Since 2020, about 71% of workers now operate from the comfort of their homes. There is no doubt that the pandemic changed our work lives. We went from busy mornings catching trains and fighting traffic to waking up and walking into our home offices.
Of course, the leading force behind this change is online video conferencing. Digital meetings saved our work lives from going under during Covid, and it doesn’t look like they are going away anytime soon.
That said, many people report they have a tough time handling conferencing software, like Zoom. If you have a Mac computer and want to learn five of the best tips and tricks for making online business meetings run smoothly, keep reading our informative guide.
1. Set Your Privacy and Follow the Rules
Did you know that “zoom bombing” is a thing? It is a term coined during the pandemic and relates to an invasion of privacy via video conferencing.
That means that if you do not set your privacy settings correctly, someone can hack into your camera or microphone and watch and record you. They can also see your digital meeting notes.
No matter what conferencing app or software you use, you run the risk of someone invading your privacy. Luckily, there are a few methods you can implement to avoid such a horrendous act.
Check Privacy Policies
First of all, make sure you understand your company’s privacy policies. Do they allow you to record the meeting? If not, then it is best not to record video or audio since that would make you the Zoom bomber.
Don’t Share the Code
Many conferencing software systems allow the initial user to share an access code with whomever they invite to the meeting. Once you have that code, be careful not to share it with anyone else.
For safe measure, try not to copy and paste it into a file or document. All you need is for someone to hack into your system and gain access to that code. Then, everyone’s privacy is a risk.
If you create a room for others to join, you often have the choice to use one-time access or PIN code. This option is there for meetings of a more sensitive nature.
Use the Waiting Room
Many digital meeting apps and software will have something called the green room or waiting room. These act as a middle man between the conference room and the users.
You can enter the waiting room using your PIN or access code. Don’t enter the conference room until everyone is present.
Be Careful With Screen Sharing
Lots of meetings require you to share your screen with others. That could be to show a presentation or a demonstration. However, you want to be careful when sharing a screen on mac.
It also means that people could record the meeting and look at what else you have stored away on your computers, like documents, files, and passwords.
2. Turn Off Features by Default
Before you enter a meeting room, you want to turn your video and camera off. There are a lot of mishaps that happen during video conferences. To avoid any mistakes, have these two features off until you need them.
You can also ask your manager or director whether you need video and audio at all. They may not require it, especially if the meeting does not require participation. That means you don’t have to get all fancied up to impress your colleagues, which is a bonus.
If you want to disable these features go to Settings > Audio > Mute microphone when joining a meeting. To turn off the video, all you have to do is go to Settings > Video > Turn off my video when joining a meeting.
3. Learn Some Shortcuts
Knowing how to work the controls will allow for an easier time while conferencing. There are several buttons on your mac that control the video in front of you.
Here are some other handy controls to know:
- Command+J to join the meeting
- Command-Ctrl-S to share a screen
- Command-Ctrl-V to start a meeting
- Command-Ctrl-M to mute everyone except for the speaker
- Command-Shift-A to mute/unmute
It is important to note that there are multiple ways to mute and unmute yourself. While the above command works, you may need to operate your microphone quickly.
If you want to keep yourself muted until it is time to talk, just hit the space bar. That will quickly unmute your microphone so you can speak. Tap the same button to put yourself back on mute.
4. Use the Beauty Filter
Working from home means we don’t have to get all made up for the office every day. However, if you have a meeting, you might want to put some makeup on.
You are on camera, after all. But unlike news reporters, not all of us have a beauty team to ensure we look our best. To get around this, use the beauty filter on your software.
For instance, Zoom has a feature to touch up your appearance. It will make your skin look smooth and even add a pop of eyeliner, eyeshadow, and lipstick to your face.
Surprisingly, it doesn’t look ridiculous or like a Snapchat filter. It makes you look natural and removes the horrid grainy feature that all online conferencing cameras have.
If you want to give it a go, hit video settings and locate My Video. From there, you will see Touch Up My Appearance. Check that box and see how it looks!
5. Change Your Background
Changing your background depends on your business and colleagues. If the meeting is light, you can change it to something fun.
Many online conferencing systems for mac have screen backgrounds to make it look like you are underwater or in a castle. Some have filters for cat ears or funny glasses.
However, if the meeting is more serious, you can use the background to match your colleagues. That way, it looks like you are all sitting in the same room with one another.
For More on Digital Meetings
As you can tell, there are several tips and tricks you can implement to make your digital marketing meeting on a mac computer run smooth as possible. Remember to set your privacy settings so that no one can access pertinent information.
You can also have fun with it and change your background and use the beauty filter. We hope this article helps you in your online conferencing endeavors.
If you enjoyed this guide, then check out the tech page on our blog! We have tons more tips for anyone wanting to know a bit more about digital meetings and the technological world.
