If you have never used a conference call to have a meeting, you need to think about what benefits you can gain. They are less expensive than a face-to-face meeting and waste less time, especially if the participants are not all in the same building. Whether it's your first conference call, or your hundredth, these following tips will help you have a great call.

• Get each caller to say hello and introduce themselves. It can help shy people get involved and generally break the ice.
• Ask questions by first saying the name of the recipient of the question followed by a short pause. This way, no one will be caught off guard or have to ask for the question to be repeated.
• Ask questions to the whole group in a way that will narrow down who will respond. For example, don't ask if everyone understands; ask if anyone doesn't understand.
• If you are using a speakerphone and especially if you've never met the person on the other end, tape their picture to the phone. It may seem strange, but it helps to bring the person into the room.
• Make sure to have a definitive ending to the conference. Close with a conclusion then thank everyone for attending. They will know when they can hang up and will appreciate your consideration.
• On a final note, consider the disadvantages of using a leather chair for your conference call. If, when you shift your seat, your particular chair makes a noise that can be misunderstood; you might want to consider a cloth covered chair.