Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Fair Conference Bags - the Surging Demand

Conferences are almost a daily activity in every business enterprises. Professionals attending these conferences prefer to carry Fair conference bags, which keep them well-sorted during the event. With the increase in business houses, a complete breed of executives attending conferences have cropped up.  To cater to this growing number, there is a huge surge in the demand of promotional conference bags. Although they are specialty products, they have the competency to cater to any audience group and corporate occasions. To top it all, Fair conference bags are also identified as deft promotional items.

Let us discuss the various aspects responsible for the the inflated demand for Fair conference bags:-

Increasing audience base:

The present era is witnessing a boom in entrepreneurship. New business establishment are stemming up frequently and so there are more and more conferences held. This shows an increasing number of business professionals and therefore, a broad audience base to address. Fair conference bags being the ideal promotional gifts for conferences thus receives a beefed-up demand margin.

For all audience and corporate events:

The fact can be argued upon that Fair conference bags are particularly meant for those present in the conferences. However,  giving a thought to it would reveal that not only the conference-goers but also the other target audiences can harness the utility of these conference folders.. Apart from the members present in the conference room, other in-house employees like the CEO, directors, managers and other staff can also be presented with conference bags. The end-users can also be reached out by gifting these business gifts. It is because Fair conference bags can very well be used as an essential everyday office-carry luggage and not only during conferences.

Again, as their name suggests, Fair conference bags are believed to be gifted specifically in conferences. But they are suitable to be given away in any business function or for any reason. They can be distributed as incentives for certain professional accomplishment in monthly meets, prizes for competitions in company foundation day or simply as festive or seasonal gifts.

Mobile advertisement channel:

The Fair conference bags brilliantly act as mobile advertising conduits. As they are basically in the hands of business personnel, they enjoy the facility of business-traveling to wide distances. This gives the brand advertising purpose, for which they are actually meant for, a wide platform. Taken along by the core audience to different places of their business visit, they spread brand awareness to an extensive audience range.

By now you must have understood the significant reasons for the high demand of promotional printed Fair conference bags. So, if  you want your business to go places, order for Fair conference bags from  www.ideasbynet.com.

Monday, November 17, 2008

What is Conference Bay All About?

Conference Bay makes visiting, organising and speaking at conferences a more pleasant experience. We have created the world's first complete conference portal - providing a complete overview of professional conferences organized by topic and location. We launched our website in Asia Pacific in September 2007 and have quickly expanded to the US and Europe in the months thereafter. We now have 400 conference organizers registered with us worldwide and have at any point in time 400-500 conferences on our site.

Conference attendees can find all information regarding conferences in their field of interest easily as we present all conferences in a consistent way. What makes Conference Bay even more attractive to attendees is that they can name the price they're willing to pay for a seat at the conference through our unique bidding mechanism. This concept benefits the conference organizers by increasing their total profitability by selling the remaining unsold seats (this can amount to 30% of the total number of seats) to a new customer segment. Conference Bay offers HR or Finance/Procurement managers of large organizations a dedicated solution (Conference Bay Direct) which saves them and their staff time and money. We provide the company's staff with a relevant selection of conferences through a monthly overview. If they find a conference they like they can book directly through Conference Bay and benefit from discounts negotiated by us. We present the management with real-time information on all conference related expenses and we consolidate all conference bookings by their staff in one monthly invoice.

Soon we will be launching a Speakers section where we will allow anyone who has an interesting story to tell and who wants to do so at a conference to upload his or her profile. We are also planning a Venues section which will help conference organizers find the right venue for their event quickly and efficiently.

Conference Bay improves the ease of doing business for all players in the conference industry making organizing, visiting and speaking at conferences an enjoyable, hassle-free experience. Our comprehensive list of conferences covers a wide range of topics from Finance & Banking and Legal to Information Technology and General Management. Each category is further organized into subtopics so that it is very easy for you to select the conference that is of most interest to you. Conferences are also sorted by location to make finding a conference taking place near you more convenient. To know more about Conference Bay visit our website http://www.conferencebay.com.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

How to Choose the Best Cheap Conference Calls?


Since conference calls are the top most and commonly used medium of communication alongside is the use of Internet, there are some services providers who offer cheap conference calls. These cheap conference calls are for people who have the needs to make use of audio or web conference at a short period of time, with limited time to prepare and limited budget. These cheap conference calls are the right choice for them. These services balance the efficient service and the affordable cost per minute. The following are the benefits of the cheap conference calls: their flat rate services, with discounts on the rates of conference calling, and how the firm manages to provide such a compromise in a realistic domain.


The enormous benefit of the cheap conference calls is that the customers need not to make slots reservations in advance. The clients just have to call the toll-free hotline of the providers in order to avail their services. The clients will be given their own secret entry code in order to join conferences. The discounted conference calling rates does not require the client to have their own expensive infrastructure. Another added feature of cheap conference calls, in the event that the client avail of bulk minutes, the service provider will apply discounts and that will be lesser cents per minute.


Some companies or service providers in line with the cheap conference calls are the flat rate conference calls, however, charges on flat rate conference calls is charged monthly. Schemes like this are appropriate for those clients who are constantly spending $156 a month on their cheap conference calls.


How do these providers can afford cheap conference calls? These providers that offer cheap conference calls are the companies who have their own call bridges and phone line and infrastructure. In this way, they can afford to implement discount rates on their services. The companies who provide cheap conference call do not any overhead to pay, no rentals because they have their own facilities.



