Conference Group Coffee Break

Get Your Commissions Faster with the Conference Group!

2012-02-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

Just in case you have not heard, the Conference Group still pays their agents just as they do their employees… bi-weekly! Plus, enjoy emailed pay stubs and direct depost! This gives you access to your hard-earned commissions faster.

For more information on our services or agent program, please contact Caroline @ 877-716-8255 X 8253 or caroline.rogers@conferencegroup.com

Oops, We Did it Again!

2012-02-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

the Conference Group Nominated Best Business Telecom Solutions Vendor in Multiple Technology Categories!

For our 4th straight year, the Conference Group has been nominated for an award by the Telecom Association! This year, TCG has been nominated for the 2011 Customers' Choice Award and the 2011 Partners' Choice Award "Best Business Telecom Solutions Vendor" in the category of conferencing.

Thanks to you, TCG will retain our Top Ranking and Recommended Vendor status! We have some AWESOME agents who continue to bring us great clients! We look forward to seeing you at the Channel Partners Show in Vegas!

Click here to check out the full article! http://www.businessphonenews.com/ta-customers-partners-choice-award-nominee-conference-group.html

Contact Caroline Rogers @tcgchannel on Twitter, or caroline.rogers@conferencegroup.com to become an agent or just to reconnect with your existing partnership.

Wondering How to Set Up a New Client?

2012-02-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

Creating a Conference Group account is as easy as 1-2-3!
Here are 3 tools to get you started.

1) Agent Submission: If you click https://www.conferencegroup.com/forms/client.html, it will open a submission form where you are able to enter your client’s contact info, requested services (ie. Audio conferencing, web conferencing, and/or video conferencing) and pricing information. Don’t forget to have your Agent ID Number handy!

2) Customer Sign-up / Instant Passcodes: You can place your personalized* sign-up link on your website, as well as your email signature! This link will allow customers, and their referrals to complete the sign-up and receive passcodes instantly!! (A credit card is required.)
Example: https://www.conferencegroup.com/InstantPasscode/NewAcct.aspx?XXXX-0000 (However, the XXXX-0000 will be replaced with your Agent ID to ensure you receive credit for the account.)

3) Customer Sign-up Account Request (Invoiced Monthly): This personalized* link will allow you or your customers to sign up for an account, yet enjoy the benefits of a monthly invoice.
Example: https://www.conferencegroup.com/forms/customer.html?XXXX-0000 (Again, the XXXX-0000 will be replaced with your Agent ID to ensure credit for account.)

*Please contact Caroline Rogers or Tweet @tcgchannel for your personalized sign-up link and watch the clients, and money roll in!

See You in Vegas!

2012-01-09T09:16:00.000-08:00

The 2012 Spring Channel Partners Conference and Expo is almost here. The Conference Group will be exibiting this year and showing off our latest products March 26th-28th in Vegas. If you will be at this year’s conference, please stop by booth #539 and meet Caroline.

If you need free expo hall passes, let us know… we can certainly hook you up. We look forward to seeing everyone once again!

For more information on the conference, or anything audio, video, or web conferencing related, contact Caroline at 877-716-8255 x 8253 or Caroline.Rogers@conferencegroup.com

Follow @tcgchannel on Twitter for new updates on the channel!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a little something to brighten your day!

Happy Holidays from the Conference Group!

We've Gone Social, Join Us!

2011-12-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

Find out 12 reasons for you and your clients to follow us into 2012 on your favorite social network!

http://www.conferencegroup.com/about-us/news/12-reasons.aspx

Meet Caroline! Our New Channel Manager

2011-12-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

The Conference Group would like to welcome Caroline T. Rogers, who will be assuming the role of Channel Manager. Caroline brings 12 years of experience in telecommunications, focusing on the channel.

Contact Caroline Today!

Email: Caroline.rogers@conferencegroup.com

Phone: 877-716-8255 x8253

Mobile: 302-530-1666

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinetrogers

Last Call to Vote!

