Zoom: 5 Quick Tips to Use It Effectively

By now, we’re all settled in at home and running our business smoothly over the phone and Zoom meetings, right? Well, not so fast …

Like you, I have greatly increased my Zoom meetings and what I have seen has disturbed me. There has been a surprising lack of professionalism, a lack of preparation, and a generally poorly organized and ineffective approach to running Zoom meetings.

As you know, first impressions are everything, and if you are meeting a potential customer or customer through Zoom, there are some things you definitely don’t want to do and some you do want to do.

Follow this quick list of 5 tips to make sure you not only make a great impression, but also easily rank above your competition.

Zoom Tip No. # 1: Eliminate any and all unprofessional distractions. Oh I know, everyone is working from home, so a barking dog or children screaming in the background should be fine, right?

Incorrect. You are a representative of your company and you are a professional. I wouldn’t take my dog ​​to the office, would you? How about your kids? Of course not. It is key for you to present a professional, confident and competent image, and that means one that is free from distractions.

So, have your wife or husband take care of the kids (they are probably at home with you), take the dog outside, and close the door. Create an environment of professionalism.

Zoom Tip No. 2: Speaking of professionalism, what are you wearing to your Zoom meetings? Because you are homebound, do you show up in a T-shirt or sweatshirt? Or are you wearing business casual clothes and at least a nice button-down shirt?

And if you are a man, have you shaved? Did you comb your hair? Or does it look like you just got off the couch? If you are a woman, does your hair look well-groomed? How about the makeup, if you wear it?

The way you appear makes a big impression on your clients and prospects. You want to look your best and it doesn’t take a lot of effort. Do it.

Zoom tip n. 3: lighting. Now I know that you are not in the film industry, but lighting is crucial for any type of filming. I was in a meeting with someone the other day and it seemed like they were calling from a cave. It was so dark that I could barely see them.

And then I was in meetings with people sitting in front of a sunlit window. Same thing: I couldn’t see their faces because they were drowning in the shadows.

When considering where to film, make sure you are not too backlit so that your face is darkened, and if you are in a dark studio or studio, turn on the lights or open the blinds.

You all know how much difference a well-shot, well-lit movie looks compared to a B-movie. Remember, image is everything in front of a camera.

Zoom tip n. 4: the background is also important. Have you ever been to a Zoom meeting with someone and thought, “Ewe, that boy / girl is a bum! Look at that messy sofa and bookshelf and those crooked photos. Yuck!”

Ladies and gentlemen, we know that your home is your kingdom and that you will live however you choose. And you should. But we don’t need to see everything.

If you don’t have professional experience, the solution is simple: use one of Zoom’s green screen backgrounds. There’s a lot to choose from and you can find even more by Googling “Background Image Zoom”.

Oh I know, if you move too fast, the background becomes blurry. Two things about that: 1) Don’t move around so much. In fact, if you look at any professional newscaster, they move very little. You should practice that. 2) Everyone expects them to move, so you have some leeway there. Regardless, a background image is almost always better than what you have now …

Zoom Tip No. 5: Be professional and respectful at all times. That includes:

• Be on time.

• Don’t talk about someone.

• Send an email later thanking them for their time.

You know, all the things you would normally do if you were back at the office.

Take in these 5 tips from Zoom and separate yourself from everyone else calling from your bedrooms, patios, and elsewhere. Remember: you want to present your best during every interaction with a customer or prospect.