Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Planning a Conference

Planning a Conference mean details, details, details!

So let's look at the details necessary for planning a successful conference.

The Right Time

What may be the perfect time for you may not be the perfect time for your attendees or the city/hotel you want to use. Plan and coordinate a time that would be suitable to all. You can't please everyone in this, but it is best to schedule it around the important attendees and speakers.

Avoid any holidays or important events during the time that may affect attendance such as religious holidays and other industry-related events.

The Right Location

The right location, with the necessary facilities, is the key in making an event attractive to potential attendees. It's best to hold conferences in a cosmopolitan city, which is also a business hub.

The city's convention and visitor's bureau (CVB) Web site will provide you information about other conventions, meetings or sporting events taking place during the same time. The local CVB also can assist you in finding the right hotel for your event. They will send your lead out to all their member hotels so you don't have to contact each individually. Be sure to identify what type of hotel property you are interested in i.e., four-star, close to the airport etc. Make sure there are plenty of travel options by air, train or road.

The Right Hotel

The right hotel is pivotal to the success of your conference; make sure the hotel has all amenities that might be important to your conference needs.

The hotel must have, fully geared Business Centers with state of the art facilities coupled with boardroom and meeting rooms. A multi function room to cater to meetings, theatre style seminars and promotions and exhibitions, is important, and of course, sit down dinners and lunches with full and latest audio + video conferencing facilities.

Find out what food and beverage venues the hotel offers or are within walking distance, especially if you are not providing breakfast, lunch and/or dinner.

The Right Equipment

Most hotels have an audio/visual department, and this department also controls the sound. But they also service other groups in the hotel as well. Consider arranging for a technician to be in your conference room at all times.

If your presentation is on a computer, make sure you back-up your presentation to a jump drive. Podium microphones and wired lavaliere microphones are the least expensive. Make sure your video devices are setup for maximum exposure.

Pre event checks

Two weeks prior to your event, send your specifications to your hotel, include: date, time, set-time, rehearsal times, room set-ups, microphone and audio/visual requirements, and any special needs you may have.

Catalog the number of meeting rooms needed; seating set-up, number of seats; AV requirements; food and beverage rooms, offices, and/or storage.

If space is stretched and you need multiple meeting rooms, try scheduling the main session in the morning or afternoon and use the same meeting room for lunch.

Ask the hotel to list amenities that might be important to your group i.e., free wireless, health club, room service, spa facilities etc.

Be sure to review the catering menus and prepare an estimated budget.

Check your meeting room setup as soon as possible, before doing anything else.

Request the room to be set for 25 percent more than you expect.

Schedule a daily meeting with everyone that is involved with your event including the catering manager, convention services manager, AV and sound technicians.

Last but not the least pay attention to details, details and details.

Flat Rate Conference Calling Can Take You From Dates To Walks Down The Aisle

You could not have imagined a more perfect day for your wedding even if you tried. The skies are sunny and clear. Birds sing from where they perch on tree branches. The cool air fans your cheeks and ruffles your hair. You wake up with a feeling of anticipation. This is your big day. In a couple of hours, a Justice of Peace will pronounce you and your beloved husband and wife. You shiver in excitement. Married! Soon, you will be married! You smile just a bit ruefully at the thought. If not for flat rate conference calling, you and your groom would not be here today, about to exchange vows.

As you gingerly touch your veil, you marvel at the convenience of flat rate conference calling. You remember how instrumental it had been in strengthening your relationship.

With both of you pursuing careers that take you to far-flung place --- he in Paraguay as a paleobiologist and you in Malawi, where you studied cultural anthropology --- communication had been difficult. Thanks to flat rate conference calling, however, the two of you managed to keep touch. You never had to deal with astronomical telephone bills. Both of you only had to pay a set amount per month. At a minimum of $30 a month, flat rate conference calling allowed the two of you to talk for as long as you both wanted to.

With flat rate conference calling, there was no need for you to wait for off-peak hours just to make a call. You were able to call each other any time you wanted to, as much as a dozen times a day, in fact. Thanks to flat rate conference calling, you were able to call each other silly names and whisper endearments without worrying over billing statements.

It therefore came as no surprise that it was through flat rate conference calling that he proposed. You remember the moment clearly as if it had taken place only yesterday. He asked you to be his wife, and even with the distance, you could hear how steely his voice had been with anxiety. Naturally, it was also through flat rate conference calling that you said "yes."

