For years, people have complained, and rightfully so, that the media only shows the public what they want it to know. We know that many times we don’t get an entire story and the information we do get may be inflammatory and used as a means to sell additional copies. In the age of social media, the voice of the public can be broadcast to many at the click of a mouse and we decide what is newsworthy. We are now able to relay information without being silenced as the media sometimes is. This has opened a door that can’t be closed and while freedom of speech is our right, we must remember that we are posting to the world and those words, photos, etc. cannot be taken back. It’s much easier to vent or post something negative on a social network than to say it out loud to someone. Just remember that the person you are posting about may see your comment. My parents told me never to put anything harsh in writing; this is the same concept. We are still in the early stages of social media, but remember that a “filter” should be in place when posting anything to the world.
Many people, particularly our youth, are fans of posting each thing they do, each place they go, and who they are with every second of every day without much thought as to the consequences. Keep in mind that by placing this information online, anyone with access to your profile is able see your every move. This can be dangerous, especially with the recent explosion of geo-location apps. Stalkers don’t have a hard time following people who leave a trail. Thieves watch social networks to find out when people are leaving on vacation and then break in while they are gone. If you post that you are going on vacation, don’t give dates. Post pictures when you get back so that no one knows exactly when you are gone. Simply be careful.
Though there are a few downsides to social media, there are many pros as well. We interact with our “friends” and family members whom we would otherwise not have much contact with. It’s much easier for people living in different areas of the world to stay connected with others via social networks. Grandparents who live out of state can see current photos and videos of their grandchildren in between visits. Friends who took jobs at opposite ends of the country can still remain connected. In addition, campaigns for causes allow us to spearhead a call to action right from the comfort of our couch. A mass post to all of your connections via a social network can attract volunteers, donors, etc. which can make a big difference in a campaign. Crowdsourcing, or empowering a community to do something specific on behalf of an organization, can also be a powerful tool.
The bottom line is, social networking is a great way to stay connected if you follow etiquette and practice common sense. There is an interesting infographic on one of our Pinterest boards that does a great job of explaining the different social networks and the types of posts you will find on several of the more popular sites. There are many reasons to participate in social networks, and though there are a few reasons to be cautious, the benefits far outweigh them.
By Rhys Kenworthy, www.r00tcomputing.com
News Release: May 1, 2012
From now through May 31, TelSpan, the Indianapolis-based provider of worldwide conferencing services is offering up to $25 off the first month’s invoice for first-time TelSpanVenue web conferencing users!
TelSpanVenue offers full-featured web, audio, and video conferencing capabilities all rolled into one fully integrated platform. TelSpanVenue’s Flash®-based platform means that conference participants need only a web browser and Flash® in order to attend a meeting. The TelSpanVenue library allows the host to manage conferencing content online, from video files to mp3 audio files, to slide presentations, and more. Participants stay engaged through the use of available live webcams, streaming audio, or streaming video files played right into your web conference.
Try TelSpanVenue for yourself, save up to $25, and experience our E3 (Excellence Exceeding Expectations) service!
To learn more about this offer, please visit www.telspan.com or call 800-800-1729.
About TelSpan
Founded in 1989, TelSpan is an Indianapolis-based primary provider of conferencing related services, including web, audio, and video conferencing, streaming, recording, online registration, and operator-assisted event and Q&A conferences. TelSpan focuses upon providing high quality conferencing services to organizations worldwide with guaranteed E3 (Excellence Exceeding Expectations) service. For more information, please visit TelSpan’s website at http://www.telspan.com.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Marie Nolan at 800-600-6458 ext. 650 or e-mail Marie at nolanm@telspan.com.
News Release: April 23, 2012
TelSpan Worldwide Conferencing is proud to announce their award as Runner-Up in the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce’s first ever video contest. The contest invited Chamber members to create an original video, two minute in length or less addressing one of the following questions:
• What does the Chamber mean to you and your business?
• What is your stand-out Chamber moment and why?
• Where do you see the most value from your membership and why?