2011-01-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

Hello, All…

Today is the last day you can vote for Channel Executive of the Year. Exercise your right to vote! If you are so inclined, I would greatly appreciate the nod. If you feel that any of the others who are nominated (it is quite an impressive list of characters) deserve the recognition, please take just a moment to click here and tell your industry peers what you think.

Thanks, in advance, for taking time out of your Friday to tell us all whom you feel deserves this recognition.

Also, on Monday, March 14, we will be hosting a session on selling conferencing in Vegas. All are welcome! Information on this (and other) session(s) can be found here.

3 - 3:50 p.m.

MASTERING CONFERENCING SALES

The Conference Group Voted BEST Conferencing Provider for 2010 by Telecom Association Members

2011-01-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

The Conference Group Voted BEST Conferencing Provider for 2010 by Telecom Association Members

“Members Choice” Award Showcases the Conference Group’s Ongoing Conferencing Leadership

LAKE ELSINORE, CA – January 14, 2011 – The Conference Group, a seasoned audio, web and video conferencing provider won the distinction of the best Conferencing provider in the industry by voting members of Telecom Association, a professional membership organization of over 3,800 telecom and technology consultants, agents, brokers and sales partners founded in 1996.

Selection as the “Members Choice” Award winner showcases the Conference Group’s long term commitment to technology solutions that work in the Conferencing category as well as customer service excellence.

“Our association’s voting members are heavily experienced technology industry consultants and channel sales partners that have compared all the best and affordable vendors against one another before recommending one or two to their business clients who view them as trusted advisors”, stated Telecom Association’s Executive Director, Dan Baldwin. “They know which vendors to watch out for and which ones to recommend so having them select the Conference Group as the best means the Conference Group is both trusted and proven in the Conferencing category.”

It’s not by chance that the Conference Group won this category in 2010. While business end users are exacting in their Conferencing solution requirements, the independent sales partners and voting members of Telecom Association are even more so. “We are humbled and honored to be the recipient of this distinction for 2010. The agent channel has always been a critical piece of our business model. To be recognized as the agent’s top pick is proof that we are meeting or exceeding our agents’ expectations and helping them grow their businesses,” says Greg Plum, director of business development for the Conference Group.

ABOUT The Conference Group – Founded in 1999, the Conference Group is an award-winning full-service audio and web conferencing company located in Newark, DE. Focusing solely on collaboration solutions, the Conference Group has successfully developed a strong portfolio of satisfied clients in the US and abroad. For more information on the Conference Group, contact Greg Plum, director of business development, via email greg.plum@conferencegroup.com.

ABOUT TELECOM ASSOCIATION – Founded in 1996, Telecom Association is a professional membership organization of 3,800 individual members and over 50 telecom and technology vendors that help businesses with their phone, voice, Internet and data network integration needs. For more information about Telecom Association, contact Dan Baldwin, executive director, via email Dan@TelecomAssociation.com.

Since YOU Voted The Conference Group 2010’s #1 Audioconferencing Company…

2011-01-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

We can’t help but ask for your support one more time by clicking here and voting for yours truly as the Channel Executive of the Year for 2011. It could be said that the past couple of years’ polls resulting in my being named a finalist, but not the industry’s top pick, could have given me an “always a bridesmaid” complex, but NO! Being recognized for this honor by those whom I have helped with their respective businesses, even though this number may not total those achieved by some of my esteemed colleagues, is still one of the greatest rewards that can be earned in my role as the head of our agent channel.

So, if you have just a moment to give me the “thumb’s up”, click here and be heard. We are listening!

Thanks to all and here’s to a healthy, happy, and productive 2011! Greg

Can a company have a soul?

2010-11-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

For it to have any chance of surviving, it better! According to Webster, “soul” is defined, in part, as “the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe” and “the moral and emotional nature of human beings spiritual or moral force.”