However, even if cheap conference calls are cheaper than any other services provider rates, it is still recommended to evaluate the particular rates and quality with the service provider before signing anything, because the "cheap rates" might change from one provider to another provider.


Most vendors catering to cheap conference calls don't oblige registrations. Their conference calling is a totally computerized program. You get a stable toll-free call-in number and entry code to provide to your member. Your only fee would be for the minutes range of the call and everything is documented in an easy-to-read bill. Some vendors will even deduct the setup charges and won't compel least possible convention.


In order to avoid confusion and inconveniences cheap conference calls services must be examined carefully. The performance quality and the procedures of the billing should be checked. Examine if these providers guarantee services at efficient cost plans, is there really non-scheduling and is it true that they do not require reservation and lastly, do they deliver excellent performance even if they offer cheap conference calls?


Cheap Conference Calls, Are They Any Good?

Conference calls have been an alternative way of gathering people together in a business seminars or meetings. It can save everyone the hassle of traveling from one place to another just to attend a business gathering. Not only that, it can also relatively lower down company expenses because all you really need is a telephone system and you are good to go. Technology has really gone a long way and has helped the business sector in making cost-effective solutions that fits their needs.

You may think that setting up a call conference may be costly. Actually it need not be. There are a number of conference call service providers in the market that are offering affordable call conferencing packages which are available for everyone.

How come some cheap conference call providers can reduce their rates that low?

Firstly, offering cheap rates is their marketing strategy to get more people to commission their service. Second, cheap conference calls are often service providers themselves and have their very own network that they use during conference calls. This way, there are actually no or at least very minimal overhead cost. Without these additional costs, they can easily lower down their rates.

How do cheap conference calls work?
Providers usually would give their costumer a unique toll free number. The participants of the conference call will then dial-in the given number. The host would simply call the toll number and can easily conduct the conference right there and then.

Advantages of cheap conference calls

Reservation-less conferencing
Cheap conference call does not need reservations for a person to join the conference. A client can call a conference anytime he needs one without making prior reservations.

Call management system
Cheap conference calls also provide their own call management system. Just be sure to check with your provider other services and additional features that come with the package you paid for. Call management system would ensure that you have a smooth-flowing conference at all times.

Operator assisted
Cheap conference calls also provide live operators upon request but you would usually be required to pay additional cost for this. Since cheap conference calls are committed to provide the most cost-effective solution possible for their costumers they usually use automated system instead of live operators to cut down the cost of the service you have to pay for.

Easy setup
You might think that you need extra tools to set up conferencing, but this is actually not the case. There are no additional equipments that you need to have to make a conference call. All you need to have is a simple telephone system that you would use during the conference.

Get in touch with hundreds of people
The primary use of a conference call is to get two or more people together. But with a cheap call conference, it gets even better. You can converse and connect to one person or to one hundred people all at the same time.

Who would benefit from cheap call conferences?
Call conferencing is not exclusive for business use. It could also be used for medical consultations and for small organization's staff meetings.

Start-up companies would greatly benefit from cheap call conferencing. They would give your company the professionalism it needs without you shelling out a big fortune. Cheap call conferencing would perfectly fit your budget.

Small organizations and charity institutions can also use cheap conference calls. This way, they can get in touch with their staff wherever they are in the world. You do not need to pay for high cellphone bills anymore or to travel far just to talk to your staff. Cheap conference makes it easier for you.

Cheap conference calls, are they any good? In conclusion, they are! They offer cost-effective solutions to suits your needs without paying for high fees. They are very economical compared to traveling to different places just to meet with certain people whether it is for your business or for your organization.

Apart from being affordable, cheap conference calls are not short when in comes to technical advantage. They can offer the same service most high-priced providers offer. What you really have to do is to evaluate your provider's services and ask them about what they can offer you. It would be a good idea to compare providers and choose what you think is best suited for your cause.

Communication is very vital in a thriving company. With cheap conference calls, you can create seamless communication with your people and still save up a little of your budget.

Tips on Conference Calling

The communication industry has been fast improving itself. There are more gadgets developed, improved or invented so that more people can have a better chance to communicate with other people any where in the world. One of the most beneficial improvements in the communication industry is the development of conference calling.
Conference calling helps the individuals to talk to two or more people at the same time. With the help of the telephone or the Internet, conference calls can be a simple process and the people simply have to enjoy its benefits. Having a conference this way may be simple and the benefits that can be attained are many. This is why more people are interested in having their conferences less of the face-to-face and more like conference calling.
However, there should always be reminders that must be first done before one can actually have a smooth flowing conference call. These tips should be done before and during the call to ensure that the flow is better and that the benefits would be enjoyed fully. Other impediments can be avoided when these steps are done before the actual conference.
One of the areas of conference calling that is delicate is its technical part. Everything should be checked so that the process will be ensured to flow smoothly and according to the plan. Conference calling is done with the use of a number of equipments. All of these should be checked and ensured that they are all in a good working condition. Testing all of the tools is necessary before the actual conference. Doing so would help you ensure that during the conference, there would not be complications. If you have checked it and discovered that one tool may be out of order, then there is enough time for you to fix and or replace it. There should be no weird noises that may come up during the call.
If using web conference calling, checking that the microphone and the web cam is working would be the first thing to do. Also, the Internet connection should be fast enough so that there would not be delays on the actual conference calling. Once everything is checked, all of the members that must be present in the conference should be well informed about how the conference would go. This way, they can also have their selves ready for the conference calling. Also, they can commit if they are available during the conference date. This is important so that you will have a chance to estimate the number of people you may be dealing with when the conference is already active. Also, if there is someone absent, the recorder should be ready so that he may use the saved record of the conference for him to catch up on whatever he may have missed.
All of these advantages may be done through conference calling. Lastly, in making a conference call, keeping your points straight and clear would help your listeners and discussants to have a better view of the agenda. With the right equipment and knowledge, conference calling can be so easy.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Why Choose a Conference Center for your Next Corporate Training Program?