Since your schedules cannot permit you to hold the ceremony in your own country --- and flying in your groom and all the witnesses to Malawi is very impractical indeed, what with the hotel accommodations, airfare costs and general safety of a large number of people --- the most convenient solution had been to hold the ceremony in each of your locations via webcam. For the umpteenth time, flat rate conference calling comes to your rescue. Your conference call provider offers reasonable and affordable flat rates. In fact, even though the charges varied a little depending on how many people you asked to participate in the conference call, the amount you paid had been very reasonable. Your friends even raved over how practical your wedding day is turning out to be.

Again, you marvel over the impact flat rate conference calling has had on your life. You smile ruefully for the second time as the familiar strains of the wedding march pipe through the webcam. Soon, you will walk down that aisle, and even though the marriage takes place over the Internet, thanks to flat rate conference calling, you are about to begin a new milestone in your life.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

College Football - if you Thought Sec Was the Toughest Ncaa Conference, Think Again

Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley

There is so much buzz and hype about the Southeast Conferencebetter known as the SECyou would think there are no other NCAA football conferences that can compare.

Even Jeff Sagarin in his Sagarin Ratings lists the SEC as the top conference with a central mean (that is Sagarin math talk) of 79.89 with the Pacific 10better known as the Pac 10second at 79.19. On a scale of 100 the difference is 70/100ths of 1, or close enough to not make a difference in my mind.

Ranked 11th among Division 1A conferences is Conference USA at 58.88. Three 1AA conferences are then rated above the last 1A conferencethe Sun Beltat 58.26.

Sagarin rates all of the 242 individual 1A and 1AA teams and then combines them among conferences to arrive at these figures.

I read other factors into his mathematical formula for deciding which conference is the toughest (best) conference.

Knowing that the SEC is legion for scheduling Division 1AA teams in its non-conference schedule, I suspect that the SEC's strength of schedule (the quality of its opponents) may not be as strong. Turns out that I am right.

The "tough" SEC played exactly 10 Division 1AA opponents this season, more than any other conference in the country. By comparison, the Big 12 played 10, the ACC and Big Ten played 7 games, the Big East 6, and the Pac 10 only 2.

When I add up the strength of schedule for the 12 SEC teams I get an average of 30 compared to an average strength of schedule of 14 for the Pac 10. Who plays the tougher schedule between the top two dogs? It is easily the Pac 10.

If you are wondering, the team that has played the toughest schedule during the first 12 weeks of the 2007 college football season is the Washington Huskies, and that is why they are ranked No. 1 among the 242 Division 1A and 1AA schools.

For the record, Nebraska is No. 2, Stanford No. 3, California No. 4 and Colorado No. 5, so 3 of Top 5 teams in strength of schedule are from the Pac 10.

Please, do not give me this garbage about the SEC playing the toughest schedule. The facts and statistics say otherwise.

Another interesting fact of note is this: Since the NCAA established the Division 1A and 1AA separation in 1978, only 5 Division 1A schools have not played a Division 1AA school: Washington, Southern California, UCLA, Michigan State and Notre Dame. Again 3 of the 5 teams come from the Pac 10.

The SEC already has 7 of its 12 teams with 7 or more wins and bowl eligible by NCCA standards, and now you know one of the reasons why.

It is the same reason why Hawaii is unbeaten at 10-0, having defeated two 1AA schools in fattening up its impressive win record while racking up the 153rd toughest schedule against the other 119 Division 1A schools.

Sometimes a 1AA school can beat a 1A school (like Appalachian State beating Michigan at home 34-32), not because they are necessarily better but because the 1A school did not take them seriously.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Connecticut Lodging and Conference Center Makes Your Business Meetings Successful

There are different types of lodging facilities for the guests in Connecticut that includes hotels, inns and motels. One can organize seminar, reunion and any business conference in conference center by the help of personal conference planner in the either hotels or inns. The hotels and inns organize the business meetings in meeting rooms and pavilion to accommodate the executives comfortably before or post conference sessions. The on-staff meeting coordinator of the hotels and inns help in planning the corporate meetings in Connecticut.

The conference centers in Connecticut are very comfortable for the corporate offices and business centers for accommodating meetings, retreats and conferences. Sometimes the meetings happen in different setting like sculpture gardens and Lake Frontage. The conference center has numerous services such as fax and copying services, wireless High-speed Internet access throughout the building and offers audio and visual equipment and full-service catering to the business travelers. The safe deposit box is offered to the executives that are located at front desk so as to safely place the valuables while going for the meeting. The hotels and inns offer undisturbed environment in the conference center so as to keep the communication flowing throughout the evening meeting session.

