As conference calling has become more popular, more business people need guidance with conference call etiquette so that they are prepared when they present themselves in front of others on the call. Above all, conference callers need strong audio cues, rather than visual cues, to make the meeting effective over the phone line, and they always need to show consideration for their fellow participants during the conference call.

The following is a list of teleconferencing etiquette tips for conference facilitators and participants that will help them negotiate the potential pitfalls of conference call protocol to make the meeting as productive as possible.

Useful conference call strategies from the start

• Start on time -- The facilitator must start the meeting on time and lead the introductions with a roll call, which should include each conference call participant's name, job title, and location. This tip applies to both facilitators and participants who should smile while speaking to spread enthusiasm and energy!
   
• Make an agenda -- The facilitator should write up a clear agenda for the conference call that should be distributed via e-mail before the meeting, so that the conversation won't wander and the conference call will not go over its allotted time. Also, the conference call leader must send out all important conference call information in advance, such as the dial-in number and passwords.
   
• Turn off call waiting -- No one wants to hear the distracting beep of the call waiting function.
   
• Find a quiet room and use good equipment -- This tip applies to everyone involved on the call: speakerphones have a tendency to pick up outside noises and this is especially the case in an open office with multiple cubicles. If using a speakerphone because there are multiple participants at the same location, it's best to use the mute function until it is your turn to speak, so that everyone on the call can hear himself or herself clearly. Also, participants should try to use a speakerphone that is full digital duplex, to eliminate the echo effect and to hear all of the participants' conversations over the call, even when participants are speaking simultaneously.

Although cell phones may be more convenient than a speakerphone, they can pick up static or the service can be dropped during the call. If there is only a single participant at a location, the best phone to use during a conference call is a typical landline phone with a headset.

What not to do during the conference call

• Don't interrupt -- Since there aren't any visual cues during an audio conference call, participants must wait until the last speaker is finished before speaking. Also, conference call participants should introduce themselves before they address the others on the call. It is the facilitator's job to discourage interruptions and to redirect the focus of the call if the call's conversation goes off-topic.
   
• Don't do distracting activities -- Conference call participants need to be aware that a speakerphone picks up typing on the keyboard, paper shuffling, pencil tapping, and chair squeaks. As mentioned earlier, muting the call is a good etiquette practice when others are speaking on the call.
   
• Don't put the call on hold -- If a conference call is placed on hold, "hold" music will begin and distract the entire meeting, or another employee can pick up the held call, which will further interrupt the meeting and jostle everyone's focus.

Wrapping up the conference call

• Let no one linger -- When the call is ready to end, the facilitator needs to clearly state that the meeting has concluded and they must be the last one to hang up, so that there will be no extra minutes billed.

Most of these tips are common sense, but many conference call participants can easily forget how to apply them because the conference call takes place without any visual cues. If there are new employees who don't have conference call experience, the facilitator may want to pass out an etiquette tip sheet, like this article, to help the new participants adjust before they make a mistake during an important conference call. Conference calls are here to stay because they minimize costs and bring people together for a timely purpose. If etiquette is observed, these meetings will be more successful, everyone will be heard, and participants will want to get more of their business done through these calls.