video call online?
Use this guide to highlight some of the most common pitfalls and how to sidestep them like a video conferencing professional.
Distracting Backgrounds
When hosting a conference call you want the focus to be on you, not your surroundings. Make sure the visible space around is free from clutter or distracting objects.
Nothing should be visibly moving behind you. Keep doors closed and out of shot. If possible, use a separate room for your conference call ideally one with a blank, white wall.
Inadequate Lighting
Improving poor lighting is one of the quickest fixes that will instantly improve the quality of your video conference call.
Avoid placing your desk in front of a light source such as a window. This will place you entirely in shadow during any daytime calls. Instead, place a good quality lamp on your desk.
Spend time researching the best table lamps for video conferencing. Good lighting from a desk lamp can often improve the video quality of cheaper cameras.
Poor Sound Quality
The ability to hear and be heard is paramount to a successful conference call so you must eliminate all additional sources of noise around you.
Close any open windows and doors and consider locking them. Especially, if you share a workspace with others and are often interrupted.
A decent microphone and set of speakers are also essential. A bad microphone can make you sound as if you are under the sea and will distract others from the value of your message.
Insufficient Bandwidth
Most video conferencing applications need a minimum of 2Mbps-4Mbps of upload and download bandwidth for calls of up to 5 people. These days the majority of home and office internet solutions should be sufficient to meet this requirement.
However, also using a wired connection to your router will avoid dropping the Wi-Fi signal at crucial moments and provide a much more stable connection.
Bad Video Conferencing Etiquette
How and when to speak in a video call is a new skill that we have all had to master recently.
Use best practices and keep it simple. Try not to talk over others and ensure you are muted when others are talking. Raise your hand when you need to speak.
Don’t be the person messing around with your settings mid-call. Test your equipment properly before the start of the call. Most applications will allow you to do this before you connect to the call.
Don’t Get Tripped Up By Video Conferencing Mistakes
It doesn’t take much effort to eliminate most video conferencing mistakes. By fixing your lighting & sound quality, removing background distractions, and a few good manners you are already well on your way to a high-quality call experience.
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