2020 has largely been dedicated to learning how to adapt everyday life to the pandemic’s circumstances. After welcoming the “new normal,” Zoom is now a household name as video conferencing platforms became a necessity for communication purposes. Whether you are listening to lectures, remotely conversing with co-workers or virtually meeting with friends, odds are you’re probably using Zoom on a frequent basis.
When it becomes an everyday routine, being able to understand its special features and advanced options will set you apart from most. You can make yourself more presentable with no effort, know all the quick shortcuts and even change the virtual background. Here’s a few tips and tricks to kick your Zoom calls up a notch:
Change your virtual background
There’s no better way to start an 8 a.m. lecture than with a nice, tropical beach in the background. If you want to use Zoom like a pro, try using the Virtual Background feature that allows you to display any image as your background during a meeting. It’s one of the coolest, most underrated features that can easily spice up your meetings and virtual hangouts. To have the full effect with no glitches, make sure the background is a solid colored wall as the actual background.
Touch up your appearance
Yes, there is an art to looking good on Zoom. No one wakes up absolutely flawless and it requires some side work to look more presentable when video chatting. Obviously, start with throwing a comb through that hair and putting on a shirt that doesn’t scream “I literally am still in bed.” But let’s be real, there will be those mornings when you wake up 2 minutes before your Zoom call begins looking rather questionable and have no time to work with what you’ve got. Thankfully, Zoom has a very underrated feature known as “Touch Up My Appearance.” You can find the feature in Video Settings dialogue to give yourself a soft-focus, airbrushed look and still look good for Chad in your marketing class. You’re welcome.
Know the keyboard shortcuts
Things come up when you’re spending hours on Zoom. Your best friend comes storming in the room, you have the sudden urge to sneeze or cough or you simply need a moment off camera. Regardless of what comes up, it’s vital you know the keyboard shortcuts to mute or cut your camera quickly:
To stop or start your video: Alt + V
To mute or unmute your audio: Alt + A
To stop or start a new screen share: Alt + Shift + S
Please mute the microphone
No one wants to hear your roommates fighting in the background or listen to you eat your Nature Valley Crunch Bar at 9 a.m. Let’s all be adults here and hit the mute button unless it’s your turn to talk. We all know manners in a normal social setting, but with Zoom comes its own particular etiquette to follow. Yes, the host has the option to do it themselves, but always be sure to mute yourself when logging onto a call. You’ll save some embarrassment and show respect along the way.
End the call less awkwardly
Honestly, when is it not awkward? Oh yeah, never. Although there’s really no right or wrong way to end a Zoom call, there’s definitely some situations that make the exit all the more smooth. It’s easy to dip in a large gathering such as a class or work meeting, but what if it’s only a few people? Make sure you have a hard stop in mind, such as for another call. Decide what time you are planning to leave the meeting, and plan something else around that time so you have a viable excuse to smash the leave button. Another alternative would be to plan in advance for someone to call and give you an “out” from the call. Make sure you aren’t being too obvious!
Meeting reminder
Zoom has a built-in scheduling function that ties iCal and Google Calendar together -- making the process of organizing meetings all the more seamless. With so many calls to remember back to back and varying times on certain days, it’s easy to let some slip through the cracks. On the upside, Zoom makes it all the more easier to organize all your meetings in the matter of seconds.
