Workspace blog

5 real benefits of using Skype for business

2012-05-24T17:48:21Z

We understand many of the challenges you face when running your company - time and finances are finite, and you have to excel with the resources you have available. You need to work smarter than your competitors. But how can you do that?

More and more businesses have found that using Skype's video calling, low-cost international calls and instant messaging can help reduce overhead costs and benefit their company. We'll be sharing some of these tips and how-tos as part of a "Work Smarter" series to help you understand Skype's features and make them work for your business. To get started, read on to learn a few ways to use Skype to work more efficiently.

1. Cut the cost of your business calls
Smaller businesses tend to communicate differently than larger entities. Instead of internal meetings, you spend more time reaching out individually to customers, prospects and partners. Making calls can be costly, especially if you're talking to colleagues and customers on their mobile phones or when they're in other parts of the world. Keeping costs to a minimum is vital to improving your bottom line.

By switching to Skype for business, your company can benefit from low-cost calls - including international calls and calls to mobiles. This will allow you to save on the cost of business calls without skimping on the quality of your service.

2. Keep track of your expenditures
Monitoring your expenses is essential when you're trying to manage your operating costs - and with Skype for business, keeping track of your call costs is simple.

Skype Manager enables you to manage your Skype accounts centrally. You can set up accounts for your staff, allocate credit and keep track of how much everyone spends - making it easier for you to budget for your calls and identify where savings can be made.

3. Reduce your business travel costs
Communicating with clients and colleagues, wherever they are in the world, is key to the success of any business. But travel costs can make a big dent in your profits too. And it's not just things like flights, fuel and hotel bills that can affect your company's profitability when you're spending time on the road - it also means you are spending less time in the office, which can hurt productivity.

Using Skype can help you and your employees cut down on non-essential business travel. A Skype video call is the perfect replacement for a face-to-face meeting - it's just as personal as a traditional meeting, but you can schedule it into your normal work day at the office, saving you time and money.

And Skype's Group Video Calling feature allows up to 10 people to join a video call meeting, enabling you to conduct board meetings, multi-agency meetings, project collaboration discussions, client meetings or even focus group discussions for less.

4. Stay in touch with colleagues
Making sure everyone involved in a project is kept in the loop means a business can run more efficiently - saving both time and money. And with Skype for business, you can do just that.

Skype's instant messaging feature is the perfect tool for keeping in touch with colleagues. You can use it to check on each other's progress, ask questions about an ongoing project and even send documents instantly, thanks to the file transfer feature.

And, with cheap calls, international calls and video calling, Skype for business provides you with a range of cost-effective ways to speak with your colleagues, no matter where they are.

5. Stay in touch with customers
Customers are the center of any business, small or large - and making sure they can contact you easily and cost-effectively is a must if you want to provide the high level of service that will keep them from going elsewhere.

When you use Skype for business, customers who also use Skype can call you from wherever they are just by clicking the Skype number on your website. And thanks to Skype's low rates, it will save your customers money, too.

Explore ways Skype can help you to work smarter  with cost effective and collaborative tools, whatever  the size of your business: contact our solutions team.

How are you using Skype to work smarter? What are your go-to features as a small business owner? Please leave a comment to let us know...

Making the most of Skype for business

2012-05-16T18:06:11Z

Greetings to our Skype Community! My name is Barry Castle and I'm the Product Marketing Manager for Skype's business solutions. One of the ways we're helping small businesses learn how to make the most of Skype is through webinars, and our next one is right around the corner. I hope you'll take a minute to sign up.

May 17: Skype and Small Business: A Marriage Made in Heaven

A longtime user of Skype for business and blogger, Jim Courtney will offer a look at how you can save money, boost productivity and build relationships by accelerating collaboration with Skype.

Find out more and register.

