While the work-from-home model was once viewed as a temporary solution to adopting a safer working environment, the worldwide change is becoming a permanent change across various industries. This has resulted in an overnight boom in video conferencing however; when it comes to online etiquette, the lines are still slightly blurred between what’s acceptable and what’s not. We’ve put together a list of tips to take note of to ensure that your next video conference goes off without a hitch.

Choose an appropriate environment

When attending a video conference, it is important to be cognisant of what other attendees are able to see on your side. Certain visual elements could be distracting to other participants, such as having a busy background or sitting too close to a bright window. We suggest sitting in front of a plain wall in a room that gives off the optimal amount of natural light.

Always test your audio and video before you start

In order to avoid any delays at the outset of the video call, ensure that your video and audio devices are connected and working properly before the start of the call. Most video conferencing apps allow users to do this quite easily, so there’s no need to set aside huge amounts of time before the conference commences.

Hit mute when necessary

Imagine taking part in a video conference and there’s a dog barking on participant A’s line and a fan blowing loudly on participant B’s end. Combine these interferences together and you’re bound to have a group of participants who are unable to concentrate on the main purpose of the meeting. Unless it’s your turn to speak, we suggest remaining on mute for the duration of the meeting.

Stay focused

People often tend to engage in other tasks (such as checking emails) while taking part in video conferences. While this might seem like the perfect time to catch up on any recent backlogs, video conferences are just as important as in-person sessions, and should therefore be treated the same. Stay focused, engage when necessary and try avoid any distractions in your surroundings.

Dress accordingly

Whilst many people opt for the whole “Business from the Waist Up” vibe when participating in online conferences, we’ve seen this end badly too many times. There’s no need to dress like you’re attending a black tie event however, it’s important to show that you’re still vested in making an overall effort and dressing appropriately for each conference.

So there you have it, some very simple tips on how to present yourself professionally for your next online event. As leaders in the conference industry, we’re driven to ensure that the industry stays alive during these unprecedented times. Contact us to find out more about our world-class social-distancing inspired conferencing solutions.