Preparing for a Presentation With Screen Sharing and Call Conferencing Services

Clinching a business deal depends a lot on a person's presentation skills.But even the best speaker can experience difficulties when using call conferencing services such as screen sharing.The medium is very different from the usual presentation tools and the lack of visual cues adds to the challenge.Utilizing presentations during conference calls has become common practice for many businesses these past few years, as companies have started using the technology to meet with distant clients or coordinate with remote offices.Some conference call services offer screen sharing capabilities which can alleviate the difficulties in conducting presentations.However, there are a few things to understand about the technology to make the process easier and more convenient for users.Screen sharing allows call hosts to their share computer or application screens with other conference call participants.This allows others to see images, charts, and texts on their own screens, which can supplement the information directly being discussed by the speaker.While phone conferencing services have been around for a long time, screen sharing is a relatively new functionality offered by a few conference call providers.Before attempting to use screen sharing, call hosts should check to see if all those participating in the call have compatible systems and install any software required by the system.Depending on the service, screen sharing may work only on specific platforms and devices.Call hosts should also inform all the participants about the optimum screen size for the presentation.This is particularly important if some of the session participants are using handheld devices or ultraportable netbooks with small screens.If users are unable to view the shared screens, it might prevent them from fully viewing the content being shared.One important thing to remember is that screen sharing may show all the items on the presenter's computer.Call hosts should arrange the desktop beforehand, even if the only thing they plan to demonstrate on the screen is a full screen PowerPoint presentation.Having organized folders or desktop items can make it easier to find information needed during the presentation.Lastly, presenters shouldn't use excessive visuals.While voice conferencing services use conventional phone lines for audio clarity, screen sharing will also rely on the viewers' local Internet speeds.A slow Internet connection can cause longer screen loading times and unsynchronized visuals, which can affect the effectiveness of the presentation, and prevent conference call participants from fully understanding the message being delivered.