For support, our chat team can help you decide which products might best suit your needs. You can reach the live chat team by going to: http://direct.skype.com between 9 AM and 7:30 PM EST. (Visitors from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Canada and USA are supported)

Skype wants to help small businesses connect and grow

2012-05-14T20:15:05Z

If you're an entrepreneur or working in a small business that's looking to grow, wouldn't it be great to find a place online where you can make new connections easily - potential partners, suppliers, or customers anywhere in the world - then instantly send a message, talk, or even meet face-to-face over Skype? Perhaps you're a start-up consultant looking to promote your services, or maybe a branding guru eager to share your expertise?

If so, then Skype in the workspace is for you.

Millions of people already count on Skype in their professional lives to stay connected, save money, and work more effectively with others. As a natural extension of this, we're making it easier for you to explore, find and connect with others when you're on Skype with the introduction of a new community - Skype in the workspace.

For now, Skype in the workspace is an invite-only beta community where you can promote your business to potential customers, suppliers or partners, find other experts and consultants who can help you, and instantly connect on Skype.

We're looking for a limited number of participants to be a part of this beta and help us test, push, and stretch Skype in the workplace to its limits.

If selected to participate, you have the first opportunity to provide feedback to shape the community and impact the experience to benefit you and other businesses. And as we improve Skype in the workspace, we'll open it up to more people.

Request for an invite now to get in on the ground floor before everyone else - get on our list by completing the form here. If you are one of the selected participants, we will send your invite to join soon.

We want to help you make more business connections soon!

Five ways you can use Skype for business

2012-04-04T21:28:14Z

Many of you are familiar with Skype's video chat and instant messaging features, but in this blog, we want to showcase five lesser known aspects of Skype that you can introduce into your everyday life at work.

1. Send File
We know that there are times that sending a file over e-mail just isn't convenient, because of file size, lack of time, or fears about whether or not the file went through properly. That's where Skype comes in. Using Skype, you can send large files for free in the middle of an instant messaging or call, and you'll even be notified when the file transfer is complete.

2. Conference Calling
Maybe you're working with people from all around the world on a project, or perhaps you're working on a joint corporation deal with your business. You want to get everyone present to talk, but getting everyone together for a phone call isn't working out. If you've ever had an experience like this, try out Skype's conference calling feature. It's free for all Skype users, and if you're using Skype Credit or subscribing to one of our monthly calling plans, you can even add in non-Skype users.

3. Calling landlines and mobiles
Nowadays it's common to be doing business with people halfway across the world. International business comes with its own set of challenges, including time zone differences, but for a business, one of the main obstacles to overcome is cost. Skype-to-Skype calls are free no matter where in the world you're calling, but you can cut costs by using Skype to call landline and mobile phones, anywhere in the world, when you use one of Skype's monthly subscription calling plans or Skype Credit.

4. Online Numbers
Haven't you ever thought it would be nice if someone can call your number on Skype? An Online Numbers is a number anyone can call you on from their mobile or landline - and you answer on Skype, no matter where you are.

5. Skype Manager
Skype Manager is a web-based management tool that lets you centrally manage Skype for businesses of any size. You can trial Skype Manager, and discover how easy it is to create Skype accounts for your colleagues, allocate them credit and features and keep track of what everyoneʼs spending.

Do you use any of these Skype features in your business? Do you have a favorite Skype feature that helps improve your efficiency at work? Let us know in the comments, or by tweeting @Skype4Biz.

In addition, if you are interested in learning more about putting Skype to work in your business, feel free to reach out to our solutions group.

Our 5 top tips for video business meetings

2011-10-24T20:43:36Z

It's easy to get down to business with Skype video calls, file transfers and screen sharing.

Read on for our top tips on how to get the most from your business video call.

Video calling is a great way to save on those overheads and cut the costs of client meetings.

And by hooking up without leaving the office, you'll save on commuting costs and help save the planet.

Great, right?

But that doesn't mean that a business meeting over a video link won't need as much prep as one in the same room.

Be careful to avoid any video call pit-falls with our five top tips for online business meetings.

Adjusting your camera angles
If you're making a group business video call, you'll need to ensure that everyone who needs to be on camera will be. There's nothing worse that only seeing the arms or feet of someone who is speaking just because of a dodgy camera angle. So check out your boardroom and adjust your web cam before calling to avoid any troubling technical hitches.

