Enhance your online meetings with these conferencing tips - audio quality, conference etiquette, reservationless conferencing

Click on the links below to get a variety of conferencing tips to enhance your meetings:

Once your account is activated, you will receive a toll-free dial-in number and a unique conference ID. Give the conference ID to your meeting attendees, and reserve the Leader PIN for yourself as it will give you extra control over your conference.
At the time of the conference, everyone dials the toll-free number and enters the conference ID.
If the Call Leader has not yet joined the call, Participants will hear hold music
until the Ledaer joins the meeting by entering the Leader PIN code when
prompted. At that point, all lines will be activated.
As new callers enter, you will hear a tone to signal that they have joined.
To exit the conference, simply hang up.

Your Conference ID and Access Number:

Conference ID: BeaconLive will asisgn your ID when your account is activated.
Give this number out to all those you wish to invite to a conference. Participants
will automatically be placed on hold until a Leader PIN is entered to start the conference.
Leader PIN: The Leader PIN is a 4 to 14 digit code that is assigned to the
conference leader. Entering this code will start the conference so that
everyone can speak.

Call Leader In-Call Menu Commands

* (star)	Conference Instructions / In-Call Menu Commands
* 2	Outdial to Participant * 1 Connects Participant to Conference * 2 Connects Participant and allows Leader to dial another participant * 3 Disconnects Dial-Out * 4 Disconnects Dial-Out and allows Leader to dial another participant
* 3	Mute and Unmute Participants
* 4	Ends Conference Call
* 5	Caller Count
* 6	Start and stop recording

Call Leader Web Screen Access

The Conference Leader can control the conference via the web by going to http://lcv.beaconlive.net and entering their assigned username and password.
From this screen, the Call Leader can Mute and Unmute participants, disconnect participants, lock and unlock the conference, dial out to participants, and record
the conference.

Turn off the sound on your PC - you don't want your audience to hear "You've
got mail!"
Turn off any wireless devices that are near your phone: pager, cell phone, PDA,
etc. Incoming signals can interfere with your phone line, even if you have the
device on vibrate only.
Avoid mobile or cordless phones. Whenever possible, use a phone unit that is
hard-wired into the telephone lines. Mobile and cordless phones tend to pick up static as the signal travels through the air to reach the tower or base unit that actually connects to the phone lines in the ground. Also avoid using a cordless headset - use one that is directly connected to your phone unit.
Also avoid cordless phones and headsets because you might not realize that the battery is running low.
Avoid speakerphones. Speakerphones will pick up any noise in the room, from the rustling of papers to background conversations. And many speakerphones do not utilize "full digital duplex" technology, and callers will experience "clipping" if they
are making any noise while trying to listen to another speaker.
If you are using a headset, be careful that your mouthpiece does not change position if you move around while you speak.

If you find you are having a sound quality issue:

Hang up and dial back in. Many times these problems clear themselves up when
the bad connection is terminated.
Try using the "Mute" button on your phone. If the equipment is causing the problem, this may help. Only "Un-mute" when you need to speak.
If you're unable to clear up the problem, contact BeaconLive customer support
by calling 877-297-2901. If we can join you during the call and experience the problem first-hand, it helps us diagnose the cause of the problem.

Make sure you are in a quiet location where you will not be disturbed.
Use appropriate equipment.
1. If possible, always use a phone with a handset that is hard-wired into the phone lines. Be sure to TEST the working condition of your equipment before an important conference call!
2. Cellular or cordless phones are more likely to cause static or other
  distracting noise that they pick up on the airwaves.
3. Speakerphones pick up lots of background noise, and sometimes cause "clipping.". If you must use a speakerphone, use the "Mute" button on
  the phone to prevent background noise. When someone needs to speak, simply release the "Mute".
Turn off your call waiting.
Introduce yourself when you begin speaking.
Don't put your phone on HOLD to do something else.
Your hold music will play into the conference call, and make it impossible for the other participants to continue the meeting.
Mute yourself if you have to cough or sneeze.
Pause if there is a loud noise such as a siren or car alarm.
You don't want your audience to miss anything you're saying.
Always speak loudly and clearly.
Imagine yourself at a podium, speaking to a live audience.
Do not talk over others during a group discussion or the Q&A session.