Tips For Hosting Productive Video Calls At Home

I might get hate mail for this: Appearances and first impressions still matter—big time. Zoom calls and remote work culture erupted over the past decade, and somewhere along the way, we stopped caring about the 'little things'. Salespeople, missing the details = lighting cash on fire 🔥. 💰 Every call on your calendar costs your marketing team a few thousand dollars. Each meeting could be thousands in commission for you. That CMO you’re meeting with? Her 30 minutes is worth $500. When she brings her team, they spend $3k in salary just showing up. So, why do we show up like we don’t give a sh*t? Sweating the details can often be a waste of time, other times it's worth the effort. 💡 Here are 6 details you should never skip: 1) Do your research.  Asking where they live or what their company does—things you could Google in 5 seconds—doesn’t build rapport; it just makes you look unprepared. Instead, come in with a point of view on something you've already researched. 2) Use a good webcam & mic.  Who would you rather spend 30 minutes with in the screenshot below? You don’t need to break the bank—a solid cam/mic setup costs under $100. 3) Get your lighting right.  Clear the shadow from your face. Sit in front of good lighting. A $20 ring light can do wonders. 4) Dress like you care.  Would you rather be over-dressed or under-dressed when you're presenting to the C-suite of a $2billion dollar company? Toss the wrinkly T-shirt and baseball cap. Throw on a button-up or polo. Maybe even take a morning shower and comb your hair. 5) Send a follow-up the same day.  Buyers appreciate a quick recap they can share internally. Tools like WINN.AI, Gong, or Sybill can automate this, so you can get the email out in minutes instead of hours. 6) Send a pre-meeting brief.  An engaged audience = a better meeting. Prime their brains before the call. *Bonus tip: Send personalized messages to each stakeholder - this takes more effort, but it's worth it. A CMO has different interests/problems than a Sales Manager. Make it clear that you took the time to curate messages for each person. These details might seem trivial, but it's worth it if they make you even 1% more engaging. I get it—some of you will think I'm an old-fashioned grandpa. (Probably true.) Some will think, "it’s 2025, and this stuff doesn’t matter anymore." 🎲 But are you willing to gamble your company's hard-earned pipeline (and your own commission) on that? Deals are won or lost by tiny margins. Skimp a little here, skimp a little there, and watch your win rates suffer. (Legit, I had a rep almost lose a deal because he presented a deck using the customer's outdated logo <- the CMO was not smiling about it. We did damage control for 2 weeks.) ⚖️ My stance: obsess over the details. Alone, they might seem minor, but together, they will tip the scales and split success from failure. Would love to hear what details you swear by? 

It's Saturday as I post this. Today, I have a request for virtual conference presenters. This is not typically a topic for me, but I feel like it's worth bringing up! I have attended a couple virtual conferences again recently, and what stood out to me is how many distractions came from some presenter's environments. In one case, while the presenter was presenting well and had good content, their presentation suffered based on the delivery location: a kitchen/break area. Great observations were interrupted by kitchen noises, people's voices, phone vibrations and sounds, and worst of all - a sporadically running faucet. Can I make a few suggestions? A pre-presentation checklist would be something to consider. It's not 2020 anymore, and people do notice these distractions more now that we've experienced many such presentations. Virtual conference stage presentations need to elevate our presence from our day to day Zoom calls. This isn't a comprehensive list, but these are things I noticed plaguing just ONE of the talks given this past week. 1. Use the most reliable wifi/internet connection you can find. Hiccups can always happen, I get it, but test the connection in the location ahead of time if you haven't used it before to avoid blips or picture pixeling from low signal strength. 2. Use a decent camera that supports minimum 720 but preferably 1080 resolution. Blurry resolution is not a good look. 3. Use a good mic. Air pods and most laptops do not count. Test your mic with other people ahead of time. Your voice will be missing its depth and warmth otherwise. 4. If you can use noise suppression and/or audio leveling in your software, turn it on. Check your mic gain too - sometimes your voice can be hard to hear otherwise. 5. Find a low traffic location to minimize background noise. When you don't, I'll spend as much time trying to figure out what that background noise is as I do listening to you. 6. Unless it's something you've customized for yourself, find a simple background (or use a virtual one). People walking by or having lots in your background for me to look at will keep me from listening to you. 7. Don't mute your phone, set it to do not disturb. Same for your desktop apps, especially Slack and email notifications. The vibrations and the pinging noises are crazy distracting - they also have me checking my desktops and my phone instead of listening. 8. Don't sit in front of a window without strong front lighting. We can't see your smiling face. 9. Don't be on mute when you start talking. What would you add to this list?