Nominate a speaker
You'll always want to make sure you have nominated someone to lead any business meeting, especially when you're making a video call. Make sure there is someone ready to do the introduction, deal with any technical issues and to lead the discussion before you dial-in, that way you won't have everyone talking over each other all at once.

Send important files prior to calling
When you're meeting in person you're likely to have hand-outs, and there's no reason it has be any different for a video business meeting. You can send files quickly and easily through Skype using instant messaging, screen sharing or file transfers, so you can be sure the people on the other end of the call can have a look-see at those all important documents.

Check your sitting position
Your body language is really important and will be all too noticeable to all members of the meeting. Don't be tempted to feel as though you can slouch or relax just because you're not in the same physical space as your colleagues and clients - they'll be able to see your every move. And if they don't like what they see, it could mean your meeting won't go so well.

Avoid in-jokes
It can be tempting to lighten the mood and share an in-joke with your colleagues, but when you're on a business call you should be careful to make sure no one feels excluded. Don't turn away from the camera to make jokes with the person sitting next to you. Share a joke with your screen too and you're far more likely to enjoy a successful meeting.

Has Skype helped you get down to business more easily?

Not using Skype at work? Find out more about Skype for business now.

Crunch Takes Accounting Services to the Next Level with Skype

2011-10-12T13:04:17Z

At Skype, we occasionally come across a really unique and cool business that is using Skype. Today, we want to share the profile of Crunch, a UK based online business that provides accounting, finance and tax services. We interviewed Darren Fell, CEO of Crunch to share their story.

Tell Skype readers about Crunch. What does Crunch do?
Since Crunch opened its doors just over two years ago, we have always strived to provide the very best customer service. We are an online accountancy service for freelancers, contractors and small businesses - as such our clients often work alone or have very few employees and so need plenty of support and advice on how to best manage their finances and maximise their tax efficiency. Cash flow is a big deal for small firms, and without the proper guidance they greatly increase the risk of not making it to the end of the all-important first year.

We are in something of a unique position. We are breaking new ground in small business accountancy by using a hybrid of cloud software and full-service accountancy - our clients record their expenses and invoices using our software, and we do the rest for a flat monthly fee. Because of this approach we are popular with tech-savvy individuals such as IT Consultants, Web Designers and Programmers. Our clients are predominantly early adopters and technology enthusiasts. We have found ourselves in a virtuous circle where we are constantly pushing hard to exceed our client's expectations and deliver a cutting-edge service, and our clients in turn expect us to push the envelope and are always demanding more of our service and our software - a challenge we thoroughly relish.

What challenges do you face and how does Skype help you meet those challenges?
You may think software development is the hardest part of our business, but in actuality developing the very best customer service is the most challenging element. One accusation often leveled at online businesses is that they cannot offer the same quality of personal service as their brick-and-mortar counterparts. We're always working hard to dispel this myth, and consistently rank higher than traditional accountants, and have been recognised for our commitment to customer service. All our clients have their own Account Manager and Accountant who they get to know by name, and our social media presence allows us to interact with our clients on a daily basis.

With VoIP now firmly in the mainstream for both individuals and businesses, we thought it was about time to integrate it into our service. But how? Skype calls to our office was a good place to start. As Crunch grows we are taking on more and more clients who do business in the UK but live abroad. By integrating Skype into our office telephone system we help save our ex-pat clients money on their phone bill, and also provide a convenient Skype click-to-call mechanism for anyone else who cares to use it call us directly from our website.

How did you approach integration of Skype into your business?
We teamed up with Foehn, a business communication service provider, to pipe the incoming Skype calls right into our PBX, meaning our team on the phone don't even know the difference between a Skype call and a vanilla landline call. This type of integration is vital for both sides of the business/client relationship. Seamless execution means that our staff don't need any extra software or training. For our clients, the inclusion of the "Skype Us" button on our website means calling us is now actually easier than picking up the phone and dialing in our number.

