Web conferencing can make employees more productive and businesses more efficient. To ensure that your web conferencing event is conducted effectively and is a success, there are several things to keep in mind.

Timely preparation is obvious. Invitations to the participants should be sent out well in advance. Determine that all participants have the necessary equipment, tools and connections. It is also important to conduct a trial run - check cameras, lighting, microphones, etc. - to eliminate, or at least lessen, the possibility of technical issues; and to familiarize yourself with conference features.

Set an agenda to ensure time is efficiently utilized. Starting and ending the meeting on time also communicates to the attendees that you value their time.

Other "rules of the road" that need to be followed during web conferences.

• Be on time. The last thing you want to do is to keep other participants waiting, especially if you are the host or presenter. In a meeting - face to face or web conference - with clients/customers, being on time can make or break a sale.
• Make necessary introductions. While you may be using video and audio functions where participants can see and hear each other, there are still some communication barriers in an online setup. Make sure that all the participants know each other or have been introduced so that everyone is well informed of who is present in the conference.
• Show respect. Be courteous and allow others to speak. Do not interrupt when others are giving their opinions and asking questions.
• Watch the clock. As the saying goes - time is money. Do not extend the conference talking about things not on the agenda. Schedule another conference if necessary.
• If you want to do a little extra something special, a great team building gesture is to send out thank you notes to the participants the day after the session.

Keeping the above in mind will help ensure that your web conferences are a pleasant experience for all participants.