WebEx: Ideas in Motion

Easily Add Color and Personality to your WebEx Meetings

Since WebEx has to be so many things to so many people, the opening screen we provide is very neutral (click on the images to enlarge).

 

 

For me, arriving at a meeting with a big white screen is almost disappointing. I sit there waiting for someone to share their desktop or switch to video chat – I am inspired by visuals and once I have something to see, I am engaged.

Adding color to your WebEx is very easy.

Maybe the fastest way to establish visual engagement is to load an image into your meeting as soon as you start it. I usually fire up the WebEx a minute early and import a picture to set the mood.  Here’s how it looks:

 

 

To import the image simply go to Share > File > From My Computer and then upload an image file.

If I want to stimulate pre-meeting conversation as folks arrive, I choose a provocative image. If I just want folks to relax and focus on what I want to talk about, I choose something soothing – very non-office like.

I use PowerPoint to rapidly edit an image by adding an agenda (a text box) to the image. Then PowerPoint will let you save a slide as a .jpg that can be easily imported into WebEx. The type is a little bit pixilated but it's easy and fast.

 

 

Don’t have much time? Simply share!

The other easy way to set the mood – or even “brand” your meeting – is to immediately share your desktop and use an internet page as your background. Loading your company webpage as the visual can be a fast way to let people know they’ve come to the right place without requiring a lot of extra work on your part.

 

 

Just click “Share Desktop” as soon as your meeting loads.

Be sure to open the participant list so you can see who is arriving at your meeting while you're sharing your desktop (see top of the image above). And also make sure email, IM, chat or anything else that might be an unexpected surprise is turned off.

You can get a free trial of WebEx and host your own online meeting easily. Give it a try - and have some fun creating a great setting for your next meeting.

Tips for Using Social Media to Promote Your Webinar

So you have put together a great webinar. Used our tips for doing things right and avoiding mistakes. But you need to get people to come!

That’s where social media can help.

We have a few short webinars we created based on what we do at WebEx for our events. We use our blog, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to spread the word both before and after our events. We also recommend recording your webinar to you can enjoy the long tail of engagement.

I have put together a short WebEx that explains how we promote our events at WebEx. Watch it here.

And remember, you can always read more...

 

Expert Sharon Burton Shares Five Must Dos for Your Next Webinar

Watch this on-demand WebEx to learn five key steps for delivering a successful webinar.

This is one of two webinars expert Sharon Burton has recorded for us to help you create a successful event.

From her book, “Eight Steps to Amazing Webinars,” Sharon runs through five key areas that are often neglected when producing a webinar. In this short session, you’ll learn how to manage the process, add value to your event, extend the reach of your event and more.

Read More »

 

WebEx Plans New Integration: Angry Birds To Invade Meetings

Responding to issues raised by those attending online meetings, WebEx today announced its plans to integrate Angry Birds into its meeting software.

The new capabilities would allow attendees to fling virtual birds at presenters who speak too slowly, eat while talking or otherwise antagonize their listening audience.

"I love the idea of shooting a Green Bird across my screen to stealthily sneak up on the speaker and bop him in the back of the head," said an anonymous meeting attendee. The Green Bird, which resembles a Toucan, is known for its boomerang ability typically whipping around the target only to snap back on it by surprise.

"We find people's frustration with meetings isn't limited to those online," said a undisclosed former company employee, "the cool thing is, with an online meeting, adding the Angry Birds integration suddenly makes meetings much more interesting!"

There's no schedule set to for when these new features will be deployed. That's likely based on the fact that this is an April Fool's joke that was intended to give you a few minutes of delight and fantasy as you come to terms with attending your next meeting.