With the rise in people working from home and other remote locations, "Zoom"ing has become a way of life and Zoom is one of the most popular platforms, though Microsoft Teams and Google also offer video calling. 

I've got 3 quick tips for those of you that want to have a great experience when you network using zoom:

Turn off your camera and mute yourself before entering.

When it comes to meetings on Zoom, you'll want things to run smoothly and show that you respect everyone in the room.  

It's more respectful and less distracting for those already in the meeting. 

Have you ever been in a meeting and someone runs in late, announcing to everyone that they are sorry they are late? I understand the meeting may not be a priority for you, but depending on who you're meeting with, you're also not making a great impression. 

Entering the meeting on mute and having your camera off ensures that your voice or image popping up does not disturb someone who may be talking as you enter. 

Find a quiet place to participate

Have you noticed how some meetings you always have that one person (sometimes more) where it sounds like there is a group of wrestlers fighting in the background? Or, the phone goes off every few minutes and you can hear the ringing? This often happens when the person sets up an office in the main room of their home or a public place like a coffee shop. Perfectly fine for webinars, but not so great for meetings. 

The best practice for Zoom meetings is locating yourself somewhere quiet, at least for the meeting. Even if you follow the rules of etiquette and enter on mute and keep it that way unless you have to talk. When you do have to contribute, your background noise can keep people from hearing what you have to say.

Make sure everything works

Just as annoying as someone who forgets to mute themselves and their dog starts barking in the middle of a meeting is a person presenting or participating in the meeting whose microphone or camera doesn't work. This may make the meeting run over, or if you have someone that respects your time and always finishes on time, they don't get to share everything they want. 

Check to make sure everything works at least 10-15 minutes before the meeting. You can do this by running the zoom app and running a quick test. Test both your camera and microphone and check your internet connection for stability.

I appreciate the ability to connect and network with different people around the world and get to see them, rather than just a phone call. Let's make it a great experience for everyone involved.