Great America Networks Conferencing Blog

No hidden Fees. You pay the rate we quote you. Imagine that?

Like most of you, I have a cell phone. With my cell phone I have a cell phone plan. With my family I have a family cell phone plan. With my cell phone company I have Family Cell Phone Plan Bill. With my Family Cell Phone Plan bill I have a headache.

Perhaps it is me, but in my opinion TeleCommunication bills can be very confusing. Many companies will tell you one rate, provide a bill that requires an advanced degree in calculus, engineering and hieroglyphics to understand and then have you pay the number at the bottom. The trouble is in all that information, there might be hidden fees that you might not be aware of.

Hidden fees are a part of the TeleCommunications industry unfortunately. There are many companies that are available when you are looking for quality telecommunications. Hopefully you do your research and investigate any company you are looking to do business with. While it is easy to advertise a super low rate, the real information is in the fine print.

While my cell phone plan has 5 lines, and insurance, and early calling, and text messaging plans plus 90 other apparent moving parts, it makes it rather complicated to see what any one of my lines actually costs me in the jungle of information on my cell phone bill.

Luckily teleConferencing is easier. Look at your monthly invoice and find the total you owe for your teleconferencing. Divide that by the total minutes you used that month, and you should come up with a number that is right around your per minute rate. There might be a slight difference due to taxes or the government Universal Services Fund fee required of TeleCommunication companies, but it should be in the range of the rate that you were quoted.

If it is double that rate, or more, which is not unlikely with many companies, you are getting hit by hidden fees. What kind of fees? We've written before about some tricks used by other TeleConference providers to give you an idea. They work on the notion that in many companies usually the person that signs up the service isn't the person who pays the bills.

At Great America Networks Conferencing you will never be hit by hidden fees. The quote you receive on signup is the amount you will pay for our TeleConferencing service. We feel it is the right way to do business and will not implement the fees that are being charged by other providers.

Take a look at your invoice. If it doesn't add up, contact us and become free of hidden fees.

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
www.ganconference.com
http://blog.ganconference.com/
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso

Keeping track of everything. How automated reporting helps you stay organized.

There is a reason what we do all day is called business. It keeps us very busy! Sometimes too busy to keep track of all the things that you know you should. Corporate is calling for more and more tracking of time and activity, and it is just good practice to stay productive and efficient, but who has the time to make reports all day?

Great America Networks Conferencing is here to relieve you of the menial but all-important task. We will keep track of all the conferencing you do and email you a copy of everything that you want to know about your conferences. This is of course configurable by you to be active or not, but in this day and age, a log of activity is very beneficial. Here is a rundown of some of the ways GAN Conferencing can help you stay organized:

You have a morning conference call and need to make sure you are aware of who was on the call and how long they were there. Also Accounting wants to know the cost of each call as it happens, and your supervisor is interested in knowing how you have been spending your day as well.

With the settings you can customize in your QuickPortal, you are able to have a log of all the teleconference information emailed to you and 2 other email addresses within minutes of completing a conference. This way you have a record of all attendees, dial-in numbers, durations, and costs for every call in near real-time.

After lunch you run a marketing webinar for lead generation to your companies new product. This is something that you will do routinely to generate more interest as your products adoption grows so you are constantly fine-tuning your presentation to make sure it is as efficient and current as possible.

In QuickVisuals you are able to configure a report to be sent to you automatically that includes a link to every slide that was shared, all media that was played in the meeting and any chat conversations that took place. Also available is the names of all attendees with their phone numbers, durations, and the time that any Webcams were activated during the conference. By comparing multiple reports you can fine-tune your presentation in an easy and efficient manner.

The training session on the new product was of course scheduled while you were performing your marketing webinar so you could not attend live. Fortunately, the moderator of the session has forwarded you the QuickVisuals Meeting Report along with the link to the recording. As the day dies down, you plan to review the session from home after dinner. A simple click and you're in the meeting on your home desktop. The usual introduction is standard fare for your sessions so you click the bookmark to 'Slide 5' and on, then view the training video that was shared and download the Whitepaper that was distributed as well. there were some good questions asked both in the chat transcript and verbally over the TeleConference that really provides additional insight for you.

The ability to have a log of your activity in conferencing is beneficial on many levels to both you, and to your company. Great America Networks Conferencing offers reporting services free of charge with QuickConnect, QuickVisuals and QuickPortal that all allow you to concentrate on your business and move on quickly to your next task.

Making your day easier is what we are here for. Let us help you.

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
www.ganconference.com
http://blog.ganconference.com/
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso

When you need the best! - GAN Conferencing's QuickAssist

QuickConnect Reservationless audio conferencing is GAN Conferencing's most used service by far. The ability to have a conference call at anytime 24/7 and know that it will always work and be crystal clear is what most companies are looking for. Nobody provides that service more reliably than Great America Networks Conferencing, but sometimes you need more than just ordinary.

While Reservationless conferencing is an important service, it isn't exactly the most exciting thing in the world. You call the toll-free number, enter a code, and everyone is on a call. It couldn't be simpler. Although sometimes there are situations where you need some extra features.