A couple of friends of mine who founded Genesis Strategy Group (www.genesisstrategygroup.com) originally got me thinking about the concept “soul” as it pertains to a company.

What is your company’s soul? Or, asked in another way, what is your company’s driving force?

Some companies call this their “mission statement”, or their “core values”. No matter what you call it, this is what defines your company for your internal (read “employees”) and external customers. By placing a conscious focus on this soul, every customer interaction and business decision is governed by the moral compass calibrated by the company’s soul. While this may sound esoteric, it is quite the opposite. This concept provides a roadmap to how the company responds to any situation it encounters. This reduces seemingly complicated scenarios, either with customers or employees, to very basic components with the course of action easily identified and implemented.

So, how do you define your company’s soul? Like human beings, an organization without a soul is, well… dead.

Please vote for The Conference Group!

2010-11-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

In the spirit of election season (and still on a high from having little ol’ Delaware in the national spotlight courtesy of Christine O’Donnell), I am, once again, asking for your support in the 2010 Telecom Association’s members choice awards. The polls close at the end of November, but just to keep me from pestering you again in a couple of weeks, please take just a moment now to cast your vote!

Click on TelecomVote.com now to vote!

On another note, we recently participated in the first ever Telecom Association Shootout, “aimed” at telling the channel how our wholesale program is the best solution for you and your peers. Since you are, hopefully, already in the “zone” for voting, please tell Telecom Association that the Conference Group should be named the victor in the shootout. The added benefit is that you can register yourself as a conferencing subject matter expert with Telecom Association just by casting your vote. This is a great opportunity to learn more about us, our worthy opponents, AND gain some recognition yourself! Click on http://www.telecomassociation.com/firstfriday/101001/The_Best_White_Label_Conferencing_Solutions_October_2010.htm to vote and get registered as a subject matter expert.

As always, thanks for your time and consideration. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Thanks!

Greg

Thank You for Your Support!

2010-09-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the Conference Group! Thank you for the votes that we have received thus far as your favorite conferencing provider. Not surprisingly, we have received more votes than any other conferencing company to date, BUT you know what happens when one rests on one’s laurels. If you have not had the chance to vote yet, and you agree with your peers that selected us as their favorite, please take just a moment to cast your vote here.

As always, thank you for your support!

It's Time to Vote!

2010-08-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Time to Vote at TelecomVote.com !

Hello All! Since none of us EVER procrastinates, I am taking a moment to touch bases with you to request your vote for 2010 Telecom Association’s members choice awards. The voting opened up about 15 minutes ago, so at the very least, you know THIS TIME, I didn’t procrastinate!

As you know, many of you are partly responsible for our success. If the Conference Group has had a part in any of your success, please take 30 seconds to give us the nod at TelecomVote.com.

Thanks for your time and consideration. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact me directly. Thanks!

Out of sight, maybe. Out of mind, not so much.

2010-07-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

As I write this, I am sitting on a plane returning from a few weeks away from the office, having piggy-backed a vacation onto a business trip. Though I have not been seated at my desk with my ground level view of the shrubs that line the foundation of our brown brick building for over two weeks, my email inbox and voicemail are devoid of any unread (or unheard) messages. The dread that had inevitably accompanied me on my way home from past vacations is strangely missing. The fear of the unknown (with regard to office happenings and/or client requests) is a thing of the past.

Armed with my company-issued laptop and brand-spanking-new Droid Incredible smart phone, I have not only been kept in the loop with the daily goings-on at the Conference Group’s home office, I have actually been able to contribute effectively, and even address policy issues, without ever setting foot in the office.

I know what you are thinking… “Big deal… I have been working from home, or the road, or from the middle of the ocean for years now.” True. I hear you. However, for me, as a former hardcore corporate type, this newfound productivity from afar is truly liberating. Now that I am current on the housekeeping items that accompany me in my role heading up sales for the company, I can hit the ground running upon my return to the office in the morning. Not facing an inbox of 1000 plus emails, a number of which are unsolicited cures for what ails me or the secret recipe that will result in my business growing exponentially in the next 6 months, I am free to channel my vacation-induced optimism into concrete initiatives that will allow me to tackle some of those sales ideas dreamed up while sitting poolside in the days leading up to my return to the mothership.

