Perhaps you find that a Reservationless service is a great fit for your day to day needs. What about those times when you need something a little different?
Many conference call bureaus offer highly structured services for special meetings that may occur on a monthly or quarterly basis. While terminology varies, just about any conference call provider will know what you are referring to if you ask for information on event conferencing, earnings conferences, large party services, or quarterly shareholders meetings.
These types of meetings usually include support that is not available with basic services, such as full time operator attendance, question and answer sessions conducted with the assistance of the operator, polling services, and customized scripting for introduction of speakers. In addition, many conference call providers will supply an attendance list after the conference, most commonly by email and on an Excel spreadsheet or as a PDF.
One note on pricing when it comes to these special projects. While the temptation to use one provider for your day to day services and another provider for your occasional high profile services might be tempting, consider these points: (1) your day to day provider is more apt to give you a discounted rate for your high profile meetings, simply because they are already running your other calls; and (2) your day to day provider already has a working knowledge of your corporate culture, and would most likely be in a better position to make constructive suggestions regarding the structure of your high profile meeting.
What Happens When You Need Help?
It is imperative that you select a conference call service that allows you and your attendees to obtain assistance before and during the conference. In the case of reservationless services, be aware that some services that offer rock bottom pricing do so because the services are fully automated. There is no option to obtain operator assistance during a meeting and no help line for anyone to call if they are having difficulty getting into a conference.
Should you have opted for a reserved conference, there is almost always the ability to obtain operator assistance during the meeting, and also a help line for persons to call if they have not connected with the conference. However, make sure you verify there are no additional charges for the operator assistance.