Although the ability to Skype directly to our office is a valuable addition, we decided to take it one step further (our clients would expect nothing less). We may not be able to physically be in the same room as our clients, but our Skype integration allows us to do the next best thing - live video help.

Why go with offering live video help over Skype and what is its impact on your business?
All of our Accountants are now equipped with high-definition webcams, and are able to video chat with clients while they give them guidance on their finances, or how to handle a particular tax problem. Our testing has proven using Skype is not only enjoyable, but also beneficial to our relationship with our clients. A good accountant is nothing without the trust of their customers, and being able to actually see their accountant is helping us build a more trusting relationship with our users.

We're not stopping just at video chat with clients, though. Our team are often on the road, attending trade shows and giving seminars for freelancers and contractors. While this is a great way to educate small businesses on how to make the most of their money, traversing the length and breadth of the country can be time-consuming and costly - an Accountant out on the road is one less Accountant available to answer questions in our office. To address this we've created a small studio in our offices, and our Accountants can now be beamed in via high-def Skype video call to seminars and presentations around the country. Those who present can pose questions or ask for advice, and get answers as if the Accountant was in the same room.

Where would you like to take business in the future?
We're always toying with new ways to improve our customer service, and Skype throws out some interesting new possibilities. For example, we are in the process of implementing a new in-context help system which will contain recordings of our accountants answering common questions.

Skype has enabled us to add several powerful new strings to our customer service bow which differentiate us further still from both simple online bookkeeping software and traditional accountants. Most importantly, these new services are seamless, scalable and easy-to-use - everything we look for in a service partner.

Given a customer retention level of 97.2%, since our launch in April 2009, we've proven our service is better, easier and more cost effective for small businesses in the UK. Now it's time to continue to grow, ensuring our excellent customer service never waivers.

The plan is to service 10,000+ small businesses and be the largest small business accountant in the UK. With the next 4,000 square feet of office space about to be negotiated to hold another 50 expert accountants and accountant managers we are well on our way. After that we have the rest of the world in our sights!

Video calling on business? Style yourself successful with Skype

2011-10-10T20:00:40Z

Video calls make it possible to have face-to-face business meetings wherever you are in the world. Find out how to make the most of the technology with some top tips from Skype.

Thanks to innovations in video calling, it's never been easier to connect with business partners or clients from around the world. Ensure you're making the most of your video meetings and avoid common pitfalls with our top tips.

Appearance
The most important thing to remember about a video call is that even though it shares similarities with a phone call, it's closer to a meeting in person. This means you have to be concerned with your overall appearance and your body language especially.

Body language
Keep your head movements to a minimum. Not only will this ensure you don't accidentally move off camera, but by keeping still you'll be projecting a more powerful image. Also avoid any fidgeting or 'displacement activities' such as fiddling with hair or biting nails, as these will make you look less confident.

Eye contact
When the other person is speaking, it's a good idea to look at them on screen. But when it's your turn, try to direct your gaze at your webcam, as this will give the impression you're looking straight at the person at the other end of the call.

Posture
Sit up straight. You may be tempted to slouch at your computer when you're on a long video call, but nothing undercuts your sincerity more quickly. Look alert by maintaining an upright posture, with your shoulders back and your head up.

What to wear
Always wear the same kind of smart clothes you would wear to a normal business meeting when on a video call to prospective clients or customers. A video call may be a convenient way to connect, but you should look as though you've put in the effort to look smart for it even if you're calling from your iPad at home.

Avoid culture clashes
Always do a little investigating into the country you are calling before your meeting. What's culturally acceptable where you are many not be to the people you are speaking to, so treat a video call the same way you would treat a visit to their country - with courtesy!

Video is the Intelligent Choice for Business Collaboration

2011-05-27T03:42:57Z

Online video, once thought of a "nice to have" for businesses, is now fast becoming a crucial "need to have" tool for day-to-day business -- due in large part to better technologies, quicker Internet speeds and networks that can transmit increasing amounts of data. We believe that video conferencing is the intelligent choice for business collaboration, whether you need to collaborate internally with colleagues or externally with partners and customers.