While the line between work and vacation has blurred with all of the fun new gadgets and communication services at our fingertips, I love the result. Now, if only I had coughed up the $4.95 to access the wi-fi service on the plane… you may have read this blog entry well before my feet ever touched the ground in Philadelphia. Next time…

Web Conferencing: Don’t Fear the AYCE Pricing Plans

2010-06-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

The world is becoming flat… with regard to web conferencing pricing, that is… Following in the footsteps of Internet access, and cell phone usage, web conferencing is seeing a shift in pricing from consumption (usage) based pricing, to flat rate, “all-you-can-eat” pricing plans.

Is this good news? The knee-jerk response from the service provider viewpoint is “no”! Why would we be happy to offer up our services in an unlimited monthly (or even annual) package rather than on a per minute, “pay for every bite” structure? Simple… value (oh, and revenue, which we will get back to in a minute).

This is a great deal for the consumer, as they can now accurately predict (read control) costs associated with their web conferencing use. This part is obvious. What is not so obvious is that this is also a great deal for the provider. How so? Much like the consumers having a known expense each month, providers now have a known revenue stream each month. In addition, most web services are accompanied by a toll-free audio conference bridge that is invariably consumption (yes, “per bite”) based. Plus, meetings that are conducted with a visual component tend to last longer, hence the proverbial “win-win” scenario for both the consumer and the provider.

One last point… Flat-rate pricing has now granted access to the latest and greatest technological advances to smaller companies and non-profit organizations that may not have had the resources to partake before the flat-rate buffet was on the menu. Yet another “win” for all.

In these challenging economic times, the customer will always seek the best value he or she can find. Embrace the flat-rate pricing models for web conferencing and watch your revenue grow.

Greg Plum is the Director of Business Development for the Conference Group, a facilities-based conferencing and collaboration company with over 10 years’ experience serving channel partners and enterprise clients. Greg can be reached at greg.plum@conferencegroup.com .

Can you sell conferencing for 2.5 cents?

2010-04-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Announcing Together Talk®, our newest toll-free reservationless service, at an industry low price of 2.5 cents per minute. As our agent, you have the ability to offer this same service to your prospective customers for the same price.

What Together Talk® offers:

Toll-free access to a 99 line conference
Reservationless access 24/7
International toll-free access from a few countries
Limited leader star commands: lecture mode, mute, and lock conference

What Together Talk® does NOT offer:

Operator access via *0
Attendance reports
Conference recording
Conference manager web interface

Customers must request this service via credit card sign-up using a link that we provide to each of our agents who express interest in offering Together Talk®. Upon sign-up, customers receive passcodes instantly via email and the Conference Group orders the conference card within 48 business hours.

To take advantage of this aggressively priced service and to learn about commission rates, please contact us directly on 877-716-8255, ext. 8284 for Kristin or ext. 8268 for Greg or email us at partners@conferencegroup.com.

Find out if you won the Apple iPad!

2010-03-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

This year’s Channel Partners Conference in Las Vegas was the best in years! If you had the opportunity to attend, you got to see the channel’s latest and greatest offerings. For the Conference Group, that meant a preview of our newest service that is available exclusively thru our master agents… Toll-free reservationless conferencing for an industry low price of 2.5 cents per minute. That is the customer’s price, folks, NOT a buy price. Of course the service is missing some of the bells and whistles that our full-service offering includes, such as *0 operator access, after-call reporting, free recording, extensive toll-free international access, etc. BUT, you will now have the ability to offer a toll-free service for less than most wholesale prices. Let me rephrase that… I said “now”, which is not technically correct. This service will be available to the channel on April 5, 2010.