TelSpan’s Video Production Team created their award-winning video around how TelSpan has progressed since its founding in 1989, thanks to a successful partnership with the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. Videos were judged on creativity, uniqueness and impact of the story.
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See how TelSpan has progressed since its founding in 1989, thanks to a successful partnership with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. TelSpan was awarded Runner Up for this video. |
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Serving clients worldwide, TelSpan strives to provide each and every client with E3 (Excellence Exceeding Expectations) service. With its focus on E3 client service, TelSpan specializes in high touch critical conferencing events and video production services.
About TelSpan
Founded in 1989, TelSpan is an Indianapolis-based primary provider of conferencing related services, including web, audio, and video conferencing, streaming, recording, online registration, operator-assisted event and Q&A conferences, and video production services. TelSpan focuses upon providing high quality conferencing services to organizations worldwide with guaranteed E3 (Excellence Exceeding Expectations) service. For more information, please visit TelSpan’s website at http://www.telspan.com.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Marie Nolan at 800-600-6458 ext. 650 or e-mail Marie at nolanm@telspan.com.
I read in a recent article that one of TelSpan’s competitors has decided to cut their prices to be competitive with their two closest rivals. While I agree that price plays a pretty important part in every purchasing decision I make, as a consumer I have to acknowledge that there are many other things to consider.
When a provider offers you a service that seems comparable to one you have but at a much lower price, it goes without saying that you need to do your homework. If I am offering you something that seems too good to be true, don’t take the bait without really looking at what you will get for the money. Will this lower priced company be around when you have a problem? Will you talk to a machine to get answers or a real person? Will this company strive to get a solution for you from the very first person you talk to?
My goal every day is to exceed the expectations of TelSpan’s clients, and if there is any way possible, that means when you call, I will see your request through to its resolution. That is what TelSpan is built upon, and that is the promise we offer our clients (oh yeah, and at a great price!)
Social media marketing is defined as directing more traffic to your web site via the use of social media tools. With more companies taking advantage of these networks, you need to be involved to remain competitive. Facebook is the obvious leader with over 640 million active users in 2011. Twitter claimed 175 million users last year and LinkedIn announced 100 million users globally. Recently, Facebook became the world's most visited site making it a great place to provide information about your company, its services, and promotions to generate consumer loyalty.
According to Facebook's best practices, there are 11 ways to engage your participants:
1. Ask Questions
2. Offer A Deal Or Promotion
3. Hold A Contest
4. Create A Game
5. Host A Live Chat
6. Use Photos and Videos
7. Have An Opinion (Even If It’s Not Popular)
8. Engage Your Most Passionate Fans
9. Create Stars
10. Host A Guest Post
11. Ask For Engagement
For more information, visit Facebook's best practices page at http://www.facebook.com/SMMBestPractices
Effective communication is a complex and multi-faceted process. Even when an audience cannot detect visual cues, their presence can still subtly influence the tone and tempo of the speaker. A great way for a speaker to create a more engaging experience is to be aware of the potential benefits or pitfalls of the non-audio aspects of presenting, even if such things are not immediately apparent to an audience who can only hear the speaker.
Smile – Facial expressions have a huge impact on tone. A serious expression will make your words sound slower and harsher while something as simple as a smile will inject enthusiasm and warmth to your tone.
Gestures - Even though your audience may not be able to see them, gestures will add emotiveness to your tone and make you sound more energetic.
Posture – Standing helps a speaker audibly project and give bold emphasis, while sitting speakers tend to be more relaxed and fluid. Sitting up straight will cause the speaker to sound more alert while leaning back will cause the speaker to speak lower and slower. Walking while speaking will tend to speed up the tempo of one’s speech.
Environment – If you are aesthetically comfortable you will project less stress or anxiety for your audience to pick up on. A comfortable chair, an organized desk, a colorful plant, piece of art, or pictures of loved ones or humorous things within sight can really make a difference to your mood and thus your tone.
Self-Awareness – Be aware of what your body is doing while you are speaking. A mirror can make one more cognizant of facial expressions. Watch the clock to make sure your tempo is not too slow or fast for the allotted time. Try some breathing and vocal exercises to increase your audible effectiveness.