By R.L. Fielding

Long gone are the days when a person stayed at one job for the majority of his or her life. Today, recent studies suggest that the average American worker will have up to 10 different jobs throughout the course of a career.

With so many new faces beginning different jobs each year, and with more than 25 percent of the current working U.S. population reaching retirement age by 2010, companies are hiring and most importantly, looking to train new staff quickly and efficiently.

In order to ensure that companies retain the level of productivity they need to succeed in business, many are educating their new hires, and even current employees, via high-tech corporate training programs.

The conference planning industry is booming as many businesses are saying good-bye to standard, in-office training sessions and taking their teams to full service, amenity-filled conference centers.

There are many different reasons why managers and businesses are choosing to take their group to full-service conference centers, including:

Versatile Meeting Facilities

Conference centers offer services that can't be matched by companies trying to train their employees in-house.

Corporate conference centers pride themselves on their flexibility and wide range of options, as well as their commitment to a superior training experience. Some options might include meeting spaces that can accommodate both small and large groups, many different rooms and room configurations, indoor and outdoor recreation and fitness facilities, IT/AV support, on-site conference planning managers, high-class lodging arrangements for out-of-town business people and even customized meeting plans.

In addition, many conference centers cater only to businesses rather than splitting their time and resources between businesses and leisure only guests. By catering strictly to business clientele, these conference centers are further able to provide groups with a distraction-free environment that fosters concentration and productivity during meetings.

Professional Meeting Planners

Most of the larger conference centers offer assistance from professional, on-site conference planning managers to help produce a highly productive training session.

On-site conference planning managers consult with clients to discuss their group's needs, including: meeting spaces, room setups, technology and media needs, food and catering options, transportation options and even team building activities. These experienced professionals work with groups to ensure they have adequate supplies and support services. On-site conference planning managers can also help identify key speakers, as well as help draft meeting agendas.

Productivity-Enhancing Technology

Conference centers can also boost productivity by providing the latest technology. By offering trainers and trainees easy access to high speed Internet, they can open up a world of possibilities, such as super high speed T3 lines that can handle full-motion, real-time video, and very large databases that can be manipulated over a busy network.

Many high-tech meeting rooms will also supply a variety of audio/visual equipment, including wireless laptops for each participant, shareware, voice and keyboard chat, online quizzes, polls and more. Conference facilities may also offer live online demos and "webinars," a type of live web seminar, that's interactive between the presenter and audience.

Most of the larger conference centers also retain expert technical support personnel for on-the-spot dilemmas. Anyone who has ever tried to fix a faulty overhead projector during a meeting will appreciate a conference center that can handle tech issues quickly and efficiently.

Convenient Accommodations & Amenities

Larger conference centers offer full lodging accommodations to make their guests feel at home and comfortable after a long day of meetings. Many offer standard, executive and suite guest quarters to suit travelers.

Some conference centers also offer a variety of amenities to the traveling business person. On-site gift shops, hair salons, dry cleaning services, free cyber cafes, shoeshine and repair, automated teller machines, mail services and much more can make guests feel right at home.

Comprehensive Dining & Catering Options

For those business men or women who enjoy a quick breakfast or for those who prefer large, four course dinners, conference center dining can cater to all kinds of tastes.
Conference center catering teams are experienced in serving a variety of meals, such as a buffet to allow teams to mingle or a family-style dinner, which gives smaller groups the opportunity to get to know one another over a more intimate setting.

Café-like dining, most commonly open late-night, accommodates those in search of a snack. Some centers even offer on-site pubs where guests can catch a baseball or football game on television while enjoying a quick hamburger.

Recreational Options

What better way to unwind after a long day of meetings than a hike or a shopping excursion? Conference centers offer a variety of amenities for those in search of a break from business, including 24-hour fitness centers, outdoor sports facilities for golf or biking, and game rooms. For those not into sports, other weekend activities may be available, such as a shopping shuttle that brings guests to local area malls and movie theatres.

Customized Meeting Solutions

Managers looking to add a little extra flair to their training program will be glad to learn that some conference centers have an events and media team that can turn any meeting into a unique experience. By utilizing set design and staging, lighting and special effects, video projection, audio support and music, graphic design and animation, live Webcasts, vendor fairs, video editing, duplication and much more, they can help transform a standard program into a memorable affair.

For example, the Chicago area chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-CAC) partnered with Q Center in St. Charles, Illinois to create a customized program for the group's annual educational conference. Under the general theme of "Learn, Share, Lead," the Q Center team designed an exciting and educational experience for the conference attendees.

Throughout the conference, Q Center encouraged audience participation by incorporating live web-casting, electronic voting and other advanced meeting technology. Highlights of the MPI-CAC conference included a "video wall" created with windows and 14 projectors, scenic elements customized with the MPI logo, a breakfast inspired by the film Breakfast at Tiffany's and gift boxes of signature cookies at departure.

Make a Conference Center Your Campus

It's clear that for corporations looking to deliver an effective, efficient and memorable training program, hosting it at a conference center is an ideal solution. Through their comprehensive services and facilities, they not only make the process easier for the company holding the training, but also help to create a more productive, engaging experience for those participating.

