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Tired of flying to meetings because email and phone calls weren’t enough? Some of those meetings still need you there, but many can be replaced by webcam conferencing. Time to give webcam conferencing a try.

Some webcams are still pretty spendy (well over $200) but you can find a lot of good-quality webcams priced from $28-$80. I like the Logitech models and have found them to be easy to use for a good price.

Whatever you decide on, it should be a USB webcam. You’ll plug it into your PC, run a quick installation, and you’re ready to go! (See link in this article’s resource box for webcam brands/prices.)

Family Usage:

For family use the easiest starting point is with instant messaging software (AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live, Yahoo). It’s free, easy to use, and chances are you have friends who already use it. Get a couple of your friends to practice with you and you’ll be ready to roll.

Professional Useage:

Of course, if you’re planning to use webcam conferencing for business meetings, you obviously won’t be holding those over instant messaging. Most webinar vendors (Webex, NetMeeting, etc) support video streaming.

Using video in web conferencing isn’t hard, but does require a little practice. You’ll want to understand the software features before you host your first ‘real’ webcam conference. Hold a practice meeting or two with a friend.

Points to Remember:

Slow down! (Your speech, that is.) Webcam conferencing usually doesn’t quite keep up with natural human speech. You don’t need to talk like you’re in quicksand, just remember to talk a half-beat slower than normal. This is a common recommendation for presenters anyway — it’s good to get in the habit.

Be comfortable with your webcam features. If yours includes lighting adjustments or image enhancement you’ll want to invest fifteen minutes to learn how it works. Use that free web conference trial to practice the various adjustments and decide what you like.

Enjoy! You’re part of the video-streaming world now.