Next time you are on a phone call or audio conference, try a few of the suggestions above, and then tell us what you think!
Event management at TelSpan is our promise to dedicate an Event Advisor to your Q&A event from start to finish. You will receive recommendations on the best products to use in order to achieve the most successful event possible. Assistance in the event setup stage, coordinating web training if necessary, and reviewing registration platforms are all included. A confirmation call to ensure your event is scheduled correctly and details are updated puts our client at ease.
On the day of your event, your dedicated head operator will dial out to you and your speaker(s) as VIPs for your pre-conference. During this time, our clients can provide us with any additional call requests as well as discuss last-minute items for the event flow. Your head operator will then provide a professional introduction to your audience and fluidly turn the call to the host/speaker(s) to begin the presentation. During the presentation, host, speakers, and participants have access to support at any time by pressing *0 on their touchtone phone. Q&A session(s) can be held throughout the call by verbally queuing the head operator. At the event’s conclusion, your operator will close the call for you and give you the option to post-conference. Within 24 hours of your event, you will receive a participant list as well as a recording (if previously ordered).
We recognize that when our clients select TelSpan, our service is a reflection upon them. We not only strive to provide great service to our clients, but our clients’ participants as well. Our goal is to provide E3 (“Excellence Exceeding Expectations”) service to everyone we speak with.
Let us manage your next event and see how our event management team can bring professionalism and success to your next conferencing event! Call us at 800-800-1729 to learn more.
Do you need to gather specific information from your participants such as address, phone number, and email addresses? Would you like to survey your registrants to be able to better market your future events? Do you charge for your events and/or sell products such as recordings? TelSpanVenue’s registration can do all of this and more!
TelSpanVenue is a web and video conferencing platform which offers live audio and video, document and screen sharing capabilities, interactive tools, and full branding. Included in this platform at no extra charge is a robust registration tool that gathers all of your required information, offers pre- and post-event survey capabilities, password protection, full reporting, and supports payment integration via PayPal.
Advertising links can be generated for use with email blasts, web sites, and social media sites, thus providing several avenues for registrant generation. Reports viewed prior to your event can ascertain if further marketing is required and if you are reaching your target demographic. Post-conference reports will provide you with the information on each participant who attended, allowing you to send them additional information. Payments can be taken via PayPal from participants with or without a PayPal account. In addition, reminders can be sent to participants, allowing them to be more prepared for your event.
A new world of opportunities can open up with the use of a tool as feature-rich as TelSpanVenue’s online registration platform. Talk with your TelSpan Inside Sales Representative today about how you can expand your marketing reach with online event registration today!
When it comes to marketing, most companies use the usual methods: mailings, websites, and telemarketing. In order to really stand out from the competition, successful organizations are adding online video to their sales and marketing mix.
Many professionals find themselves repeating the same content over and over. Whether to employees, clients, or prospects, videos can save hours every day in marketing your organization, product, or service. Similarly, in driving in new business, video effectively delivers your message about the benefits of your products and services. By offering an online video you create a virtual salesperson, increasing contacts and your product awareness exponentially. The prospect also has the opportunity to review the content at their leisure
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Want to find out how a virtual salesperson can work for you? Contact TelSpan for a free consultation and customized video project quote! 1-800-800-1729
The tablet phenomenon is still in its infancy, with the iPad making its debut in 2010. Along with the popularity of tablets and mobile devices, came interactive applications or “apps”. The benefit behind apps resides in their capability to be accessed without the need of a web connection. This is a phenomenal way to share your company videos!
Apps, combined with mobile technology, can work as an amazing team for your business. Represent video within your business and carry your company videos wherever you go!
Let’s imagine you are at a business lunch with a prospective client. You are able to demonstrate the power of video from your mobile device as you guide them through a tour of your company’s video library. You are able to conveniently and quickly access video presentations, commercials, training videos, promotional videos, product videos, you name it! The best part is you didn’t kill your message with another PowerPoint presentation. The attention is on an attractive, professional video.
Contact TelSpan for a free consultation and customized video project quote!