About Q Center

This article was provided by Q Center, which is dedicated to providing premier learning and conference facilities equipped for total productivity and supported by a quality-focused conference planning team. Q Center has the facilities and technology to create virtually unlimited meeting scenarios. More than ordinary conference facilities, Q Center is a conference complex. Located in the western suburbs of Chicago, Q Center is conveniently accessible to both of Chicago's major airports and to the many organizations with headquarters and major offices in Chicago. Visit http://www.qcenter.com for more information.

This article is copyrighted by Q Center. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be posted on other websites, without the express written permission of the author, who may be contacted via email at qcenter@digitalbrandexpressions.com.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Planning a Web Conference

The most obvious reasons for hosting a web conference are improved live communication, increased efficiency and reduced costs. Although web conferences are becoming more popular, there are still many companies that haven't heard yet about its efficiency and about how much money they can save by hosting such a conference.

Some of the most frequent reasons for holding a web conference are security, collaboration, visuals, including absentee shareholders, getting input from a region simultaneously and providing training for several persons at the same time. Furthermore, a web conference can offer consumers and shareholders the information they need any time they need it.

It is a proven fact that hosting a successful web conference is quite a challenge and it is essential to be ware of the fact the conference won't run smoothly unless you make adequate planning. In planning such a conference, the following tips might turn out to be useful. First and foremost, define what you intend to accomplish and limit yourself to the conference time you have at your disposal. In such situations, we advise you to be as concise as possible.

Next, if you are using a hosting company contact them and arrange a date and hour for your conference; don't forget to cover the basic details and to get the links and access codes you need to send to your participants in order to join the conference. Then, establish the persons who are going to attend your web conference and invite them to the conference. It is a good idea to gather the content for the meeting and to assign someone who will prepare the necessary material for the conference software.

It is essential to determine the expectations of the participants, to let them know how they should prepare for the web conference and to send them materials in advance if necessary. Don't forget to arrive earlier and to open the conference software before the meeting starts. Thus, you can make sure that connections and content are working properly and that the software won't create any problems.

An important web conference service is the security it provides to the host and the participants at the conference. This is why it is critical to make sure that web conference service includes conference security and that this security meets your needs. When the conference is over, you can delete the confidential data from the server straight after the conference.

Choosing the adequate web conference service requires a lot of time and a good knowledge of the software and resources that are necessary for web meetings. If you want a web conference service which will display your Power Point presentation online, share desktop applications, you should decide in favor of the most affordable and the easiest to use web service. In this case you will be able to count on a web conference service that won't create any unpleasant surprises.

Nowadays, you can host a conference if you have a broadband internet connection and a browser.  A few years ago, companies who wanted to host web conferences had to download and install complicated software and to buy expensive equipment in order to enjoy a web conference. If you want to keep in touch with your business partners, customers or employees all you have to do is know how to host web conferences. Things can't get any easier because the web conference service is available to users from all over the world and it can be bought at accessible prices.

Taking Pleasure From Conference Calls

Organizing a conference inside a company is a tough task to carry out. One of the elusive aspects of having a conference is making all members present. If one member remains missing, then it would be harder to come up with results and plans. It would also be complex to put in order the missing member during the conference to be trained and deal with what he failed to know. Nevertheless, with conference calls, this situation can now be escaped and conferences may be recovered.

Rendering conference calls are now effective methods that are now being used by more organizations in organizing their conferences to better suit/match their busy schedules. With conference calls made using the telephone or even with the help of the web, it is easier to fix the date of the conference when all of the members are present. While the clients in most companies are constantly busy, arranging to assemble them up and getting them travel so that they can confer essential issues could be time consuming and too laborious for them. This is why it would be sensible for the companies to organize conference calls rather than go far the usual face-to-face conferences. They can conduct the conference even without all of the members present in one hall. Even if they are in their offices, the conference can still be operational and everyone can discuss on the important topics of the company.

If conference call is made through the web, one can also see the people you are talking to. This is one more upgradation in the area of conference calling. Also, documenting the conference is not that hard to do because the conference calls can be recorded and saved. This can then be used time to come if the company requires it. All of the important features of the conference are recorded so if a member is absent, he can simply take back the file and listen to it. By this, he can catch up on what took place during the meeting without disturbing others members of the office.

Many companies are now understanding the significance of conference calls in dealing with their customers internationally and locally. They can be in touch with them in a improved and more suitable manner. Commuting may not be required as they can already talk and discuss critical matters in their own premises.

Conference calls are nowadays a suitable way to let businesses have a smooth flowing conferences. It is then feasible to get assembled the members as on one is required to be present at a certain location. Everyone may simply stay where he is and attend the conference. Thus, customers may experience a less tiring preparation for the conference, they can save their time by not commuting. And moreover, they have saved money with conference calls.

Owing all the necessary tools in a good condition could make the conference much smooth flowing. Also, conference calls should be tested first so further obstacles that may be crossed in the next time may be avoided prior to the conference even begin.

Monday, November 10, 2008

How to Choose Conference Call Provider?


In the recent years, conference calls have been a medium for business firms in holding their business meetings for their organizations around the globe. As such, the rivalry these days for business is competitive among different conference call providers. This environment can be appropriate when the time comes to regard as just which of the many conference call providers will profit in this business tool.


The first consideration in choosing a conference call provider is to recognize how often the company uses conference calls for communication. Possibly a firm has different divisions that perform conference calls on a frequent basis, such as twice a week, once a week or once a month. If the company is on project basis, the utilization of conference call is less organized however still yield in a quantity of conference calls done every month.


