Conference Call Set Up - How Easy Is It?

If your business requires that you get a number of people together at one time to discuss an important business matter, it can be very easy if all of the participants are in one building.  If they are not, a conference call could be the most inexpensive option.

There are several ways that conference calls can be set up.  With each of the ways, you must have a designated time for the meeting to take place.  This can often be set up via Microsoft Office on each of the participant's calendars.  You can select a time when everyone will be available.  Keep in mind the differences in time zones if there are participants from across the country or world.

Once you have selected a time you will need to decide which means you will use for the conference call.  If there are just a few people on the call then you could make use of your office telephone service.  You just call one person at their desk and then conference in each of the other participants.  If there are a larger number of people on the call, it may be time consuming to dial each one of them individually.

For the larger conference calls, you can connect with all of the participants by allowing them each to dial-in themselves.  Each caller will call a specific phone number.  They will need to put in a meeting code that has been assigned ahead of time and passed out to each of the callers.  After they enter the meeting code, they will be asked to identify themselves and then they will be connected to the call.

While this is still a manual connection, it works very well for someone that is familiar with making conference calls.  There are operator-assisted conference calls available for people that are a little more technically challenged.  They work just as well as an unassisted conference call or dialing direction to each location.

In the case of an operator-assisted conference call, the call initiator would call a particular phone number and advise the operator what they would like to do.  The operator will need to know the phone numbers and names of the people that you would like to attend the call.  The operator would then connect everyone on one line and the conference call can begin. 

You may choose to start with the operator assisted conference calls so you can get some experience with the task.  After a while, you can broaden your horizons and try the dial in option and may even the direct connect option.  No matter what you choose to do, you will definitely find that setting up a conference call is not as difficult as it may seem. 

After you have set up a few conference calls, you will be considered an expert and will probably find yourself helping others get set up as well.  Once you have mastered the task, it seems very easy.  Conference calls can connect people from miles away and allow businesses to keep all branches on the same page.