If you currently have access to our services via a master agency, contact them for more information (but if you do it before April 5, they won’t have much information). This is just a “head’s up” so you know what is coming and so you can plan accordingly. If your master agency tells you that they do not have access to the Conference Group’s services, please have them contact me directly. Of course, those of you who have enjoyed years of success working directly with us will also be able to offer this service beginning April 5, 2010.

Oh, I almost forgot… If your name is Jake Peterson and your company is called City Communications Integrated, you DID win the Apple iPad just for stopping by our booth at the Channel Partners Conference. Congratulations, Jake! (Hey, Jake, do you sell any conferencing?)

Check Out Greg Plum at the Channel Partners Conference in Vegas!

2010-03-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

Check out this video with Greg Plum at the Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, Spring 2010.

http://www.varvid.com/channel-partners/

Thank You For Your Support!

2010-02-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

February 09, 2010

Conferencing Expert Tapped as Finalist for Executive of Year Award

By David Sims, TMCnet Contributing Editor

Greg Plum (News - Alert), director of business development for The Conference Group, a provider of audio, video and Web conferencing services, has been selected as a finalist for an industry publication’s Channel Executive of the Year award.

Plum, who is one of 10 finalists, will be honored during an awards ceremony March 1 at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. The winner will be announced at the event.

Based in Newark, Del., The Conference Group (News - Alert) operates as a full-service audio, video and Web conferencing company. With a concentrated focus on collaboration, the company has been successful at creating a strong portfolio of satisfied sales partners and clients located in North America and internationally.

Driven by its collaboration services expertise, the Conference Group has developed tailored programs to meet a variety of its clients’ needs. Some of the main strengths of the company include a suite of online, real-time provisioning tools, as well as a strong international footprint providing toll-free access to participants located all over the world.

Plum joined The Conference Group in 2000, at which time he set out to further develop the company’s channel strategy. Since then, The Conference Group has experience substantial growth, expanding program to include hundreds of agents and resellers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

Mike Saxby, a group publisher working for Virgo Publishing, said after a close race, "Where hundreds of votes were placed, these individuals clearly stand out as the cream of the crop. Each of the finalists should be recognized for the role they play in the success of the indirect channel model.”

To determine the Channel Executive of the Year, the organization solicited nominations from channel partners. To be eligible, a nominee must have been the top person in the company’s channel operations - at the executive level of vice president or higher - at a telecom vendor (network operator/service provider/manufacturer).

Channel partners were then asked to vote for the Channel Executive of the Year based on nominees’ leadership, longevity, innovation and contribution to the indirect channel.

David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of David’s articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for TMCnet here.

Edited by Amy Tierney

From Provider to Consumer…

2010-02-12T13:05:00.000-08:00

From Provider to Consumer…

I have been in business development for a conferencing provider for almost 10 years now. That’s right… sales. For 10 years I have worked with thousands of people telling them about how our conferencing solutions will make them more efficient, save them money, and make their businesses more productive. Today, the teacher became the student… er, the customer. With mother nature’s wrath in the form of back-to-back Nor’easters hitting the mid-atlantic region, I found myself smack dab in the middle of a Governor-declared state of emergency for the second straight day.

Oh, Great! Another day with watercooler banter being replaced by the delirious shrills of a cooped up 6 and 8 year old. But what about that full calendar of meetings and presentations? Not everyone is house bound with a raging case of cabin fever… for most of the world, this was just a typical Thursday, the day of the week where we stuff as many activities in as possible to be able to take it easy on Friday (in theory anyway).

First on the docket, a conference call with the fine folks at Phone+ and the Channel Partners Advisory Board to discuss the upcoming conference. Except for my complaining to the others on the call about my snow-induced woes, the call was like all previous advisory board conference calls. Next, a presentation of the latest developments in our wholesale program to a long-time agent who is excited about ratcheting up his conferencing business. Surely, this presentation could have been moved to a more convenient time – one when the country road outside of my house looked less like Siberia and I would have all of the comforts of my office at my fingertips. It could have been rescheduled, but why?