While voice is important, texting is important, and email is still popular, it's video that offers a more engaging, rich and more productive way to communicate. According to Skype's recent Living Workplace survey (link to previous blog on survey), 42 percent of technology-empowered workers feel that the workplace is suffering from information overload and over 1/3 of these respondents (35 percent) put the blame on e-mail. Among those surveyed who currently use video, many of them experienced benefits including increased productivity, better collaboration, saving time and money.

Certainly people will utilize relevant forms of communication for the given need. Say you're running late for a meeting, then a quick call, text or instant message is appropriate. But, if you are presenting to a prospective client or collaborating over a new product design or interviewing a prospective candidate for a job, then video is the intelligent choice and will help you be more collaborative and productive today and into the future.

Skype Salutes Entrepreneurs During National Small Business Week

2011-05-17T06:57:19Z

National Small Business Week (May 16-20) kicks off today and we pause to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and the powerful impact made from small businesses across the country.

Running a successful small business has always been hard and it is even harder in this economy. Small businesses have a unique set of challenges. They need to find innovative ways to get more done with limited resources and shoe-string budgets. They also need technologies that are easy to use as, let's face it, small business owners often don't have a designated IT department or the time to figure out complicated technology set-ups.

Perhaps that is why we keep hearing great stories from small businesses which have incorporated Skype. The same technology we already use to communicate with family and friends is also enabling small businesses to connect and collaborate with customers and partners in few clicks of the mouse, whether they are a SOHO or a company of thousands. It offers so many ways to communicate, such as video calls, low-cost calls to landlines, Group Video Calling, IM, file share and more (many of these features are free). Plus, with Skype Manager, an easy-to-use Web-based online tool, small businesses can manage Skype, allocate credit, and assign features so that they can better control their communication costs.

Of the communication technologies used by businesses today, video conferencing, in particular, continues to grow in popularity. In fact, a recent survey showed that it is the communication technology whose usage is most expected to increase this year, while legacy technologies such as email and landline telephone calling continue to decline. It is no wonder, as 68% of those surveyed who use video calling said they experience richer and more productive communication with colleagues, clients and suppliers are using Skype.

Beyond day-to-day communication, many small businesses are also putting Skype's video conferencing features to work in new and innovative ways, from virtual sales demos to even virtual events. San Francisco retailer Glaser Designs, for example, has created a virtual showroom to provide demonstrations of its travel bags and designer accessories all through Skype. ePromos, based in New York City, holds regular video meetings with employees and contractors who are based around the country, enabling the business to have meaningful collaborate while cutting down on time out of the office and travel expenses.

However, among Skype's biggest benefits is its flexibility, which is crucial in a small business environment. Skype is available around the world and on a variety of devices - from the computer to the smart phone. It is helping businesses embrace the Living Workplace trend that we have talked so much about on this blog. Whether a small business operates from an office, a home, a coffee shop or a mobile device of single traveling entrepreneur, Skype can help make work happen anywhere.

So, a big tip of the hat to you, entrepreneurs and small businesses! We love hearing how Skype is helping your business, so please keep the stories coming and feel free to leave a comment or tell your story below.

How Do I Add More Skype Accounts To Skype Manager?

2011-05-07T04:52:49Z

Hello. It is Mart "Tram" Abramov here again to continue our discussions about Skype Manager.

Last week, we discussed business accounts and how they differ from a personal account. In this post, we'll discuss how you can add more Skype accounts through Skype Manager.

When you first create your Skype Manager, it has only one member: the administrator. To add more members to your company's Skype Manager, you will need to create some Skype business accounts. This is a very easy process and can be handled in one of two ways.

The first option is to begin by going to "Members" ---> "Add Members" --> "Create Business Accounts" and entering the email addresses of the employees you would like to add. Once you have done that, each person added will receive an email informing them that a Skype account has been created for them. They will be prompted to click on a link to create their account and to set a password, if one has not already been created by the administrator of your Skype Manager.