Presentation matters I was talking with our CEO Aditya Kothadiya last week about what standards we should have for video meetings. Some people say why stress the details. Does it really matter if your lighting is terrible or sound sucks on Zoom? They will say your image doesn't matter and why sweat the small stuff. I totally disagree. The image that you have (including sound) is fundamental to creating a great customer experience. Yes, we don’t all have a professional studio to work out of. But, there are key things we can do to improve the quality of our video meetings. Here are some simple pointers to help you take your video meetings up a notch: 1️⃣ Camera and framing! Most built-in cameras on a laptop are terrible. Invest in a decent webcam or better yet DSLR. Not everyone will have a budget for high end equipment but there are webcams that are very cheap and will take your quality up many notches. Also, did you know that if you are an iPhone user you can connect your phone to zoom and use that as a camera? The quality is amazing and very easy to setup! For framing Keep the camera at eye level or slightly above to avoid unflattering angles and leave some space between the top of your head and the edge of the frame (rule of thirds) 2️⃣ Lighting. Again no need to have big studio lights in your house but keep these simple things in mind: - Face a window for soft, natural light. Avoid backlighting where the light source is behind you. - If you are using any external lights make sure to place lights at a 45-degree angle in front of you to avoid harsh shadows. - Avoid overhead lights cast shadows that make you look tired or uneven. 3️⃣ Audio, audio and audio!!!! Audio is more important than video! Some simple tips to follow: - A good mic like Blue Yeti, Shure MV7, or Rode NT-USB improves clarity.  - Avoid relying on your laptop’s built-in microphone.   - Do a soundcheck so you are confident in your setup and can make any corrections.  - Use noise-cancellation tools like Krisp AI or Zoom’s built-in noise suppression 4️⃣ Background and setup. Find a minimalistic location for your background. But remember to keep things personal! Nobody wants to see you in a sterile environment, so sprinkle the background with things that show your personality. - Avoid clutter, bright colors, or heavy patterns. - Find a location that has minimal background traffic to avoid distractions. - Declutter your desk. Keep only the essentials (e.g., notes, water bottle, or keyboard) visible Your setup may not be perfect and that’s fine. But, pay attention to the details, constantly try to create the absolute best experience you can, and remember to make your setup personal with your own unique style! Never settle and strive for perfection. Hope this is helpful and let me know questions in the comments 👇

Ever felt like you were talking to a wall during a virtual meeting? You’re not alone. Studies show that 70% of remote workers feel disengaged in virtual meetings. 😱 So, what's the secret sauce for transforming those flat, uninspiring calls into dynamic, engaging experiences? Here’s what I’ve learned: 1. Start with a Hook: Just like a great presentation, your meeting needs a captivating opener. Share a surprising statistic or a thought-provoking question. This sets the tone and grabs attention right away. 2. Visual Engagement: Use visuals! A well-designed slide or a quick video can break the monotony. It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it. 3. Interactive Elements: Polls, breakout rooms, or even a quick game can work wonders. When participants actively engage, they’re more likely to contribute and stay focused. 4. Personal Touch: Share a personal story or experience. It humanizes the meeting and fosters connection. People remember stories, not just data. 5. Clear Takeaways: End with actionable insights. Give your audience something they can implement immediately. This not only adds value but also keeps them looking forward to the next meeting. In my experience, these strategies have transformed my virtual meetings from mundane to memorable. But I want to hear from you! What’s your secret sauce for making virtual meetings feel as engaging as in-person ones? Drop your tips in the comments! If you found this post helpful, please give it a like and share it with your network. Let’s elevate our virtual meeting game together! #VirtualMeetings #Engagement #RemoteWork