Dear Mrs$.$ Barajas:

Hey, thanks for asking me to provide some help with the networking manual about

teleconferencing that you are preparing and working up for Trevi Publications. Appreciate

this opportunity! Although you asked me to keep it brief, I could give you an extensive,

comprehensive list of dos and don$$ts for videoconferencing. If you want this, let me know.

As an alternative to on$-$site meetings, virtual meetings became a necessity during the

COVID$-19$ pandemic. Here$$s a bunch of tips for your manual. First and foremost, plan

ahead. All participants should be notified well ahead of time of things like the date, time, and

duration. It$$s your job to send log$-$ins and passwords by e$-$mail. Zoom, for example,

generates all necessary information automatically and you can distribute the invitation by e$-$

mail.

If you have documents that are needed during the conference, send them by e$-$mail ahead of

time or prepare them to be shared onscreen during the meeting. Be very careful with the log$-$

in credentials if you don$$t want to be $$Zoom$-$bombed.$$ This means that anyone with the

password and meeting ID can hijack your meeting and cause all kinds of mischief. For the

same reason, use a waiting room approximately $10$ minutes before admitting attendees to

your meeting at the appointed time. That way you can control admission.

Another tip has to do with muting $($silencing$)$ your microphone. Believe me$,$ there$$s nothing

worse than barking dogs, side conversations. And worst of all is the sound of toilets flushing

during a video conference. Ick! Also, check your camera before the meeting! Activate it once

the meetings is about to begin. If you use headphones, make sure they work too.

You should play with your microphone, speakers or headphones, and camera until you sound

and look good. And of course, don$$t shuffle papers. Don$$t eat. Don$$t move things while your

speaking. You may have heard that some people love to wear pajama bottoms and shorts

with their suit jacket. Don$$t do it$.$ Resist the temptation. Look good, feel good, but don$$t

overdo it$.$ Business casual will suffice.