Important: If you create an account using this method, the system will attempt to propose the Skype name for your employees based on the email addresses you have entered. It is not uncommon to discover that there are other users with the same name and it is possible that the proposed Skype name may already be taken. In that case, the new proposed Skype user will be prompted to enter a different Skype name. Be aware of this and think about alternatives that are creative, but easy to remember, such as a user's first initial and last name or adding certain symbols, such as an underscore.

A second option, and one which is much quicker for creating more than one Skype business account, is to upload a Comma Separated Values (.CSV) file that contains all the details necessary for creating a Skype business account, such as employees' names, addresses, etc. This is a very common way to exchange information. When uploading a .CSV file, you can pre-define important information.

Below is a good example of how to upload a CSV file. Remember, it is very important to verify the format.

For Skype Manager accounts that are registered outside of the United States, it is also possible to invite existing personal accounts to join the Skype Manager. Keep in mind that this places restrictions on the amount of control you, as an administrator, have over those accounts and the Skype features that you can allocate to them.

Next week's topic: What is Auto-Recharge and how do I set it up?

For more information on adding Skype accounts to your Skype Manager and the benefits of creating Skype business accounts please refer to the Skype Manager User Guide.

In the meantime, we want to hear from you. If you have any additional questions about Skype Manager that you'd like me to address in future columns, please leave a comment below.

Getting to Know Skype Manager: What Are Business Accounts?

2011-04-30T01:31:08Z

Hello. It is Mart "Tram" Abramov here again to talk about Skype Manager.

Last week, we reviewed how you can set up your Skype Manager account. This week, I will examine what business accounts are, how you can use them in your business and the key differences between a business account and a personal account.

Business accounts are Skype accounts that your company's Skype Manager administrator creates. Once it is created, these accounts can be given to your employees.

One of the main differences between personal accounts and business accounts is that your company owns the business accounts and has full control over them through Skype Manager. The company controls who uses the account and all the features and Skype Credit allocated to it. Your Skype Administrator can change the password or email of any account or permanently delete the account when it's no longer required. This differs from a personal account which is controlled by the person that created the account.

To better manage Skype usage in your business, create business accounts within Skype Manager. This provides control over the account and gives it to the administrator. This can be particularly useful for security and for accounting controls, to name two key areas.

It is also important to note that Skype Manager accounts that are registered in the United States are not allowed to invite and add personal accounts to Skype Manager. The only option is to create business accounts.

For more information on this feature and other aspects of Skype Manager, see the Skype Manager User Guide. You'll find several ways you can leverage the ability of Skype in your business.

Next week's topic: How do I add more Skype Accounts to my Skype Manager?

In the meantime, we welcome your thoughts and questions. If you have any additional questions about Skype Manager that you'd like me to address in future columns, please leave a comment below.

Using Skype for Your Job Interview: Jeff Garber of 360 Job Interview On What You Need To Know

2011-04-25T19:54:27Z

An increasing number of employers are leveraging Skype video to conduct face-to-face job interviews. This is often a first step to screen out candidates who seemed "good on paper" but didn't have what the employer really needed. Employers feel that a Skype job video interview provides a cost-effective way to see the candidate interact with new technology, express themselves on video (an increasingly important task today) and deal with a complex situation.

Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Jeff Garber, the CEO of 360JobInterview about this powerful use of Skype. His company specializes in coaching job seekers on how to present their "best foot forward" in that all-important job interview. They use Skype extensively to connect job seekers with highly-trainer coaches and counselors through Skype video. This gives the job seeker a place to get assistance and improve their video presentation skills.

Here are two versions of the video interview. First, a shorter version for the "time-pressed with a hectic schedule but need to see this" and a longer, "rich information-packed version." Both are provided here for your convenience.

First, here's the time-compressed version (4:47):

And here is the full, rich-detail version for maximum benefit (13:29):

In the interview Garber shared with me some pointers that can help you the next time you're looking for a job --- or just presenting yourself on Skype. In the spirit of "dig your well before you're thirsty" it is good to know about these tips, and keep them handy, before you have that next important Skype video interview or presentation.