The guestrooms in the inns provide comfortable stay to the business travelers and families visiting Connecticut. The hotels and inns offer a full array of services like restaurants with lounge, fitness center, heated indoor pool and spa and also high speed internet access. Even some lodging facilities include dry sauna and exercise facility for the guests. They offer comfortable accommodation to the executives that include either king sized or double beds in the guest room for providing comfortable sleep to the guests. The guestrooms have fine amenities like hairdryers, coffee makers, irons and ironing boards and color televisions. The suites have additional facilities like refrigerator and microwave. The sitting area in the suites include pullout sofa. The recreational activities are also offered to the guests like playing in golf courses, swimming and tennis. Some lodging areas have children playground for indulging the accompanying kids in different game activities.

The full service restaurants in Connecticut offer both elegant and casual dining. The executives are offered good amenities by the hotels, lodges and inns like complimentary continental breakfast. In-between the conference also the ice creams, tea and coffee is served to the executives. The menu includes some of the specialties of American cuisine and New England favorites. The complimentary continental breakfast buffet features fruits, Danish. Home made oatmeal, flavored coffee, Belgian waffles and pastries.

One can visit the hotels and inns virtually by going to their websites and see the rooms and features of the hotels and inns before booking any meeting there. The companies can make early reservations with the hotels and inns for meetings in conference center so as to get good discount. Now a day's one can easily make easy payments with the help of different payment options like credit cards and then keep the confirmation email safely until the payment of all the bills are realized. Get the best conference facilities at Connecticut Lodging and Conference Center makes your business meetings successful.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Big Ten Conference Universities: Quality and Pride in Action

The Big Ten Conference, which is the oldest athletic conference in the country, is widely respected and generally recognized as one of the nation's leading conferences. What is it about the Big Ten that sets it apart from most other conferences? Well, there are undoubtedly many contributing factors, but in this short article I will discuss a few key qualities of the member institutions that largely account for the stature of the Big Ten.

First of all, the quality of the faculty and students is first-rate. Many of the faculty at Big 10 universities are leaders in their field, having achieved national and international recognition for themselves and for their institutions. Faculty at Big 10 universities are not only held to high standards for teaching, they also are expected to conduct leading edge research in their respective fields, and their writing appears regularly in books and in the most highly-respected and most exclusive scholarly journals.

Of course, some Big Ten universities are more selective in their student admission requirements than others, but on a continuum from least selective to most selective institutions nationwide, Big Ten schools are definitely toward the most selective end. Generally, only students with solid academic credentials and good ACT or SAT scores are admitted. Because of the high quality that Big Ten schools demand of their faculty and students, there tends to be a feeling of accomplishment and a certain level of pride among students and faculty at being associated with an institution that features such high quality students and a first-rate faculty.

The high quality of the academic programs at Big 10 universities is a second factor contributing to the stature of the Big 10 Conference. Given the combination of world-class faculty and high-quality students, it is not surprising that Big 10 universities feature some of the top-rated academic programs in the country. Of course, not every program at every Big Ten university is top notch. Prospective students definitely need to research the particular programs they are interested in and identify the institutions with the best programs. Graduating from one of the top-ranked programs in the country is certain to increase a student's chances of being hired quickly. In fact, some employers actively seek graduates of certain programs at certain Big 10 institutions because they know that these students have received superior training.

Finally, the athletic successes of Big Ten Conference universities also contribute to the respect and recognition the conference has received. Big Ten schools have won their share of national championships in a variety of sports. Furthermore, the Big Ten is generally regarded as one of the power conferences in the two big revenue sports (football and basketball), with several Big Ten teams regularly appearing in the Top 25 rankings, BCS bowl games, and NCAA basketball tournaments.

Along with bringing recognition and respect to the conference, the athletic successes of Big 10 teams also provide a huge source of pride to students, alumni, faculty, staff, and fans of member institutions. The Big 10 boasts some of the most loyal and most committed fans in the country. Since the 1970s-for over 30 consecutive years-the Big 10 Conference has led the nation in college basketball attendance. While the Big 10 Conference ranked second last year in college football attendance, three Big 10 schools led the nation in attendance, each averaging well over 100,000 fans at each home football game. Clearly, those associated with Big 10 universities take great pride in their sports teams, just as they take great pride in their academics.

In today's society, getting a college degree is more important than ever to your future financial success. However, if you want to give yourself a competitive edge in the job market, you need to get a degree from a reputable university. Because Big Ten Conference universities are prestigious and well-respected, earning a degree in a high-quality academic program at one of these universities will most likely make you more attractive to potential employers.

