What is a webinar?
Simply put, a webinar is an online meeting place for two or more people.  A webinar incorporates audio conferencing either over the phone or through your computers speakers.   Webinars, also known as web conferences, web meetings, online meetings and internet meetings, give you, the host, an opportunity to present visual elements during your meeting.  With most web conferencing services, you can show presentations, share your desktop or collaborate real-time on documents with a whiteboard feature.

Webinar vs. Video Conference
A webinar with a webcam focuses primarily on content rather than people.  That is to say that although you can see the videos of the other participants, the content is the larger portion of the visuals.  Additionally, a webinar only requires your computer and an internet connection.  In fact, you can host a webinar from any location where you have wi-fi.  The webcam is optional but is a nice way to make your internet meeting a bit more personal.  A video conference focuses on people rather than content and generally requires expensive equipment that is stationary such as in a conference room.

Is there a “right” webinar tool?
The right webinar tool is:

• The one you feel most comfortable using
• Has the features to meet your needs

At Copper Conferencing, we strongly believe in helping you select a web conferencing tool that satisfies those requirements.   Although there are many different webinar tools available in the market today, there are two general categories:  Basic and Fully loaded.

The basic webinar tool gives you “just the facts ma’am.”  With a basic tool, you get just enough functionality to host a webinar and be able to show, share or collaborate.  The basic webinar tools vary in ease of use and are most well-suited to groups from 2 to 200.

The fully loaded webinar tool offers you, the host, a wide range of functionality and is well suited for large groups up to 2,000 or more.  With the fully loaded tool, the options for platform independence where you and your participants may host and join on a MAC, PC or use Linux include Adobe Connect Pro and Cisco WebEx.  For PC users, Microsoft Live Meeting is a good option.   All of these web conferencing services provide a range of functionality including sharing, polling, question and answer and other collaboration features.   Fully loaded webinar tools also give you easy registration and reminder functionality.

Both the basic and fully loaded webinar tools allow you to integrate audio conferencing and most provide you a way to record your webinars for later playback.   Both webinar tool types also come with reporting functionality.

3 Practical Ways to Use Webinars
Way 1:  Lead Generation Webinars
Like most businesses, you probably need to add to your client base in order to grow or, at a minimum, meet your revenue goals.  Using webinars to reach a broader audience and deliver your message is a cost-effective way to generate demand for your product or services.  Whether you want to host a live event for many people or record a webinar and drive people to the recording, you’ll want to promote your event to ensure success.

Way 2:  Client Meetings and Consultations
Staying connected with clients or employees is imperative to the success of any business.  Using webinars allows you to deliver your message in an engaging format.  Using the power of webinar visuals along with polling, chat or question and answer, you can keep your participants engaged and solicit feedback during your webinar.  Webinars are especially important for business professionals who need to collaborate with different people in multiple locations.  Webinars enable you and your participants to meet when it’s convenient for everyone – no need to let travel delay your business.

Way 3:  Content Production for Education Credits or Resale
Webinars are one of the best ways to deliver a message and content.  You can develop a “class” for educational purposes such as continuing education credits or you can deliver content for resale.  Regardless of your immediate need, you can record once and replay many times. The registration and reporting features help you manage who is viewing and for how long.    Your ability to recoup costs and maximize efficiency is immediate.

Can I afford NOT to use webinars?
Many businesses are discovering that webinars enable them to lower costs associated with travel, training and conducting business.   Consider that an onsite meeting can cost $940 for airfare, hotel for two nights, car rental and meals.   While $940 may not seem like much money, you also have to consider the time it takes to complete the travel, the time away from the office and the lost opportunities to conduct other business.    A similar meeting with 20 people for 60 minutes done using a webinar tool, would cost less than $240 for a savings of over $700.

With the convenience of conducting a webinar from your office, your home or while traveling, business and entrepreneurs are looking towards webinars more everyday as an indispensable tool.

For more information about webinars and hosting web conferences using any of the market-leading tools mentioned in this article, contact Copper Conferencing at sales@copperconferencing.com.  Or try it for free by signing up now.

Take advantage of the current job market. Stop ruling people out based on location and let their knowledge and skills dictate your hiring decision. Web conferencing with integrated video has made virtual interviews a snap!