What if you need an attendee list of the name of all callers? Or perhaps the ability to have the Operator dial-out to your attendees for you? At times there can be important information that has to have added security measures which we can provide. All of this is available through our QuickAssist Operator Assisted service.

The most common usage of QuickAssist though comes in to play when you know you are going to want to give your audience an opportunity to ask the speakers questions? Having a live Operator conduct a moderated Q & A session shows the upmost professionalism and importance to your call. Our highly trained operators provide an efficient and professional experience to all members of the call and avoid that ever present "my turn next" syndrome that can happen on un-moderated calls.

If you are going to be in a high-profile conference call, don't leave anything to chance. Utilize Great America Networks Conferencing QuickAsssit service and make sure you and your company look your best. Contact us today.

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
www.ganconference.com
http://blog.ganconference.com/
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso

QuickPortal - The power of real-time control over your conferencing account.

It's good in theory to have a company that does everything for you. Great America Networks Conferencing will bend over backwards to make sure you are 100% satisfied with every aspect of your service, and quickly attend to any requests you might have. But there are times in business when you just need something right now, or are more comfortable if you could do it yourself. This is where the power of QuickPortal really shines.

Business is dynamic. Employees and projects come and go. Resources need to be moved and modified. Reports are needed in a moments notice to make crucial decisions. With QuickPortal you have the power to attend to all of these matters instantly and in real time. Here is just a sample of what you can accomplish with this Free tool:

• Provision new TeleConferencing Accounts for new employees.
• Delete or Modify users as business changes.
• Download Recordings instantly after the conference ends.
• Access your Live Conference Viewer to control your call on the web.
• Billing reports completely customizable
• Usage reports completely customizable

All of this is available instantly in an easy to use interface. We of course will provide complete training and support for you to make sure you get the most from this powerful tool. In addition this can even be fully customized for our Partners.

We of course will always do these tasks for you if you choose. All you have to do is contact your Dedicated Conferencing Consultant or 1-877-GET-GAN1 anytime, but sometimes it is good to just be able to handle it instantly yourself. We give you the choice!

Powerful. Flexible. Simple. The Great America Networks Conferencing way.

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
www.ganconference.com
http://blog.ganconference.com/
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso

Bringing the right ingredients together

My grandmother was a great cook. My sister is a great cook. My mother on the other hand...you know how they say things can skip a generation? That's my mom's cooking. She has always been a wonderful mother and provider, and she can follow a laid out recipe just fine, but there was that something that my grandmother and sister can do, that just eluded her in the kitchen.

Some call it instinct, talent, or skill. What I think it comes down to is just bringing the right ingredients together in the right way, and doing the little extras that make the difference. It goes for more than just cooking. It applies in business as well.

There are many companies that provide similar services, as in the Conferencing industry. All are following pretty much the same basic recipe also. Take a conferencing bridge, software, infrastructure, plus a few more things. Mix it all together with good customer service, and sprinkle some smart business management in the mix and you have a company providing a conferencing service. Some just stand out more than others.

What could be the difference? Better ingredients make for a better result. Using only top quality hardware and cutting edge software ensures the right experience when a presenter is moving through a conferencing presentation. Proper training and support gives that person confidence in the outcome they will have. A smooth experience bringing all of your guests to the table ensures they will be the most receptive to your offering as well.

Great America Networks Conferencing strives to put everything in place from the hardware, software, training, support, and pricing to make sure that you get the best possible product and your event, whether its the daily meal or holiday special, is going to be a memorable one for all that were involved.

Contact us today and we will take the care to make sure that your company is going to have it's audience leaving the meeting stuffed full of information, and impressed with your presentation of it. We'll take care of the kitchen.

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
www.ganconference.com
http://blog.ganconference.com/
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso

Control your TeleConference from within QuickVisuals

Have you had a webinar where everything was going good until you open the floor for questions? You see the attendees list raise their hands to ask a question. You cross your fingers hoping this goes well as you hit the keypad of your phone to un-mute the entire TeleConference to hear the questions.

Immediately you have background noise, office chatter, open car windows, and who knows what else filling the TeleConference line. There must be a better way to just talk with one person at a time?

How about asking people to un-mute their own line if they want to ask a question. As much as you would like to think it will be simple to announce the name of the person to do so, there is inevitably a few who jump the gun, or can't get their line un-muted. "Was that #6 or *6?" Then they forget to mute it again, and there is the background noise issue again as too many lines are open.

What you need is full control of your TeleConference. What you need is your TeleConference integrated into your WebConference, so YOU are the one who is in control of which lines are open and muted. QuickVisuals gives you this power with GAN Conferencing's Full Audio Integration.

Utilizing QuickConnect TeleConferencing in your WebConference is already a great boost in quality over the so called "free" services that are out there. The added benefit that QuickConnect is 100% integrated into QuickVisuals is just icing on the cake. Mute or Un-mute the entire call with ease. Individually right-click on a person's name in the QuickVisuals attendee list and you have options to Mute/Un-Mute or even hang up that one line. What could be simpler?

For a full demonstration in just how easy and smoothly you can control your accompanying TeleConference during a QuickVisuals Webinar, Contact us today.

