» Videoconferencing

Virtual Meetings 101

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:52:50 +0000

There are "dos and don'ts" for running a virtual meeting.

Now that videoconferencing and web meetings are commonplace technologies used regularly by 21^st Century businesses, this is a good opportunity to cover the essential “Dos and Don’ts” of running a virtual meeting.

This availability and increasing value of this technology comes at a time when businesses are altering their hiring strategies and are retaining talent based on expertise and not on geographic location. Often managers find themselves working with colleagues and partners in different cities around the world.

The ability to bring together remote workers via a single communication channel (and without incurring travel costs) has proven to be an indispensable resource for today’s businesses who are aggressively trimming all unnecessary expenses.

Although this technology may be fun to “play with” here are eight tips for you to review before you send out your next Meeting Request.

As the author notes, the recommendations are based on common sense. However, sometimes we can all lose sight of the basics. We’ve all sat in meetings and wondered if our attendance was absolutely necessary. If these points for refining and improving a virtual meeting were strictly followed the outcome and results of any meeting would improve.

Of course, everyone wants and should be connected — just make certain everyone is gathering for the right reason and with a true purpose.

Apps for the Mobile Worker: Trash vs. Treasure

admin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:00:08 +0000

The sky is the limit in the mobile apps arena. Market research firm Compass Intelligence recently calculated that small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. will spend nearly $350 million on mobile software this year. Tech savvy entrepreneurs download everything from basic office utilities to customer management solutions with the objective of staying productive, connected and in control — whether they are in the office or on the road.
Considering the number of mobile workers will continue to rise, the market demand for mobile apps does not appear to be waning. In fact, there are significant opportunities for new growth.
A study conducted by Forrester finds that only 49% of small business owners confirmed owning a smartphone – a shocking statistic, to say the least. It’s almost impossible to imagine any business owner not utilizing a mobile device to assist with daily business operations. Eventually, business owners who have been holding out on purchasing a smartphone will give in and continue to fuel the upward trend for mobile applications.
So to break through the massive amount of app clutter and noise, Entrepreneur magazine identified some of the most important, must have, applications that best meet the needs of start-ups, small businesses and entrepreneurs. There’s quite a variety on the list. Let us know if you have downloaded any of these apps and if you believe they have improved your business performance.

Making the Case for Office Space

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:00:54 +0000

A venturebeat.com article touted the top five reasons why working from the local coffee shop or from home is a bad idea and proclaims any business worth running should have professional, dedicated office space. “If you’re serious about building a company – a real company, not an app or a feature – than you’re going to need space. You’re going to need whiteboards and desks and printers and stable Internet service and phone booths and meeting space,” states the author.
Clearly, this topic is near and dear to OfficeLinks and we feel it’s important to expand upon one point in the column. We agree, running a business from the corner coffee shop or home basement is going to hinder productivity for the obvious reasons. Selecting the right workspace for a 21st Century business needs to a bit more strategic than finding some bare bones office and hanging a “We’re Open” sign on the door, as the article infers.

Despite the challenging climate, we have found businesses are willing to invest in relationships with partners, suppliers and, yes, office providers, that will enhance their business, boost their productivity and put them in a position to succeed. Our newest location in midtown Manhattan at 1140 Avenue of the Americas is a perfect example of this. Businesses could have easily secured space in another part of town with fewer amenities and a less desirable address – especially with the amount of space available in New York. However, when they weighed their options, our clients made a purposeful decision to secure space that meets their complete business needs – from floor plan design, to technology and from location to amenities.
As the article said, most businesses require an office at least some of the time to conduct business. Companies just need to secure the one that best matches their needs.

Going Green – White House Calls on Federal Workers to Reduce Business Travel

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:14:30 +0000

The White House recently announced the government will aim to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from indirect sources such as employee driving and business travel by 13 percent in 2020, compared with 2008 levels.

Federal employee travel and commuting account for the largest category of what the administration calls indirect sources of pollution. The White House is encouraging workers to travel less for business and to use mass transit for their commutes.

Today, most businesses understand their responsibility to limit their impact on the environment and are leveraging available technology like video and audio conferencing as an alternative to business travel.

Among the many benefits of this technology are: a decrease in business travel expenses, a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and increased productivity. Individuals can have face-to-face meetings with colleagues or clients anyone anywhere in the world allowing them to collaborate as effectively as if they were meeting in the same room.

Access to this technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity for businesses of all sizes. Companies find themselves managing a distributed workforce with limited budget for business travel. Videoconferencing eliminates geographic boundaries and is an easy way for businesses to be environmentally conscious.

Meeting Rooms with Zero Distractions and All the Bells and Whistles Required to Yield Top Productivity

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:08:10 +0000

Every business has it’s bounty of important meetings to tackle: the first meeting with a prospect, the review with a long-term client, the motivational meeting with employees, a seminar with like-minded colleagues and everything in between. Having a fully-equipped meeting room available to you that lends you authority, relevance and some fierce technology can give you an edge in today’s business market and gain client, peer, and employee confidence in you and your business.

OfficeLinks’ three prestigious New York City office locations at 40 Wall Street, 1440 Broadway and Chelsea and its impressive Chicago office location at the Willis Tower offer clients dedicated business environments with professional staff on demand, state of the art equipped rooms, and turnkey planning and support services.

When your meeting attendees arrive, they are greeted by professional, friendly reception staff and led to the java lounge where they can grab a cup of Starbucks® coffee before getting down to business. They are sure to be impressed as they are brought in to an innovative meeting room featuring sleek, ergonomic chairs and wired tables, conference phones, presentation remote controls, secure internet, a 60” plasma screen television, flip charts and white boards, and HD videoconferencing capabilities.

OfficeLinks meeting rooms will give you the confidence, comfort and knowhow to impress every client, peer, and employee and help you nail every meeting. For more information, visit OfficeLinks New York and Chicago Meeting Rooms.