There is a perfect way to manage the rate of recurrence of a firm's conference call practice is to obtain a picture of the previous six months and create a standard number of conference calls performed. This will provide the company a concept of the total standard time produced per conference call. Keep this data useful.


The next move is to examine the form of the conference call type utilized by the company. The company might want to be certain that any conference call provider the company move towards and at the same time can offer the type of service the company requires. As an instance, should the company most frequently use an operator supported dial-out style of call, there is no requirement for the company to have an access into conversations with conference call providers who offers only a dial-in service. Part of the firm's job is to get rid of conference call providers who can't provide the company what they presently need.


At this stage, the firm might want to start to thinks about the extra service alternatives that they want to attempt in the future. The company must be certain that conference call provider that makes it on their list of possible aspirants has those characteristics obtainable. Generate an official wish list and have it accessible to offer any conference call provider the firm critically believe.


At this point, the firm have a clear image of the services that they already employed and the service alternatives that they may be interested in the near future, their next step is to accumulate their list of the prospective conference call providers. Most conference call providers provide sufficient basic information on the company' websites to let them to identify if they have the possible conference call provider.


It is during this phase that any potential conference call provider will ask a few questions about your average volume of usage and frequency of conference calls. Provide the conference call provider with this basic information and let them know that as part of their evaluation of each conference call provider that they are speaking with, they are requesting a free demonstration or perhaps the ability to hold a conference call at no charge. This is not an extraordinary request for a probable customer to make of a conference call provider.



Enjoying Conference Calls

Managing a conference within a company can already be a hard thing to do. One of the delicate aspects of having a conference is having all members present. If one member is absent, then it would be harder to come up with decisions and plans. Also, it would also be difficult to make the absent member during the conference to learn and cope up with what he missed. However, with conference calls, this situation can no0w be avoided and conferences may be improved.
Making conference calls are now effective mediums that are used by more companies in making their conferences to better suit their busy schedules. With conference calls made through the telephone or even with the help of the web, it would be easier to set the date of the conference when all of the members are present. Since the clients in many companies are always busy, gathering them up and having them travel so that they can discuss important matters may be time consuming and too tiring for them. This is why it would be wiser for the companies to engage in conference calls rather than stay with the traditional face-to-face conferences. They can conduct the conference even without all of the members present in one hall. Even if they are in their offices, the conference can still be active and they can talk about the important matters of the company.
With conference calls made through the web, you can also see the people you are talking to. This is another improvement in the area of conference calling. Also, documenting the conference would not be that hard to do since the conference calls can be recorded and saved. This can then be used in the future if the company may need it. All of the important aspects of the conference are recorded thus if a member is absent, he can simply retrieve the file and listen to it. By this, he can catch up on what happened during the meeting without disturbing others members of the company.
More companies are now able to distinguish the importance of conference calls in dealing with their clients abroad and locally. They are able to communicate with them in a better and more convenient way. Traveling may not be needed since they can already talk and discuss important matters in their offices.
Conference calls are now a better way to make the companies have a smooth flowing conferences. It is then easier to gather up the members since they may not be needed to be present in a certain location. They can simply stay where they are and have the conference. Thus, the clients can have a less tiring preparation for the conference, they have also saved their time by not traveling. And more importantly, they have saved money through conference calls.
Having all the necessary equipment in a good condition would make the conference more smooth flowing. Also, conference calls should be tested first so that further impediments that may be crossed in the future may be avoided before the conference even start.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Selecting a Conference Call Provider

Over the last thirty years, conference calls have gone from a business tool that was the province of only the biggest companies to an everyday way of holding meetings for organizations of just about any size. As such, the competition these days for business is fierce among various conference call providers. This climate can work well for you when the time comes to consider just which of the many conference call providers will earn your patronage.

The first thing to do in selecting a conference call provider is to identify how frequently your organization currently utilizes conference calls. Perhaps you have departments that conduct conference calls on a recurring basis, such as weekly, biweekly or monthly. If your organization is project driven, your usage may be less structured but still result in a number of conference calls held each month. A good way to get a handle on the frequency of your conference call usage is to take a snapshot of the last six months and come up with an average monthly number of calls conducted. In like manner, add the total conference minutes used for the same period and divide by the number of conferences conducted. That will give you an idea of the average number of minutes generated per conference call. Keep this information handy. You will need it later.

Next, evaluate the type of conference call formats used by your organization. You want to be sure that any conference call provider you approach can provide the type of service you need. As an example, should your organization most often use an operator assisted dial-out style of call, there is no need for you to get into discussions with a vendor who offers only a dial-in service. Part of your task is to eliminate conference call providers who can't give you what you currently need.

At this juncture, begin to think in terms of any additional service options you may want to try in the future. Make sure any conference call provider that makes it on your list of potential candidates has those features available. Ever wondered about ad hoc conference services? How about being able to book a conference call via the Internet? Create a formal wish list and have it available to give any conference call provider you seriously consider.

Now that you have a clear picture of the services you already use and the service options you may be interested in using in the future, your next step in to compile your list of potential conference call providers. Most vendors provide enough basic information on their web sites to allow you to determine if they have the potential to be your conference call provider. Once you have a list of potential vendors, contact each conference call provider and indicate your interest in their services. It is during this phase that any potential conference call provider will ask a few questions about your average volume of usage and frequency of conference calls. Provide the conference call provider with this basic information and let them know that as part of your evaluation of each conference call vendor you are speaking with, you are requesting a free demonstration or perhaps the ability to hold a conference call at no charge. This is not an unusual request for a potential client to make of a conference call provider, and the reaction of the vendor will tell you a lot about what level of customer service you could expect as a client.