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
www.ganconference.com
http://blog.ganconference.com/
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso

Increase your revenue. Partner with GAN Conferencing.

You've probably read countless articles and blog posts about how conferencing can increase your company's bottom line by allowing you to reduce expenses, and be more productive. There is a reason the conferencing industry is booming to over a $6 Billion industry right now. It works!

Now it's time to not only let conferencing increase your bottom line, you can let it increase your overall revenue as well. GAN Conferencing has a Partner Program that makes it easy to get in on the conferencing surge and start bringing extra dollars into your company.

Whether you use it as an add-on to your existing product line, and just add the revenue, or utilize it as a "foot-in-the-door" to help you get in front of that client who can use it, and then present also your company's main product. At GAN Conferencing, we make it easy because we really take care of everything for you.

All you have to do is find someone who is interested in saving their business some money, and who isn't with the economy these days? We take it from there. We'll demo the product, and work with them on implementation ideas. We also provide all training and our concierge level of support to all of your end users. They wont be contacting you for assistance. They contact us directly and we take care of their every need. You just generate residual income for you.

It really is as easy as it sounds with Great America Networks Conferencing. If you think you know companies that can use conferencing, we will do the rest to make you some extra money. Fill out our partnership form for more information today!

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
Skype: anth.russo

Isn't getting free stuff great?

There is a great feeling that comes along with getting free stuff. It makes you feel like you are getting something extra. When it comes from a company, it makes you feel that they are trying to go out of their way to make you happy.

While there are a number of TeleConferencing companies out there for you to choose from, how many of them offer you the extras that can really make a difference? We do!

When your company chooses to go with Great America Networks Conferencing for their TeleConferencing service, they usually are choosing because we offer the best rate for toll-free service that you can find. They want the reliability of a company that owns their own hardware and software and isn't just renting or reselling someone else's product as well, but then the good stuff comes!

There are some companies that try to offer you barebones service for a rate close to ours, but are you looking for barebones? At Great America Networks Conferencing look at all we offer for Free:

• An unlimited amount of user accounts for everyone in your company
• Wallet card for each user that has their access information included
• Live Conference Viewer - web based control of your TeleConference
• QuickPortal - Allows an administrator in the company full control over the account
• Full Integration into QuickVisuals WebConferencing for ease of control
• Download your recordings as MP3 files for Free
• Reporting with stats of usage and activitiy for the whole company
• Unlimited Training and support for everyone is your company

These are the immeasurable add-ons that you only get with Great America Networks Conferencing. These are the items that you don't just have to pay for with other services, you can't even find them! Only at Great America Networks Conferencing do you have all this included on top of the lowest rate in the industry for reliable toll-free audio conferencing.

Get that great feeling of freebies and extras. Have your TeleConferencing be taken care of by a company that really goes the extra mile to make sure that your busines communications are top notch and affordable. Try us today!

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
Skype: anth.russo

Standard service vs. our concierge level of service.

Most all conferencing companies offer you a level of service and support. Even some of the so called "free" offerings out there at least have a contact email for some kind of support. It's just a matter of when they get back to you with it. But where does the support start, and where does it end?

With Great America Networks Conferencing, we offer a full concierge level of support and service with every account that we have the privilege of working on. With a dedicated conferencing consultant assigned to you for any training and assistance with your services, you will always have the feeling that your account means the world to us, and that is because it truly does.

Whether your account is one of our largest or smallest, we will always do all that we can to answer your questions in a timely fashion and make sure that your service, and your events run the way you envision them.

I'll let you in on a hint though. It's pretty easy to offer full training and support when you have such a great intuitive product such as QuickVisuals. Usually, a training session and maybe a follow up call or two will have most clients well on their way to performing their conferencing tasks with ease. If our product was a complicated mess of downloads, installations and more buttons and blinky parts than you can shake a stick at, we would have quite a time keeping up with all the support calls.

The fact is QuickVisuals and QuickPresenter are two of the most intuitive and easy to use solutions for WebConferencing on the market today. Our new addition of the QuickPortal service is streamlining the management of your TeleConferencing accounts as well. We offer to hold your hand every step of the way utilizing our services, but usually, the clients end up just running ahead with it and performing at their best very soon.

Give us a call today and let Great America Networks Conferencing turn you into a Conferencing and Collaboration Pro. It's Ok, you can tell them it was incredibly intense and you're just so tech savvy and a quick learner; we wont tell.

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
Skype: anth.russo

The importance of training of your staff in conferencing.

You may have a conferencing solution in place now in your organization. It just isn't used much by everyone though. People are still traveling around, and costing the company time and money. Why? Because it's easier than using the conferencing solution you currently have.

Just acquiring a solution does not mean you are getting the full benefit of the service? But who has time to train everyone in the company to make sure they use the new conferencing service?

We do. We will provide all the training and support for your staff as long as you are with our company. All of your staff also gets a direct number for help when they need it, so they call us, and not you!

When everyone is comfortable with the solution, then you will see the true value of Great America Networks Conferencing as the service will get used more frequently, and the business travel expenses will be reduced. Isn't that one of the main goals you acquired a conferencing service anyway?

Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
Skype: anth.russo