Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is essential for remote collaboration, client meetings, and working with partners in different locations.

Why Video Meetings Matter

• Meet clients anywhere - Paramaribo, Netherlands, or anywhere
• Save travel time - No commute for meetings
• Better than audio only - See faces, read body language
• Screen sharing - Show presentations, documents, demos
• Record meetings - Review later or share with absent team members

Popular Options

Zoom (Most Popular)

Cost: Free for 40-min meetings, $15-20/month for unlimited Participants: Up to 100 (free), more on paid plans

Pros:

• Excellent quality
• Easy for participants (no account needed to join)
• Recording, screen sharing, breakout rooms
• Works well on slower internet
• Mobile apps excellent

Cons:

• 40-minute limit on free plan
• Can be expensive for large teams

Best for: Most businesses, especially client meetings

Google Meet

Cost: Free with Google account, unlimited with Google Workspace Participants: Up to 100 (free), 250-500 (paid)

Pros:

• Free and unlimited if you have Google Workspace
• Integrates with Google Calendar
• No software to install (browser-based)
• Good quality

Cons:

• Fewer features than Zoom
• Some features require Google Workspace

Best for: If you already use Google Workspace

Microsoft Teams

Cost: Free basic, included with Microsoft 365 Participants: Up to 300

Pros:

• Included with Microsoft 365
• Great for team collaboration (chat + meetings)
• Office integration
• Good for larger organizations

Cons:

• More complex than Zoom
• Requires Microsoft ecosystem

Best for: Businesses using Microsoft 365

WhatsApp Video Call

Cost: Free Participants: Up to 8 people

Pros:

• Free
• Everyone in Suriname has it
• Simple to use
• No setup required

Cons:

• Limited to 8 people
• No screen sharing or advanced features
• Uses mobile data
• Less professional

Best for: Quick 1-on-1 or small team calls

Recommended Setup for Suriname

Solo entrepreneur or small business:

• Zoom Free for client meetings (upgrade to Pro if needed)
• WhatsApp for quick team calls
• Total cost: $0-15/month

Growing business:

• Zoom Pro or Google Meet (with Workspace)
• WhatsApp for informal communication
• Total cost: $15-20/month

Essential Equipment

Camera

• Built-in laptop camera: Usually adequate
• External webcam: Better quality, $50-150
• Lighting: Face a window or use desk lamp
• Background: Clean, professional, or use virtual background

Microphone

• Built-in mic: OK for quiet environment
• Headset: Better audio, reduces echo ($20-80)
• USB microphone: Best quality ($50-150)

Tip: Good audio is more important than good video!

Internet

• Minimum: 3 Mbps upload/download
• Recommended: 10+ Mbps for HD video
• Best practice: Use wired connection when possible

Meeting Best Practices

Before the Meeting

• Test technology - Join 5 minutes early
• Check internet - Stable connection?
• Prepare materials - Documents ready to share
• Professional appearance - Business appropriate dress
• Quiet location - Minimize background noise

During the Meeting

• Mute when not speaking - Reduce background noise
• Look at camera - Not at your own image
• Use video when possible - Builds connection
• Share screen purposefully - Only what's needed
• Take notes - Or record if appropriate

After the Meeting

• Send summary - Key points and action items
• Share recording - If recorded and appropriate
• Follow up - On commitments made

Professional Meeting Etiquette

✓ Start on time - Respect participants' schedules ✓ Have agenda - Clear purpose and topics ✓ Engage participants - Ask questions, encourage input ✓ Watch time - End on schedule ✓ Professional background - Clean or virtual

❌ Don't eat on camera - Unprofessional ❌ Don't multitask visibly - Shows disrespect ❌ Don't forget to unmute - When you want to speak ❌ Don't have sensitive info visible - Check your background

Technical Tips for Surinamese Internet

If internet is slow:

• Turn off video, audio only
• Close other apps/tabs
• Use mobile data as backup
• Join by phone if video fails

If power is unreliable:

• Laptop on battery during meeting
• Mobile hotspot as backup internet
• Inform participants of potential disruption

If connection drops:

• Have phone number as backup
• Rejoin quickly
• Consider recording so you can catch up

Security & Privacy

1. Use passwords for meetings - Prevent uninvited guests
2. Waiting room - Admit participants one by one
3. Don't share meeting links publicly - Send directly to participants
4. Lock meeting - Once everyone joins
5. Be careful what you share - Screen sharing shows everything

Recording Meetings

When to record:

• Training sessions
• Important client discussions (with permission)
• Absent team members need to catch up

Legal consideration:

• Always inform participants you're recording
• Get consent, especially for client meetings
• Know where recordings are stored

Don't record:

• Sensitive personal information
• Without participant knowledge
• When participants object

Cost Planning

Free Option:

• Zoom Free (40-min limit)
• WhatsApp (already have)
• Google Meet (with free Gmail)
• Total: $0/month

Professional Option:

• Zoom Pro: $15/month
• Or Google Workspace (includes Meet): $6/month
• Total: $6-15/month

Growing Business:

• Zoom Business (larger meetings): $20/month per host
• Or Microsoft 365 (includes Teams): $12/month
• Total: $12-20/month per user

When to Upgrade

Stick with free if:

• Occasional meetings only
• 40 minutes is enough
• Small number of participants

Upgrade to paid when:

• Meetings regularly exceed 40 minutes
• Need recording functionality
• More than 100 participants
• Want custom branding
• Need better support

Common Issues & Solutions

Poor video quality:

• Reduce video resolution in settings
• Close other applications
• Use wired internet connection
• Upgrade internet plan if consistently poor

Echo or feedback:

• Everyone use headphones
• Mute when not speaking
• Don't have multiple devices in same room

Can't hear participants:

• Check your speaker settings
• Ask them to unmute
• Ask them to check their microphone

Participants can't join:

• Check meeting link is correct
• Verify waiting room is enabled/disabled as intended
• Ensure meeting hasn't locked
• Try alternate join method (phone, browser)

Next Steps

→ Document Management → Project Management

Video conferencing brings people together across distances. Invest in decent equipment and practice good meeting etiquette.