We spent an hour reviewing everything that we would have covered had I been sitting in my office, or even via a face-to-face visit. They even got to see my snow-beaten face, complete with an exaggerated 5 o’clock shadow on steroids, thanks to the integrated video…

Today, this sales guy became a customer. In a former life, my company’s slogan was “Think of Yourself as a Customer”. And what better way to think of yourself as a customer, than to “walk a mile in their (snow filled) shoes”?

'Perfect Storm' Drives Demand for Video, Web Conferencing Services: Report

2010-01-28T07:45:00.000-08:00

January 27, 2010

'Perfect Storm' Drives Demand for Video, Web Conferencing Services: Report

By Amy Tierney, TMCnet Web Editor

Once regarded as a costly and often “privileged” tool for businesses, the visual collaboration market has made headway to become a larger part of organizations’ unified communications mix.

And thanks to technological advances, the recent economic downturn and greater environmental concerns, these elements have formed a “perfect storm” to push demand for visual collaboration – including video and Web conferencing - to the forefront, according to a recent report from Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert).

A new report from Frost & Sullivan, called “World Visual Collaboration Managed Services Markets, found that the market earned $82.7 million in 2008. And by 2015, it is projected to grow to $938.3 million, increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 162.4 percent.

"A driver that is most likely [going] to contribute to the growth of the visual collaboration market is the reduction of travel required by a company," Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Iwona Petruczynik said. "This can create significant cuts in business costs and help improve productivity levels; employees can conduct their businesses without the need to meet face-to-face with their clients or partners. New models offered by service providers that do not require up-front capital expenditure by customers are also adding to the widespread adoption of visual collaboration services globally."

Beyond travel, employees are also concerned about their businesses’ environmental impact. With an eye on “going green,” more companies are embracing eco-friendly solutions that don’t require a large investment.

What else is driving the adoption of visual collaboration? Dispersed workers. Those employees who are spread across different locations need to stay in touch with each other and their clients. For example, the recent swine flu pandemic proved that using online collaboration tools helped keep businesses functioning, Frost & Sullivan said.

Greg Plum (News - Alert), director of business development for The Conference Group, a provider of audio, video and Web conferencing services, said Frost & Sullivan is on target with its research. The notion that video and Web conferencing tools are only going to grow is something The Conference Group (News - Alert) has been steadily emphasizing to its customers.

“This certainly adds validity to online collaboration of all genres,” Plum told TMCnet.

“With the decreasing cost of bandwidth and the ubiquity of endpoints, which are simply Internet browsers and webcams for many desktop videoconferencing services, the masses can now enjoy true video conferencing with no capital expense and nominal ongoing costs,” he said. “Many services are offered as a flat-rate for unlimited use, enabling the enterprise to easily control expenses.”

Previously, visual collaboration was considered high-end and too costly to deploy. Many businesses often held the misconception that such services were difficult to use and were only reserved for upper-level executives.

While there is growing interest in visual collaboration managed services, some business leaders in less developed countries still prefer to hold in-person meetings to conduct business, Frost & Sullivan said. The visual collaboration market will experience some pricing pressure over the next few years in more mature markets, but predominantly in emerging markets, Frost & Sullivan said. What’s more, increasing automation will result in decreased demand for managed services. But to the drop, vendors must expand their offers and include new or upgraded features.

"Rising interest in high-definition and immersive visual collaboration is leading to increased competition among value-added resellers and equipment vendors, fueling pricing pressure which, in turn, will contribute to falling prices," Petruczynik said. "Service providers will need to improve their product portfolios to create a one-stop-shop for managed services."

And officials from the Conference Group said their product, the ReadyShow Video service, give customers what they need with a simple solution.