A web conferencing tool with integrated video, like WebPresentNow, allows employers and potential employees meet face-to-face virtually. Features like, desktop sharing make it easy to review portfolios and writing samples on the fly. So next time you are hiring, expand your employee search with web conferencing.

Want to try WebPresentNow? Visit www.webpresentnow.com for a free 30-day trial.

For years, the only conferencing choice was audio conferencing – now often referred to as phone conferencing.  Phone conferencing continues to be the mainstay of conferencing.  It’s easy to understand why – using a phone is easy and intuitive.  Every business has a phone and the phrase ‘just a phone call away’ makes phone conferencing connections quick, painless and personal.

And although phone conferencing is easy-to-use, there are times when being able to show meeting participants a document or share a demo would make the conference go just that much smoother.  Enter web conferencing and video conferencing.

With the advent of web and video conferencing, however, has come a change in the rules of conferencing.  No longer are participants able to hide behind the faceless phone.  No longer are participants able to multi task during online meetings.  No longer are participants able to ‘come as they are’ to a video conference.  The change of conference rules has given rise to a growing anxiety among many participants in conferences where a web cam or video camera is mandated.

If you find that you are among the anxiety stricken, take comfort that your anxieties can be overcome.  Not among the anxiety stricken?  Even if you aren’t overly concerned with the advent of video as part of the online meeting, you should be aware that others are watching.  Video feeds and how you present yourself is as much a representation of the company as what you say during the meeting. 

Enjoy a more successful web or video conference experience by keeping these few things in mind:

1. Take a quick look in the mirror.  Just as you would for any meeting, look presentable.  Even if you’re video image is only two inches square, if you look good, you’ll feel good.
2. Breathe deeply.  Taking a deep breath and a moment to put your thoughts in order will enable you to focus on the content of the meeting.  And really, that’s why you’re at the meeting. 
3. Size does matter.  Most web conference video is only two square inches!!  That’s really very small.  No one will notice if you have on your back up glasses or if your hair isn’t perfect.   They will notice if you lean down so that only the top of your head shows on the video or if you swivel around in your chair.
4. Use a headset or speaker if possible.  Because movement on any video screen can be distracting, using a headset or speaker phone will enable you to relax, reduce your movement and have your hands free to take notes.

And if all else fails for the camera shy conferencing user, the mainstay of phone conferencing is still available and just as easy-to-use as ever.

BROOMFIELD, CO, June 24, 2008 – Copper Conferencing, a leading provider of group communications through webinars and audio conferencing services, today announced its wholesale partnership with A+ Conferencing.

“A+ Conferencing believes in aligning itself with the best companies in the industry. Our partnership with Copper Conferencing is the culmination of synergies between our companies,” said Mike Burns, President of A+ Conferencing. “Copper Conferencing offers an array of audio and web conferencing services that provide companies ready access to everything from small ad hoc web meetings to large group communications. Our partnership gives us more flexibility to serve our customers.”

Copper Conferencing offers the best in web, audio and operator-assisted conferencing services for local, national or international business conferencing needs. Additionally, Copper Conferencing provides Conference Coaches™ for all of its customers and partners. Conference Coaches™ offer live, real-time answers to conferencing questions and inquiries to ensure meeting success every time.

“The conferencing industry is poised for an explosion particularly with the rising cost of fuel and the hassles associated with travel. Both companies are equally committed to providing conferencing services and exceptional customer service. A strategic partnership with A+ Conferencing just makes good business sense,” said Brad Dupee, President and CEO for Copper Conferencing. “It is an honor for us to have A+ Conferencing as a strategic partner and we look forward to working with Mike and his team.”

“Copper Conferencing’s partnership with A+ Conferencing is a logical move for both companies. This partnership will enable us to extend our reach to a broader audience while allowing A+ Conferencing to offer the best-in-class conferencing tools available,” said Matt Haberkorn, wholesale partner manager for Copper Conferencing.