Another important aspect is the type and frequency of the invoicing that you require of your conference call provider. A few still provide individual invoices for each conference call. More commonly, a conference call provider will provide a cumulative invoice on a monthly basis, often sorted by the name of each host and showing charges associated with each conference call, and then providing a cumulative total charge. Typically, a conference call provider offers invoicing in both paper and electronic formats. As you begin to narrow down your list of potential conference call providers, do not forget the billing as a key point in your decision making.

Once your preliminary evaluations of each conference call provider have taken place, it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty: pricing. For this final phase, prepare a basic proposal outline to be sent to each conference call provider that meets your criteria. Ideally, you would send the proposal to at least three potential vendors. A formal proposal makes it clear to each potential conference call provider that you need a firm commitment in writing, and will allow each one to officially go on record with what they can offer your organization. The proposal also gives each conference call provider one last change to give you their best and final price for services.

Once your selection has been made, do not discard your contacts or basic information from any of the vendors you spoke with. Should the relationship with your selected conference call provider not live up to your expectations, you will already have resources that equip you to make a second choice elsewhere.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

How to Make a Conference Call in the United States

Holding conference calls has become pretty routine in our world today. Still, there are people out there who do not know how to make a conference call. Here are some basic tips.

If your need is simply to connect one or two other parties with yourself, you may consider utilizing the conference feature provided with your local phone service. Typically, the charges are rather high, but if you have a one-time need, this quick and easy solution will usually fill the bill. For instructions on how to make a conference call using your local phone service, contact your local service provider.

Some office phone systems also have a limited capability to create a conference call. The typical PBX will allow a combination of in office and outside connections, usually number no more than a six to eight lines. Instructions in how to make a conference call using your office system can usually be found in the instruction booklets supplied by the manufacturer. If they are not, a call to the manufacturer will usually end with an offer to send you instructions on how to make a conference call via an email or a fax.

Long distance providers are also a source of conference services. Your long distance carrier most likely would be happy to tell you how to make a conference call utilizing their services. One word of warning on this option: unless you have a volume agreement in place for telecommunications services, the pricing may be high. You would most help yourself to check around for something less costly.

If circumstances dictate that you go through a conference vendor, you will find quite a few choices these days. Most conference call providers will be happy to help you select the type of conference service you want and issue you specific instructions on how to make a conference call using their service platform. Among the selections they will assist you with are determining what type of conference call you need, help in setting up your account, booking the conference call and then step by step instructions in how to make a conference call.

Once you have determined whether you will conduct the conference through your local phone company, an office phone system or with the aid of a conference call vendor, you can then contact everyone who needs to attend the conference. Included in your notification should be specific instructions, if any, concerning how the party is expected to be connected to the conference call. Do not skip over basic instructions. Many parties do not know how to make a conference call, or at least may be unfamiliar with the style of call you have chosen. Make sure your instructions on how to make a conference call are easy to understand, and always provide some sort of means for each party to get assistance should they become confused.

Just as it is imperative to provide your attendees with specifics on how to connect with the conference, make sure you have a clear understanding of how to make a conference call using the type of service you have selected. Go over the process you will need to follow in connecting with the conference and make sure you understand exactly what to do. This is especially true with dial-in formats that utilize passcodes. If you fail to enter the passcode assigned to the host, the conference will not begin. If you have any doubts about what you are to do, call your provider and go over the process of how to make a conference call with the service you have established.

It is also important that as you learn how to make a conference call with your vendor of choice that you be aware of any service options at your disposal during the actual conference. As an example, many services allow the host to mute all attendees, which is great if you want to deliver a lecture as part of the meeting. If there is a service option available that you think may be helpful, but you are not sure how to utilize it, ask for suggestions from your vendor. Part of their job is to make sure you understand how to make a conference call using any of the service options they make available to their customers.

One last critical feature to investigate when learning how to make a conference call with your vendor of choice is how the call will end. Some vendors set the conference to automatically end when the host hangs up. Others will allow the conference to continue until the last line in the call releases. Make sure you know how your service is set to work.

Knowing how to make a conference call has gone from being a special perk of corporate executives in large companies to being a basic skill that persons in all walks of life should become familiar with. If you do not currently use conference call services, check around with friends and acquaintances. Chances are you know several people who know how to make a conference call; they can put you on the path to mastering this very useful business practice.

Friday, November 7, 2008

11 Things To Remember When Choosing A Conference Call Service

A conference call involves the communication between a calling party and more than one listener. There are numerous conference call services available, making it difficult to make a quick decision. The service that you choose will ultimately depend on the expectations and uses you wish get out of your conference calls. For some, only a few details matter, such as price, while others are in need of advanced services like on-the-spot technical support. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing the conference call service that is most compatible with your needs.

Business Conference Calls

When it comes time to report quarterly stats, many companies turn to conference calls. This allows them to communicate the ups and downs of their business to interested parties. A higher-level company executive, such as the CEO, often reads the company reports. Once the results are revealed, the call is then accessible for others to join in, namely stock analysts, who come with a slew of questions. Businesses may also use conference calls to promote their products or services. Seminar leaders may open a conference call to the public to share their marketing techniques or business strategies for free or a small price.