Why a Marriage Conference is Important

A marriage conference is a forum organized by a group of people or an individual to talk and teach about marriage. The public is mainly invited to these conferences which are targeted to married people. This is a time of learning which is essential to any marriage. Religious groups usually organize conferences actively. You will find many other conferences that are not Christian or religion based. There are several things that a good marriage conference will do to your marriage. First, you will be empowered on information that you did not know. Second, you will be provoked to put into practice things you have learnt and thirdly, you will learn how to solve some of the common problems you may have in your relationship. The truth is, problems never change but, more often than not, couples have a hard time dealing with issues. A marriage conference will give you a different angle to your problem and, you will be in a position to judge what will work best for you. It is more helpful to attend a marriage conference as a couple. This way, you will get first hand information that will empower the both of you. Conferences for marriage are usually conducted by the organizers who invite experts to speak and teach.

It is vital to know who is speaking at a particular conference. This way, you will ensure that you get your marital advice from somebody who knows what they might be talking about. There are popular marriage counselors who are renowned and, it is your choice of whom to give audience to. Christians will attend conferences that have experts who have a bible base for their teachings on marriage. If you belong to another religion like Islam, you are bound to give audience to someone who talks nothing contrary to the Holy Scriptures. It does not hurt to hear what others say and, if you have an open mind, make a point of trying new things like conference which invite people of all faiths. When it comes to marriage, problems do not respect religions or cultures. Problems are pretty uniform and, the fundamental of the solutions will not be different.

Go online to find out about an upcoming conference in your area. When conferences are announced, they have the theme and a selection of topics that are going to be covered. Therefore, you can choose which conference to attend based on the areas you want addressed in your marriage. Another thing that you are going to find is a profile of the speaker. If you know nothing about them, you will get a brief history about their work and achievements. To save a marriage, you need to take practical steps to ensure that your marital union lasts. Some of the most popular topics that are usually covered include needs in a relationship, strengths and weaknesses in partners, communication, making decisions in marriage, stress in marriage and the list goes on. At the end of a conference you will find that your view on marriage has been refreshed and that you are ready to make everything work out.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Find Me a Budget Conference Venue

The biggest challenge in organising a conference is the budget aspect of the planning, and many conference organisers think about the question, "Where can I find me a budget conference room?" Finding a conference room for the budget you have set can be an arduous task.

You would have to evaluate quite a number of venues before selecting one that suits your budget and your needs the best. In the UK, venues can be broadly classified based on the service offered by the venue, the professionalism shown by the provider in handling clients and most importantly, the rate options offered. Whether it is an Essex venue or a Dorset venue, you can always comparison shop and hire a venue based on your preferences. At the same time, it is essential that you do not compromise on the quality of service offered. It is often noticed that the best rates may not meet your conference requirements. And, this is one of the primary reasons why you would need to research extensively before hiring a venue.

One of the most important aspects of hiring a budget conference room is assessing the quality of service being offered by the venue. There are several ways to evaluate the services of a venue provider. The best way to do it is by visiting the site in person. An inspection of the site will lend you a basic feel and idea of how good the venue is. Conference planning involves estimating the capacity required for the expected number of attendees, the number of rooms available, etc. Since the provider is offering you a budget conference room, there is always the possibility that the agreement would overlook certain vital aspects of the arrangement. For instance, the number of seats offered may not be adequate for the participants. It is, therefore, essential that you discuss the deal in detail, with a mention of the number of rooms and seats required, duration of time, etc.

The catering aspect of budget conference rooms requires special attention. The level of service offered with regard to catering may not be specified in the agreement. It is essential that you find out if the provider offers a separate caterer for corporate clients. Additionally, make sure that the service meets any specific catering requirements that you have. The attendees of the conference may have diverse lifestyles and it is your responsibility to make sure that the menu is based on their eating habits. A bundled service i.e. the venue and a catering service offered together, works best when you have a limited budget for the conference. However, if the quality of catering service were below par, you would want to look for a separate catering service.

A major factor influencing the rate of conference rooms is the date of booking. When there is a special event, it is noticed that conference rooms are over-booked and the rates soar. Make sure you check the available dates before you proceed with the booking. You wouldn't want to pay more than the standard rates and the planned budget.

A major factor influencing the rate of conference rooms is the date of booking. When there is a special event, it is noticed that conference rooms are over-booked and the rates soar. Make sure you check the available dates before you proceed with the booking. You wouldn't want to pay more than the standard rates and the planned budget.

