Video conferencing has become one of the most important methods of keeping people connected during the remote revolution. But is our existing approach really facilitating great communications?
Today’s laptops are almost unrecognisable from the laptops of the past. They’re essentially all-in-one solutions with everything you need built right into the device. The very first laptops, of course, only had a screen and keyboard. Now, they come with everything you need integrated into the very core of the device, from trackpads to webcams, microphones, and more.
So it’s not surprising that you’ll want to make use of what you have. And many people are doing just that. They’re using the built-in features and functions on their laptops to participate in online meetings, and communicate & collaborate with colleagues. Convenient? Sure. But there’s an issue.
Relying solely on the basic video conferencing options your laptop has to offer may not produce great results. You could find that your face is covered in shadow, even though you’ve got all your lights turned on. Or that colleagues are struggling to hear you, even though you’re speaking clearly.
The entire point of video conferencing is to recreate the face-to-face experience in the digital environment. And right now, for many, that’s just not happening. Poor video call setups are resulting in low-quality workplace communications, misunderstandings, frustrations, and a loss of productivity.
So how can you make your video call setup brighter, clearer, sharper, and more professional?
The truth is that great communication takes a bit of work. But it’s nothing you can’t handle!
A smarter approach to video conferencing
Believe it or not, you can massively improve your video call setup by making 4 simple changes:
1. Choose the right technology
This is, of course, a big one for us here at Perigon One. We believe that businesses can work better, faster, and more productively when they’re using the best tech for them. And sometimes, that tech may be different from what your competitors are using. Ultimately, the perfect video call setup begins with the perfect video conferencing solution. So take a moment to think about what your business really needs. Real-time transcriptions? Automatic recording? Fancy backgrounds? Captioning?
2. Light your face well
One of the biggest mistakes online meeting participants make is that they sit away from the light, rather than towards it. This means that the background is illuminated, but there’s a big shadow on the face itself, making the person’s facial expressions and reactions difficult to see. Instead, try to position yourself so that you’re facing direct light. This can either be natural light from a window, or artificial lighting in the form of a lamp, a dedicated ring light, or even larger-scale LED panels.
3. Boost picture quality
Of course, picture quality can be affected by any number of things. Available bandwidth. The capabilities of the software you’re using. The processing power of your device. How your settings are configured… and so on. But sometimes, it all comes down to your camera. If you didn’t buy your device specifically for its webcam specs, then you may find it’s not capable of creating as good an image as you’d like. Consider an external webcam, or transmitting video from your higher-spec smartphone.
4. Improve sound quality
Some sound quality issues will be down to things like your video conferencing software and the device you use. But other times, it can be your laptop’s built-in audio software that’s the problem. Test your microphone sensitivity to ensure it’s set to the best level for your environment, and opt for an external USB mic if necessary. And try to keep background noise to a minimum… no sitting next to a washing machine on its final spin!
Technology is great. And it’s helping businesses thrive in all sorts of ways that we once thought impossible. But technology itself isn’t a miracle solution. Its ability to make a difference really depends on how it’s used.
At Perigon One, that’s exactly what we’re here to help with. Our mission is to support businesses as they select, implement, and utilise the best tech, in the best way. For more information about how we can help – and for more useful tips and tricks – get in touch with our team.