Entertainment-Based Conference Calls

Today, people are looking for more and more ways to make new friends or find the companion of their dreams. When bars and clubs get to be too much, the allure of chatting on a "party line" becomes increasingly appealing. Entertainment-based conference calls are used to provide a break from boredom, as well as a way to socialize with others. Participants call a phone number set aside for this purpose and are plugged into a whole new world of mingling and flirting.

Audio vs. Visual

Audio conference calls are less expensive and require less equipment than visual conferencing. Web conference calls also open up a host of potential problems, such as malfunctioning chat, instant message, and web cam services. Streaming video may also pose concerns. Although the capabilities of visual conference calls are vast and have a better way of getting the point across, depending on your intended audience, the concept might be too advanced.

To use visual conferencing as a business tool, you will also have to familiarize yourself with an assortment of software selections and other online options. Learning visual conferencing techniques is a process. For example, include too many large files and you may end up with a communication problem.

Conference Call Limitations

What kind of conference call do you want? Some services allow the called party to speak during a call, while other selections only allow called parties to listen to what is being said.

Conference Call Set-Up

Do you want to control how conference calls are received and made? Calling parties can place calls to desired participants or entrance to a call is gained by calling a special phone number.

Reservation vs Non-Reservation

When you choose a service offering reservation-less conference calls, you will enjoy more freedom. Calls can be placed at any time without speaking to an operator or setting up an appointment. Reservation services require you to schedule your call ahead of time.

Conference Call Commands

What sort of capabilities do calling parties have when choosing a service? Things to consider include the ability to get operator assistance, mute and unmute participants, alter ringing tones and record conversations.

Call Planning is Essential

Knowing how long your conference call will be allows you to shuffle along participants to meet time expectations. As a rule of thumb, a conference call centers on an hour or more. Larger groups demand longer time frames, but without the use of video, it is difficult to keep the interest of all participants.

Usually, about 1-3 minutes are given to each participant to voice his or her opinions. Often, an hour-long conversation handles about 1-2 topics. Another important factor pertaining to conference calls is to prepare for last-minute technical issues. Be aware of applicable time zones and schedule a conference call that will accommodate all of your desired participants. When choosing a service, make sure all customer and technical support will be handled in a timely manner.

Billing Plans

Accepting a variety of credit cards, some services offer per minute pricing plans. Once the conference call is completed, a call summary is emailed to you with all of the details. Applicable charges are then placed on your credit card. Additional plans include flat rate unlimited and monthly plans. Some companies offer a flat monthly rate of $60 for a maximum of five people that allows unlimited usage for the month.

Special Services

Will the conference call service you choose provide you with extra services? Depending on your needs, you may desire to have a taped recording of your conference call. Some services offer this luxury for a flat fee (around $25). Some charge an hourly rate if you wish to have a transcript of your call. Rebroadcasts are also offered through some services for a fee. For an extra charge, operator assistance might be available, which helps with the moderation of conference calls.

Several Conference Call Service Companies Reviewed

Accu Conference : This on-demand, fully automated toll-free service offers reservation-less service, free call recordings and live in-call web control for 9.9 cents per line. Operator service costs 13.9 cents. Unlimited use, flat-rate conferencing is offered, starting at $99 per month.

No Cost Conference : Offers free, reservation-less conference call capabilities, available 24 hours a day. You will receive a pin and dial-in phone number once a quick registration is completed. Free and cheap conference call services are good for short notice calls and limited budgets. With this option, reliability of service does become a concern.

WebEx : Offers conference call services, as well as helpful products, such as Meeting Center, Training Center, Support Center and Sales Center. They offer different solutions to better serve small, medium and large companies. They also offer decent live technical support and pay-per-use services.

OnConference : This service offers no set-up fee and has a listed price of 19 cents per minute per person with or without toll-free access.

Contact Call : Highly recommended for their operator-assisted services.

When you conduct careful comparisons and research on the many conference call services, you will be able to take advantage of a wealth of savings that regular phone services cannot provide.

What is Conference Bay All About?

Conference Bay makes visiting, organising and speaking at conferences a more pleasant experience. We have created the world's first complete conference portal - providing a complete overview of professional conferences organized by topic and location. We launched our website in Asia Pacific in September 2007 and have quickly expanded to the US and Europe in the months thereafter. We now have 400 conference organizers registered with us worldwide and have at any point in time 400-500 conferences on our site.

Conference attendees can find all information regarding conferences in their field of interest easily as we present all conferences in a consistent way. What makes Conference Bay even more attractive to attendees is that they can name the price they're willing to pay for a seat at the conference through our unique bidding mechanism. This concept benefits the conference organizers by increasing their total profitability by selling the remaining unsold seats (this can amount to 30% of the total number of seats) to a new customer segment. Conference Bay offers HR or Finance/Procurement managers of large organizations a dedicated solution (Conference Bay Direct) which saves them and their staff time and money. We provide the company's staff with a relevant selection of conferences through a monthly overview. If they find a conference they like they can book directly through Conference Bay and benefit from discounts negotiated by us. We present the management with real-time information on all conference related expenses and we consolidate all conference bookings by their staff in one monthly invoice.

Soon we will be launching a Speakers section where we will allow anyone who has an interesting story to tell and who wants to do so at a conference to upload his or her profile. We are also planning a Venues section which will help conference organizers find the right venue for their event quickly and efficiently.