Conference venues also offer concessions as a part of a package deal. Put in some additional effort to find out if any venue provider has any special offers or concessions that you can avail. Promotional discounts are always available and make sure you don't miss out on them whenever there is an opportunity. The best idea would be to plan a few months in advance so that you can evaluate a comprehensive list of providers before selecting the best budget conference room that also offers great service quality.

While you are signing the agreement, make sure you are well versed with the fine print. There are instances when venues do not specify certain rates in the agreement, which are charged later. Understand the terms and discuss with the provider to find out if any additional charges will be levied. At the same time, you also need to receive an assurance from the provider that no hidden charges will be added while settling the final account.

Finding a budget conference room is simple when you follow the basic steps. Any laxity on your part with regard to the research and planning can lead to additional costs and a soured relationship with the provider. Ensure that you have everything sorted out before the start of the conference.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Conference Centres in Oxfordshire or Leicestershire

Organizing a conference can be incredibly easy if you have planned well in advance. There are several things that you must keep in mind while booking a conference centre. In the UK, there is no dearth of conference venues. However, you must not select a venue with your eyes closed. You need to put in a lot of thought while planning for a conference.

The choice of a conference centre has to be backed by sufficient research and adequate planning. Before you hire a venue, the most important factor you must consider is accessibility. You must ensure that the participants of the conference find it easy to arrive at the chosen conference centre, whether it is in Oxfordshire or Leicestershire. Any inconvenience caused to the participants can create a delay in the start of the conference, leading to monetary losses and wastage of time.

The planning stage can be quite simple as compared to the execution. After you have made all the arrangements, it is essential that you cross check and conduct an inspection to see if everything is all right. Inspection is a vital aspect of all planning. After you have chosen a conference centre and closed the deal with the organizers, you need to carry out a site inspection. There have been instances in the past when the venue providers failed to make the necessary arrangements after the booking has been done. In addition to the resentment caused, you would also lose valuable time in looking for an alternative. Prior to the start of the conference, drive down to the venue to see if the site is well prepared for the conference. The professionalism of a venue provider is best evidenced from the commitment they have showed to prepare the venue in the best way possible. A site visit will tell you if the organizers have been remiss or efficient.

When you visit the conference centre, make sure you speak to the venue staff as well. The marketing team would, at times, present you a different picture of the venue and make grand promises. It is the interaction with the staff that will give you the complete picture. When the staff is friendly and helpful, it is certain that the attendees will be treated well and the event will be successful. On the other hand, rude and inefficient staff can affect the event in a negative way.

A very important part of planning for a conference is the choice of the conference date. Ensure that there no other events concurring with the conference date. It is possible that most conference centres will be booked if there is a major event happening. Moreover, the rates are likely to be higher as well, if the venues are over-booked. Hence, plan well in advance and choose a date appropriately. At the same time, road shows during special events can block the roads, leading to late starts and inaccessibility of the centre by the participants.

While booking a conference centre, make sure you discuss the purpose of the conference with the providers. The venue will make the necessary arrangements based on the type of conference being organized. Well-informed providers can offer suggestions that can help in making the event a bigger success than you had originally planned. At the same time, you can mention any specific requirements in terms of the capacity, the seating arrangement, accommodation, etc.

Catering plays a very important role in conference planning. Most venues have a standard caterer for any conference arranged there. However, it is essential that the menu suit the lifestyle and the eating habits of the attendees. When you have a multi-cultural audience, it is imperative that you go the extra mile to ensure that they are offered a menu that suits their palate. If any of the attendees are on a special diet, you would want to consider this factor as well. Make sure the conference centre follows specific instructions with regard to the catering requirements.

For every event, the conference centre has to provide a single point of contact to eliminate confusion and mayhem. It is highly essential that the organizers and the providers co-ordinate seamlessly to make the appropriate arrangements. The single point of contact has to communicate effectively with the representative of your company right from the planning stage to the end of the conference. Additionally, the contact person can help you with any special requests that you have. He can assist you by offering you information about the people you need to contact to place additional requests.

Most conference centres do not make changes to the original agreement after the deal has been closed. It is essential that you check with the venue provider about this aspect. If there is any urgent requirement halfway through the conference, you would want the provider to co-operate with you on the requirements. Hence, discuss this aspect before signing the agreement with the venue.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

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.

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/

Monday, December 22, 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?


Saturday, December 20, 2008

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.

Friday, December 19, 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.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Saturday, December 13, 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.

Friday, December 12, 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.



Wednesday, December 10, 2008