The company’s ReadyShow Video service offers customers the ability to conduct a multi-point video conference right from their desktops or laptops with a browser and a webcam. For as little as $100 per month, customers can receive unlimited video conferencing and use the embedded VoIP feature for the audio portion of the conference, Plum said.

Amy Tierney is a Web editor for TMCnet, covering business communications Her areas of focus include conferencing, SIP, Fax over IP, unified communications and telepresence. Amy also writes about education and healthcare technology, overseeing production of e-Newsletters on those topics as well as communications solutions and UC. To read more of Amy's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Amy Tierney

Holiday Greetings from the Conference Group!

2009-12-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

The Conference Group wishes you and your families Happy Holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

We appreciate your business and look forward to your continued success in 2010 and beyond.

Warmest Holiday Wishes,

Greg, Kristin and the Conference Group Support Team

Where have we been?

2009-11-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

As much as it pains me to consider the thought that this blog may not be read by the masses of telecommunications professionals that belong to my target audience, I do know that at least a handful of you take the time to read my attempts at providing an arguably-witty perspective. This handful of loyal readers may have noticed that it has been several weeks since my last post, which begs the question…“where have we been?” Get your coffee and pull up a chair…

As we all know, fall represents a great time in our industry… one of increased activity and ultimately (and hopefully) more revenue. It also means tradeshows and travel… the old fashioned kind… on a plane. Who would have ever thought the concept of flying thru the air at 35,000 feet would ever be referred to as “old-fashioned”? (more on this later).

This fall took me to Los Angeles (sorry Angels fans…. I was rooting for you to be the recipient of a Phillies beating in the series) and Miami for conferences. “Wow! That sounds like so much fun!” you might be thinking to yourself. Sure it does. And there are parts of these excursions that truly are memorable and irreplaceable. There really is no better place to drink a $25 Mojito than on the strip along South Beach.

Just for fun, let’s revisit the Miami trip for just a few minutes…my travels to Miami started in the usual way, driving to the airport in Philly, but then, heaven forbid, I had to park! My journey to find a simple 8 ft x 12 ft piece of concrete real estate (nothing fancy, mind you) was nothing short of an adventure… This was not your ordinary airport parking lot experience, though. The folks that oversee airport parking lot maintenance felt it a good idea to block entire levels of Garage B (a personal favorite). After driving around, examining every nook of the open levels (with the assistance of the new electronic signage that tells you how many spots in that row are open… operating on what must be a 12 hour delay) I was left no choice but to exit and bother the exit toll booth person to ask his advice. “The only spots left in the entire parking facility are in Garage E”, he offered. (Garage E? Where is that… Pittsburgh?). To get to Garage E, I had to leave the airport, get back on the Interstate and try again… Apparently the staffers were also operating with the same 12-hour delay as the electronic signs… not one available spot in Garage E. At this point, I am faced with the following options: sit and wait for someone to leave, which never seems to happen in airports even though most flights are round trip, visit with my toll booth friend again for updated 12-hour old information on spot availability, or cruise the garage in hopes of a miracle. I decided to go Rambo and venture into an area that was blocked by saw horses. When I turned the corner, I discovered a completely wide open level with a few other mavericks parked right by the elevator… “thank you, God!”

In the interest of time, I will now cut to the return trip and leave the possibilities for South Beach activities to your imagination…

When attempting to check-in and print my boarding pass at the hotel, the system informed me that it was unable to print my boarding pass. Knowing full well that my driver’s license and a smile alone would not get me onto that plane, I planned to use the self-serve kiosks to print my boarding pass. No big deal, right? Right…? Not so much…

Apparently the 2 kiosks USAir set up for passengers to serve themselves were inoperable. The great news is that we (i.e. those of us waiting in the kiosk line… waiting for the one passenger to hurry up and get his passes and/or the repairman to finish with the other one) were not informed that these machines were down. I did what any of us, that is once we are getting dangerously close to boarding time, would do. I approached a human behind the counter for assistance. I was met with a bark that instructed me to get in line…. THE line. The one comprised of dozens of luggage-checking passengers snaked back and forth, for what may as well have been a mile. The bark was replaced with indifference when I assured her that I, along with any others bound for Philly, would surely miss our flight.

