Video Conferencing Best Practices

Try it out ahead of time

After you get a Skype for Business meeting request, you can (and should) make sure the web plugin works well in advance if possible. If you click on the link, install the plugin and can connect and get into the “lobby” then it works.

A word of caution: Don’t call in to a meeting in advance (using the telephone numbers). The default setting is to allow telephone callers to come straight into the meeting. If the host is in a meeting already, the caller could interrupt that meeting. 

Test your connection

It can be really frustrating when you start a call and the person at the other end can't hear you or you can’t hear them. To prevent this from happening, it's easy to test your audio set-up and call quality shortly before you call. Here's how (works for Windows and Mac):

  1. In the contact search area, enter "Audio Test Service"

  2. When you find the contact, initiate an audio call

  3. Skype for Business will initiate a call to the system "Audio Test Service"

  4. You will be prompted to record a short message

  5. The message will then be played back for you

  6. If you like what you hear, you're all set

  7. If not, you can adjust the Audio device, microphone and/or speaker volume and re-test

If your audio quality is poor, consider using a landline (not cell) or wired connection (not wireless). See guidelines here.

Add a Physical meeting location if it applies

If this is a blended meeting with some online participants and some meeting in person on-campus, be sure to edit the location in the calendar invitation to include the on-campus meeting room. By default, Skype for Business will identify the meeting as an online meeting with no room. 

Technology is great—when it works.

  • Test the technology an hour before the meeting - Every time no matter how routine.
  • Then set things up for real a few minutes early.
  • Have a technology backup plan.
  • Think through carefully what you will do if the technology fails. Will you postpone the meeting, or hold it anyway with backup technology? Don't make this decision on the fly; already know.

From: Running an Effective Teleconference or Virtual Meeting