As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to cut costs and improve efficiency. Video technology is one of the most exciting new tools available to do both.
The potential for video calls to replace in-person meetings in some situations and the factors businesses should consider when deciding whether to use video calls or meet face-to-face. With over 2 billion video calls made each day, video is becoming an important tool for businesses to communicate with employees and, in the future, increasingly customers.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the many benefits and potential problems of using video phones for business.
- Improved communication:When you can see the person you’re talking to, it’s easier to build rapport and establish trust. This can be especially useful for sales teams—not only is your communication more personalised, but people tend to talk longer (and have a better memory of what they said).
- Increased efficiency:Video calls are more efficient than traditional phone calls or in-person meetings, as they allow you to see the person you’re talking with and get a better sense of their needs. This can save time and improve communication.
- Demoing products or services:One of the biggest advantages of video calls for sales and business development is that you can demo products or services in real-time. This is especially true for businesses that sell complex products because potential clients can get a feel for the product by seeing it in action.
- Reducing travel costs:Video calls are a convenient way to hold meetings or have conversations with clients, partners—or even friends! This will be especially helpful if you want to reduce your carbon footprint or travel on a limited budget.
In addition to improving communication, video phones can also be helpful for training and collaboration. If you have a remote team, video phones can be a convenient way for team members to communicate and collaborate, as they can see each other in real-time and share documents or other materials. This can be especially helpful if you have team members in different time zones or need to communicate with clients or partners in other countries.
Video phones can be more efficient than traditional phone calls. When you’re able to see the person you’re talking to, you can often get a better sense of their needs and concerns, which can save time and improve the efficiency of your communication. For example, if you’re working with a customer and you can see that they’re confused or frustrated, you can address the issue in real time rather than trying to explain things over the phone. This can be especially helpful for customer service or support teams, whose efforts are often measured by how quickly they resolve issues.
To have a successful video call, follow these tips:
- Before your call, make sure that your microphone, camera and internet connection are all working properly. You can do this by doing a test call with someone or using video conferencing software’s built-in test features.
- If your internet connection is slow or unreliable, you may experience lag during video calls. Consider using a wired Ethernet connection instead of WiFi to improve the quality and stability of your call.
- Choose a quiet location for your video calls, preferably child and dog free (if possible.)
- A clear, well-lit backdrop will allow you to pay more attention to the person on the other end of your call.
- Consider using a plain wall or banner with your company’s logo as the backdrop for your images. The right lighting can make a call seem more personal and friendly. Make sure there is plenty of light in the room so that you, your materials and any demonstrations are clearly visible.
- A good quality microphone can make a big difference in the audio quality of your video calls. Investing in one with high resolution will help create a crisp and clear sound on both ends of the conversation.
- Make an effort to connect with customers by making eye contact, smiling at them and nodding your head. Use body language that shows you are engaged in their conversation (for example, leaning forward).
- If you are presenting information or demonstrating a product, use slides or screen sharing to help illustrate your points. This will keep your audience engaged and make it easier for them to understand what you’re saying—two big factors in making a sale!
- Ask your customers for their opinions and feedback. This will let them know that you value what they have to say.
- Be prepared for technical difficulties and other interruptions during the call, but don’t let them ruin the conversation or cause frustration.
Video calls with customers may create challenges.
Video calls can be less personal and engaging than in-person meetings. It can be harder to read body language and facial expressions over the video, which can make it more difficult to establish rapport and build trust. Additionally, it can be harder to collaborate and brainstorm when working remotely, as it can be harder to share ideas and resources over video.
Video calls can be more tiring than face-to-face meetings, as they require us to focus and pay attention while engaging in multiple interpersonal exchanges.
Employees who participate in multiple video calls throughout the day can feel burnt out or overwhelmed.
With employees now working remotely, clients are invited into your employees’ homes, bringing new problems and dangers.
It’s important to be mindful of employees’ workload and personal circumstances, and well-being and to provide support and resources to help them manage the challenges of working remotely.
In Conclusion
Overall, video calls can be a powerful tool for sales and business development, as they allow you to connect with potential clients and customers remotely and demonstrate your products or services in real time. By overcoming technical difficulties and using strategies to communicate effectively and build rapport, you can make the most of this powerful tool to grow your business. Consider the potential downsides carefully before deciding whether video is the right choice for your business, and give it some serious thought.