Tips To Improve Your Skype Video Job Interview

Be familiar with the technology of Skype. Today many companies around the world are using Skype as a tool to connect. Video is the preferred tool of many employers. Garber says it it critical that the potential candidate shows a comfort level with what Skype can do and how to deal with the technology.

Spend time with Skype prior to the interview. Don't begin your practice with your first job interview. Practice with Skype before the interview. Play with it. Learn how it works and what it can do. This way you will increase your familiarity with Skype and how to make it work best for you. Your job interview is one time you can't afford to wing it. Practice diligently.

Be prepared --- this is a real interview. Just because the interview is done over Skype doesn't mean it isn't serious business. You need to approach it with all the seriousness and preparation you would give to a live, in-person meeting.

Convey that you are comfortable. As you practice you'll be more comfortable with the medium and how to present yourself best over video. Showing comfort while on camera comes across well and employers often assume you would do the same on the job.

Dress appropriately. Dress according to the culture and how a job candidate should appear. This is not the time for tank tops or beachwear. Also, Garber makes an interesting comment to dress from head to toe. Many think that since they'll be on camera they don't have to dress up top and bottom. He cautions that you never know when you might have to stand up during the interview. If that happens, you don't want the potential employer to see that you're wearing cut-offs with business attire on top!

Make sure the lighting is good. One of the most important features of video is lighting. If necessary, get a lamp that can be in front of you (halogen lamps often work well for this). You might also want to consider a trip to a photo store to get a small lighting kit if you will be presenting in a particularly dark environment.

For women, make-up should be appropriate. Yes, you're on video and you want to look your best. Often some tips from image or make-up experts can assist in this area. Let them know you've got a video interview and you want to look your best.

Consider a back-up computer. Sometimes computers don't work as they should. If yours crashes, it would be very good to have a second computer standing by "just in case." This also shows your perspective employer that you plan ahead and can handle emergencies.

Plan for ethernet connection, not Wi-Fi. We often use Wi-Fi for connections but when it comes to video, ethernet is usually a more reliable source. For your important interview, take the steps beforehand to make an ethernet connection work. Test it and note your speed (go to speedtest.net to check). You'll be glad you did.

Take steps to eliminate potential noise. Garber suggests letting your dog visit next door if you have a dog who tends to bark often and loudly. This is business. It is not the time to have your dog hurt your chances at the ideal job. Turn off cell phones and don't answer during the interview! Take the time before the job interview to think about potential "noise bombs" which could portray you in a bad way.

Create a clear, uncluttered environment. You don't want stacks of books or messy paper visible in the video. A clear, uncluttered environment shows organization and the ability to get work done. This conveys a good impression to employers.

If an emergency happens, be comfortable and deal with it comfortably. Sometimes an ambulance or jet can make a loud noise. There is nothing you can do to stop that but you can do everything to convey control and composure to recover and move on from the disruption. Remember to focus on your video interview and don't let distractions detour you from a successful job interview.

These tips can help you to present yourself in the best light possible for that big job interview. Skype is being used more and more and it provides the ability to connect job candidates with their potential employers.

Since Skype has become an essential part of the process of the job interview, it is wise to add these skills and others to your repertoire of essential job skills for today.

Celebrate Earth Day By Giving Your Business a Boost

2011-04-22T20:42:44Z

Friday, April 22 is Earth Day. It is a time to think about the precious resources we have and what we can do to preserve and sustain the planet. What if there were ways you could not only help save the environment, but also get a boost to your business productivity and bottom-line profit? Would that be of interest to you?

A practice that is gaining more and more acceptance among businesses is remote working. When workers are allowed to operate in a more flexible environment they are able to derive a lot of benefits personally. Their employer is also able to get many benefits --- not the least of which is substantial cost savings!

Employees are looking for ways to save costs as we see gas prices rising. In the U.S., prices have already broken through the $4.00 a gallon threshold and many are predicting $5.00 or higher by summer. Saving gas by telecommuting not only saves money but also reduces carbon footprints and helps the environment.

