In the wake of a worldwide pandemic, it comes as no surprise that businesses and consumers have felt the impact of these circumstances. While some occupational practices are completely hindered, generally speaking, most businesses and organizations have found some way to evolve and adapt.
We are very fortunate to be alive in a time where technology allows us to access an abundance of information, seamlessly communicate with others, remain cost-effective in our work and minimize geographic limitations.
The point being, there are a number of innovative ways to problem solve, even when faced with abrupt and unforeseen circumstances. Today we’re going to explore the vast benefits of video-conferencing and how it can be a huge difference-maker for you and your business.
The Benefits of Video Conferencing
1: Video is more engaging than audio conferencing.
We are all guilty of being on a tele-conference call and getting distracted by trying to multitask or simply just zoning out. When you are passively participating in an audio conference, you are susceptible to feeling disconnected from the other members of the meeting. Unless what’s going on directly involves your next course of action, you may even feel tempted to put yourself on mute until your role is brought into the conversation.
With video conferencing, you are reminded to remain engaged and connected to the conversation. There are pressures to maintain virtual “eye contact” and practice the communication skills you utilize in a face-to-face meeting.
2: Makes you more relatable.
Trust is the most important business and brand asset you can manage. It involves your relationship with customers, clients, employees and stakeholders and has the power to influence your brand’s reputation and overall success.
A huge staple of building trust is authenticity. Utilizing video-conferencing during a time like this speaks volumes in regard to your brand appearing honest, genuine and reliable.
When we see TV show hosts, like Ellen DeGeneres, or Today Show’s Hoda & Jenna, performing live from their kitchen or living room, it’s impactful. We think to ourselves, celebrities are faced with the same issues we are— we’re not alone in this! Video offers a special opportunity to give people glimpses at what you’re doing in what feels like a more personal way.
3: Cost effectiveness.
Viral outbreak or not, one of the most notable benefits of video conferencing is that it is a cost effective way to undergo normal business practices. The ability for managers and internal team personnel to meet with clients, leadership or external team members without leaving their offices reduces both travel time and cost.
With travel and cost no longer compromising your ability to be in the meeting, you are also optimizing meeting attendance and improving productivity. This allows all of the involved parties to conveniently access information in a time efficient and cost effective manner, rather than filling in the gaps later for people who were unable to make it.
4: Gives you the opportunity to read body language despite the distance barrier.
Phone calls, text messages, emails, and social networking have all enabled us to stay connected despite geographic limitations. However, one of the downsides to most communication technologies is that you are unable to read the other person’s body language in their messaging.
As the old adage goes, “action speaks louder than words”. Your posture and movements while communicating or receiving information transmits different feelings and emotions, even when we do not specifically speak these responses out loud.
The importance of nonverbal communication in a business setting is twofold. 1) For the person communicating the message, positive body language adds value by allowing the speaker to better connect with the recipient of information, to exude confidence or assertiveness, and to establish rapport and boost morale. 2) For the recipient of information, body language offers their reactions and attitude towards what’s being communicated. Observing this is key to effectively communicating and understanding what your audience is feeling.
Without this awareness, there can be miscommunications through email threads, phone calls, and text messages that can ultimately create conflict. Video conferencing allows you to stop these problems in their tracks and nurture healthier business relationships.
Innovation in Video Conferencing
Your workforce and clientele are likely stuck at home, however, with the help of some internet you are more than capable of bridging that gap. Video conferencing through resources like Zoom, Webex, GoToMeeting, etc, allow many of us to continue with business as usual.
It’s difficult to face uncertain times and changes in routine, and finding the willpower to remain optimistic is not a simple task. However, we want to challenge you to find areas of opportunity to mitigate these circumstances— and perhaps even come out of this stronger.
Here are some ideas for turning lemons into lemonade through video conferencing…
1: Use your extra time to work on your personal connections.
Strengthen your organization from within by dedicating a little time everyday to check in with some of your team members. Reach out to current clients or potential customers to set up a meeting, see how they’re handling the changes and see if you can provide any services that may help.
People want to feel connected during a time like this. You never know what may come from a brief conversation, brainstorm session or consultation.
2: Screen share and collaborate.
Many organizations are missing the collaborative side of their work due to social distancing. We’re here to tell you, you can effectively work together, in an integrated, real-time way. Many of the video conferencing platforms allow for screen sharing, where you can make a presentation, open a document or whiteboard, and make live edits and changes together. With cohesive video, voice and display, hosts and viewers are able to hold discussions and fine-tune their work as a team.
3: Perform manager and admin duties, remotely.
Another way you can innovate during this pandemic is by utilizing an all-in-one admin application that integrates with Zoom. Vcita allows small businesses to manage clients, appointments and payments from anywhere. Once integrated with Zoom, appointments that would normally happen in person can now be set through Vcita, with payment and reminders taken care of automatically by the platform.
4: Offer virtual classes.
Your business may prefer in-person practices, services or sales, but your customer base will truly value and appreciate the extra lengths you go to connect with them and provide your offerings. With many of the softwares allowing you to connect with anywhere from 25-100 people at a time, this can certainly be a valuable tool for building your audience.
Whether you’re a restaurant providing a cooking class, a gym offering online workouts, or a craft store providing DIY home projects, all of these bring problem-solving innovations to your standard work procedure. You may even find that these adaptations are useful long-after the coronavirus pandemic has passed.
If you need help setting up streaming services, our sister company Film Vision Media can walk you through virtually.