Modern technology has made business life easier with hosting conference calls over the Internet, but these days it’s about more than just talking to clients and colleagues around the world. Now you can interact with them in a hands-on environment that feels like you’re actually sitting face to face at a table.

Most Internet hosting services provide several advanced services that make it possible for the host to be physically seen by the other conference attendees and for everyone involved to actively participate. Here are some of the most useful options on offer today.

PowerPoint

Most companies use PowerPoint during meetings, either to keep the host on task or to add visual stimulation to help attendees pay attention and understand the most important points. When conference calls first became possible, this option was removed, as a phone call only allowed voice communication. Not anymore!

Many conference call hosting services can now display your PowerPoint graphics to everyone who attends your conference. There are even additional features like in-the-moment polls that can be a quick check on who is paying attention and who isn’t. When looking around the room to make sure all eyes are on you isn’t possible, now there are ways to make sure you’re the main focus.

Related options that will make your conference call a bit more interactive are Q&A sessions and text messages, so others can add information without having to speak out loud.

Share documents

Some meetings require more than one host giving a speech and other people taking notes. When you need to share a particular document and even rework involving multiple people hours away from each other, there’s no need to send endless emails with the floating document in tow. You can now set up a conference call online with a service that offers application sharing, and everyone involved will have direct access to the document in question.

Completing this type of coordinated work with multiple clients or colleagues is now faster and easier than ever.

chalkboard

Another option to get everyone actively involved in a conference call is to use the whiteboard feature where everyone can enter their ideas directly on the whiteboard for everyone to consider. Information can be easily added and removed as the meeting progresses, leaving you with a final product that captures the main thoughts of everyone involved.

webcam

If you have a webcam, you can stream live video to your conference call, allowing others to see you as they listen to your words. This adds a personal touch to a conference call that at one time was simply impossible. Equipping employees who work from home with webcams could ensure that you can see their faces during a conference call, too.

Hosting conference calls can now feel like sitting in the same room with your clients and colleagues. Finishing long-distance jobs by hand has never been faster with these new features commonly offered through modern technology.