Conference Bay improves the ease of doing business for all players in the conference industry making organizing, visiting and speaking at conferences an enjoyable, hassle-free experience. Our comprehensive list of conferences covers a wide range of topics from Finance & Banking and Legal to Information Technology and General Management. Each category is further organized into subtopics so that it is very easy for you to select the conference that is of most interest to you. Conferences are also sorted by location to make finding a conference taking place near you more convenient. To know more about Conference Bay visit our website http://www.conferencebay.com.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Save Your Money and Time by Conference Centres

 

Modular meeting rooms and conference rooms from some companies offer a number of advantages to your business. There are a huge number of benefits of having a modular conference room right in the heart of your factory floor – or for that matter anywhere else within your business. Being close to production staff or other operator's means that during business critical meetings, a sense of the actual purpose of the company is present, and this can help with focusing the meeting on the most important factors.

Conference Recourses provide a FREE conference centre and conference venue finding service. We save you time, frustration and the cost of communicating with the various venues during your selection process. Conference Resources has been established by professional conference venue operators with over 35 years of 'hands on' management experience in conference centres across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

The benefits of using Conference Resources are:

• The service we provide is FREE

• We provide detailed information on the selected conference venues

• We guarantee to negotiate for you the very best rates possible due to our bulk buying power

• We can see through all of the jargon of venue proposals and provide this to you in such a manner so as to compare 'apples with apples'

• Our advice and recommendations are unbiased

• Overall we save you time, money and effort as we identify, research and select a venue that is most appropriate for your specific needs

Conference Resources is also able to assist you organise team building or experiential learning activities, guest speakers and entertainers, themed events, transport, and source audio-visual equipment for hire or purchase. The conference venue or conference rooms you select reward us with a 'finders or marketing fee'. But this in no way affects the price to you and in most cases we can get a better rate for you because of our buying power.

Conference Resources is also able to assist you organise team building or experiential learning activities, guest speakers and entertainers, themed events, transport, and source audio-visual equipment for hire or purchase.

For more details visit our site: http://www.conferenceresources.com.au/

Conference Rooms Sydney

Modular meeting rooms and conference rooms from some companies offer a number of advantages to your business. There are a huge number of benefits of having a modular conference room right in the heart of your factory floor – or for that matter anywhere else within your business. Being close to production staff or other operator's means that during business critical meetings, a sense of the actual purpose of the company is present, and this can help with focusing the meeting on the most important factors.
Conference Recourses provide a FREE conference venue and conference centre finding service. We save you time, frustration and the cost of communicating with the various venues during your selection process. Conference Resources has been established by professional conference venue operators with over 35 years of 'hands on' management experience in conference centers across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
The benefits of using Conference Resources are:
• The service we provide is FREE
• We provide detailed information on the selected conference venues
• We guarantee to negotiate for you the very best rates possible due to our bulk buying power
• We can see through all of the jargon of venue proposals and provide this to you in such a manner so as to compare 'apples with apples'
• Our advice and recommendations are unbiased
• Overall we save you time, money and effort as we identify, research and select a venue that is most appropriate for your specific needs
Conference Resources is also able to assist you organise team building or experiential learning activities, guest speakers and entertainers, themed events, transport, and source audio-visual equipment for hire or purchase. The conference venue or conference centre you select rewards us with a 'finders or marketing fee'. But this in no way affects the price to you and in most cases we can get a better rate for you because of our buying power.
Conference Resources is also able to assist you organise team building or experiential learning activities, guest speakers and entertainers, themed events, transport, and source audio-visual equipment for hire or purchase.

Conference Venue New Zealand

If you are not able to decide and you don't know where to start, are too busy and don't want to waste any more time.
Are you trying to find that perfect conference venue or conference center, for your organization's next meeting or conference?
CONFERENCE RESOURCES provide a FREE conference venue and conference center finding service. We save you time, frustration and the cost of communicating with the various venues during your selection process. Once you tell Conference Resources your specific conference venue or conference centre requirements, we will:
Ask any successful businessman about his success, past all the hype about their great products, company or up line support, and they will tell you and share their experience that doing more of what works and less of what doesn't work, is the real key to success. But how to do you know what works? Testing and Tracking. You absolutely must know what you are doing that is getting you the results you want, and just as crucial, or perhaps even more important, is knowing what you are doing that isn't working. Since this is such a fundamental element of success, we are going to cover it early in the Nonessentials Success Secrets formula. It is important to start this process as early as possible in building your business, so you can make small corrections, daily if necessary, to guide your business in the direction you want. Profitability. Okay, that's all well and good Caney, but how do I do that? G ood question and thanks for asking. Let me explain. Every single activity you do can be measured and tracked. For example, if you are prospecting with business cards, how many did you give out today? Write it down. Even better, start a spread sheet and make a line for business cards. Put that number in the first column. Identify, research and select the most appropriate Conference Venue Australia
based on your specific requirements
Conference Resources Provide detailed information and a comprehensive comparison of the selected properties. Negotiate the best rates available on your behalf. Reserve these alternative options pending confirmation by you Arrange site inspections of the venues and accompany you if required. Provide you with a personal and unbiased recommendation on which is the most appropriate venue for your event .
CONFERENCE VENUE NEW ZEALAND

How To Get A Cheap Debt Consolidation Loan

A cheap debt consolidation loan may seem hard to come by but if you take time to do the research you will find one. These loans are not easy to get if you have a bad credit rating. A consolidation loan will have a higher interest rate for people who have bad credit ratings which help the bank cover the risk they took in making the loan. If you have a good credit rating you may qualify for a cheap debt consolidation loan. Many factors are looked at when applying for a consolidation loan. The loan