Good Zoomiquette

Zoomiquette is a word we just made up! Obviously, (maybe to us only?) it means etiquette or good manners while using Zoom.

Many more people are using Zoom than ever before because the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 is forcing social distancing and quarantining, so ineffective use of Zoom is becoming more and more apparent. People want and need connection. And Zoom is a PERFECT tool for this! We have been remote working for many years and using Zoom since it came on the scene as a video conferencing tool in 2011 and we’ve learned a thing or two over the years…there are certain things you can and should do to get the most out of Zoom. Let’s get to it.

Note that this is not a how-to guide, but more of a top tips type of advice post. Let us know in the comments below if you have any top tips to add too.

Etiquette for Zoom Attendees

Preparing for a Zoom Call

1. Download Zoom at https://zoom.us/.
2. You can use WIFI for these meetings, but it’s best to use a wired connection to avoid any streaming lags if you can.
3. Close any unnecessary programs on your computer, especially those that send notifications—they slow down your computer. Turn off phones. These things can all be distracting and possibly even a privacy issue.
4. Test your Zoom:
   • Open your Zoom app and click “New Meeting”. Only you will be in the meeting, but you can test out a whole heap of things.
   • Check your background. Make sure it is not cluttered or a mess—it’s distracting for others and sends a certain kind of message.
   • Adjust your chair and computer to make sure the camera is directly facing you head-on. There’s nothing worse than seeing the side of a person’s head or having the person look down or up all the whole way through the meeting. Eye contact is always best.
   • Have the light be in front of your face, not behind you. If it’s behind you, you will become a shadow and look like you’re in a witness protection program.
   • Wear a shirt! Pants are optional, except if you’re going to be standing during the call.
   • Do a sound and video check. If you have an echo or feedback, lower your volume or even better, use headphones. Sometimes leaving the meeting and rejoining fixes sound and video issues or as a last resort, rebooting your computer.
5. Get to the meeting a little early so that you can make sure everything is set up well and your fine-tuning does not distract you and others.
6. Click the meeting invite you were sent or open Zoom and click “Join a Meeting”, enter the digits in the meeting URL.

During the Meeting

1. Always mute yourself unless you are actively speaking. Do not attempt to speak over anyone—the sound will become mangled. Raise your hand via the “Manage Participants” option in the bottom Zoom controls if you’d like to speak or drop a note in the chat window.
2. Sit forward to look engaged, smile and use hand gestures as you normally would for in-person chats.
3. Drag the videos of the other participants just below your camera. That way when you’re speaking, it looks like you’re speaking directly to them.
4. Don’t be a Zoom Bomber, just don’t. Eww.

Fun Stuff

1. Check out “Touch up my Appearance” via the Video Settings in the Video tab.
2. Check out the “Virtual Backgrounds” on the Video tab in the bottom left of the screen (on desktop). You can use a photo or video as a background. Best used with green screens.
3. Check out Snapchat filters at https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/guides. This is for more advanced users of Zoom.

Presenting

If you are presenting, hosting or co-hosting a Zoom meeting, be sure to check out our blog post Zoom Tips for Presenters.

Help

Need help? Zoom has AMAZING help—check out https://support.zoom.us/ and use the search bar to search for whatever issue you’re having.