In a recent survey done by Dice.com, a tech job site, 25% of 937 IT pros surveyed in Mid-March said they would accept up to a 10 percent pay cut to telecommute in light of soaring gas prices. One could only imagine how that percentage would increase as the price of gas increases.

In the past, many felt the answer to congestion and traffic was to pour more asphalt and concrete, building more lanes for more cars. Today, a growing number are questioning that line of thinking preferring instead to have more workers use tools like Skype that enable professionals to stay connected, collaborate and generally effectively get work done from home or wherever they are. Many believe that money should be invested in greater bandwidth rather than concrete and asphalt.

Still another benefit is that remote working often leads to happier employees. According to Skype's Living Workplace study, 67% of professionals agree that flexible remote working helps businesses to attract potential employees. In addition, the survey revealed that flexibility to work outside of the office is among the top three determinants of job satisfaction. Discover more about the Living Workplace here.

Earth Day is a time to recognize ways to save the environment and boost our environmental consciousness. Working remotely is an easy way to do your part and get started, in an efficient way that saves costs, saves gasoline, and boosts productivity.

LifeSize your Skype experience

2011-04-19T22:39:31Z

For the most part, video calling has long been the domain of the consumer. Expensive cameras and video equipment have proven to be significant hurdles for businesses. Even the most lucrative companies have struggled to justify the investment. That however, could change.

We're seeing more and more interest from companies looking for affordable and perhaps more importantly, accessible video solutions. A recent Skype survey showed a decline in legacy technologies as businesses embrace technologies like video conferencing and desktop video. While email and landline phone usage are expected to decline in the year ahead, video calling is expected to experience the biggest gain.

That's why we're pleased to announce that LifeSize, a division of Logitech, is bringing Skype to its room-based, business - class HD video conferencing solution, the LifeSize Passport. The LifeSize Passport's integration of Skype adds the ability for its users to conduct video calls with Skype users worldwide via their desktop, mobile and televisions. We think this is very cool, and a great example of a developer partner accessing our APIs to be plugged into Skype!

For Skype users in the enterprise space, this means a solution that finally breaks down the walls that once stood in the way of effective collaboration. Now it's even easier for employees to connect with colleagues, partners and customers irrespective of device or software- making face-to-face meetings a reality, regardless of an attendee's physical location.

For more information please take a look at the full press release here.

Getting to Know Skype Manager: How To Get Started

2011-04-19T20:14:06Z

Hello. It is Mart "Tram" Abramov here again to talk about Skype Manager. Last week, I told you about Skype Manager and how it can assist you in your business. This week, I am going to tell you how you can set up your own Skype Manager in just a few easy steps to better control expenses and implement accountability with your users.

Skype Manager is an administrative web portal. The good news for you is that it means it is simple to set it up. The whole process can be done in as little as five minutes and requires going through three steps on our website:

Create an administrator for your Skype Manager.

Verify your email address

It is really that simple. Just follow this link to start the process.

Note that since any Skype account can be administrator of a Skype Manager, you will be asked if you already have one. My recommendation is to click on the "No, I don't have a Skype Account" and create a new dedicated Skype Manager administrator account by doing so. It is likely that you will want to use your admin account only for managing Skype Manager. Of course, if you already have created a Skype Account beforehand for this purpose, you can use this account and skip the first step of the setup.

At the end of the registration for Skype Manager, an email is sent to the email address you provided. This will require verification of your email address. Be aware that you'll get two emails from Skype --- one which will welcome you to Skype and explain the basics. Usually it is the second email that contains the verification link. Watch for this one. When you receive it, just click the verification and you're ready to go!

That's it! If you've gone through these simple steps you should now be able to Skype Manager to manage Skype employee accounts and features from one administrative interface.

Don't forget about the very useful Skype Manager User Guide that describes the functionality of Skype Manager in much more detail and should answer many of your questions. And of course, feel free to login to your account and contact customer support.

Next week, we will talk more about Business Accounts - what are they and are whether they are right for you.

In the meantime, we would love to hear from you. If you have any additional questions about Skype Manager that you'd like me to address in future columns, please leave a comment below.