About A+ Conferencing
A+ Conferencing is a full service conferencing company with over 50 years of experience in the industry. We focus on providing audio, video and web conferencing services for medium to high volume customers, resellers and agents at wholesale pricing. Our dedication to exceptional customer service and high quality conferencing solutions has earned us the respect of customers and resellers alike. Our services include the latest in reservationless conference calling, operator assisted calling, event calling services, web conferencing and teleservices. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company can be reached via its Web site, at www.aplusconferencing.com, or by phone at 888.239.3969.

About Copper Conferencing
Based in Broomfield, Colorado, Copper Conferencing provides unprecedented access to eco-friendly audio conferencing and web conferencing services. Copper’s Conference Coaches™ provide expert guidance of enhanced conferencing services to small and medium-sized businesses to ensure meeting success. From on-demand reservationless audio conference calls, to highly-interactive web conferences and special event calls, Copper helps businesses improve the speed and effectiveness of remote business decision making. These services are backed by fully managed, carrier-class platforms to power communication for thousands of customers. Copper’s leadership team brings over 50 years of industry experience and has created a successful channel-centric sales approach which includes wholesale partners and authorized agents and internet sales programs. The company is privately-held. For more information about Copper Conferencing, call 866.903.7521 or visit the company’s website at www.copperconferencing.com.

Contact:
Alycia Maier-Turner
Copper Conferencing
303-952-4308
pr@copperconferencing.com

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BROOMFIELD, CO, February 5, 2008 – Copper Conferencing, a leading provider of audio conferencing, web conferencing, and video conferencing services; offered primarily through professional independent partners, announced today that it has acquired The Conference Depot, Inc. It purchased the Carlsbad, California firm for $11M, capitalized in part through an equity investment by NewWest Capital Partners of Denver, Colorado and debt financing through Bush O’Donnell Capital Partners, LLC of St. Louis, Missouri. Other deal terms were not disclosed.

With this most recent acquisition, Copper Conferencing enhances its robust conferencing services for small and medium-sized (SMB) businesses. The acquisition will give customers for both companies access to an even greater menu of audio, web, and video conferencing services used for remote group communications.

“Our acquisition of a top conferencing provider like The Conference Depot is a significant step towards the realization of our company goal to provide unparalleled customer service and comprehensive group communications offerings to the underserved SMB market segment,” said Brad Dupee, President and CEO of Copper Conferencing “With this acquisition we’ll be able to better serve the experienced conferencing professional with the latest automated conferencing systems as well as the beginner or novice who wants assistance though our Conference Coach™ to make their calls absolutely flawless.”

With the acquisition of The Conference Depot, Copper Conferencing is now able to give customers unprecedented access to industry-leading audio and web conferencing tools. Lead by an executive team of industry veterans with over 50 years of industry experience, Copper Conferencing’s skilled Conference Coaches™, offer a suite of easy-to-use group communications tools, including on-demand reservationless audio conferences, event calls, and interactive web conferencing with the ability to instantly share any documents with remote parties. With the continuing consolidation in the conferencing industry, analysts believe that Copper Conferencing is equipped to meet the demands of customers and partners who are looking to unlock the significant efficiency and productivity gains of these cost effective group communication and conferencing solutions.

”We have seen a 28% compound annual growth rate in hosted audio conferencing minutes over the last six years, and while there have always been options for users to manage conferencing services themselves, more often they turn to specialists like Copper Conferencing,” stated Marc Beattie, an analyst with Wainhouse Research. “Through scale and focus, specialists provide a more cost effective solution at a higher service level allowing users to focus on their critical business tasks, and not the technology.”

About Copper Conferencing
Based in Broomfield, Colo., Copper Conferencing’s Conference Coaches™ provide expert guidance of enhanced conference calling services to small and medium-sized businesses. From on-demand reservationless audio conference calls, to highly-interactive web conferences and special event calls, Copper helps businesses improve the speed and effectiveness of remote decision making. These services are backed by fully managed, carrier-class platforms to power communication for thousands of customers. Copper’s leadership team brings over 50 years of industry experience and has created a successful channel-centric sales approach which includes wholesale partners and authorized agents and internet sales programs. The company is privately-held. For more information about Copper, visit the company’s website at www.copperconferencing.com.

For more information contact:
Stefanie Jones Public Relations, Inc.
303-388-8460
sjones@sjonespr.com