Ten precious minutes later, the counter watchdog realized the error of her ways and announced that she would accept anyone heading to Philly for immediate check-in. After receiving the piece of paper that would allow me to see my wife and kids in person, she added “you better run… they will not hold the plane!” Remember the old O.J. Simpson? He had nothing on me that day…

Would you be surprised if I said the overhead bins required some “elfen-magic” (my thanks to Jack Zoblin, my esteemed colleague, for stepping in and taking charge of the overhead situation) to accommodate my small carry-on, or that we sat on the tarmac for 30 minutes before being allowed to take flight? Don’t be…

At this point, I am going to wind down this novel account and let you get back to your work (if you actually made it this far in this post). As we all know, there is no replacement for live interaction with colleagues and clients. These personal appearances, with all of their niceties, can be complemented by the occasional web or video conference. While you can’t “reach out and touch someone”, you can at least “boot up and see them”.

Now you know where we have been…

For more information on the Conference Group’s video and web conferencing solutions, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

The Conference Group's Greg Plum Named to Industry Advisory Board

2009-10-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

The Conference Group, a full-service audio, Web and video conferencing service provider, recently announced that Greg Plum (News - Alert), director of channel development, was recently named to a joint advisory board for a publication focused on the telecommunications industry.

The board includes 17 members of the channel community including independent agents, subagents, master agents, VARs, dealers/interconnects, hardware/software vendors, resellers and carriers. Each member will serve a one-year term.

The Conference Group (News - Alert), a company that focuses on Web-based collaboration solutions, is the only conferencing service provider represented on the board, company officials said.

“We are honored to serve on the board, which is comprised of industry leaders,” Plum, told TMCnet in an interview. “The fact that The Conference Group is included is a testament to our efforts over the past decade to build a reputation on quality service and support.”

The goal behind the advisory board is to offer topics that are paramount in the minds of today's telecommunications agents and resellers, Plum said. As a board member, The Conference Group will work with the publication to ensure its content and programs for its annual conference are meaningful to the communications channel. The company will also serve as a regular contributor to the publication’s blog and an online community at LinkedIn.

The appointment highlights The Conference Group as one of the industry leaders, Plum said.

“We are recognized as an integral provider in the conferencing space,” he said. “This is an honor that we do not take lightly.”

The Conference Group is one of the more widely-known service providers that offer on-demand, “reservationless” audio, Web and videoconferencing services on one platform. The services are also available as standalone solutions.

Companies are increasingly using conferencing services to give employees the chance to hold live, “face-to-face” meetings with partners, customers, prospects and investors, even though they are miles apart. The technology also aids collaboration between employees, teams, departments and division heads who are in geographically-dispersed locations.

To help entice more organizations to adopt conferencing services, The Conference Group is offering certain incentives to boost business. For example, the company introduced a 1,000-seat user license of its ReadyShow Web conferencing with unlimited access for flat rate of $99 per month solution.

The new rate comes at a time when companies are increasingly using online communications to conduct business. The ReadyShow service offers a host of features, including chatting, slide pushing, polling and streaming video for a flat fee. The platform also lets companies conduct Web tours, demonstrate Web services, or tap online content during presentations. Users can also share desktop applications for software demonstrations and training.

Amy Tierney is a Web editor for TMCnet, covering unified communications, telepresence, IP communications industry trends and mobile technologies. To read more of Amy's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Back to School… The most wonderful time of the year?

2009-08-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again… airing the old (but timeless) Staples commercial with the Dad prancing around the aisles of Staples to the Andy Williams’ classic while his kids look on with dejected faces and shoulders hung low. Have you seen it?

This is the first year my kids were old enough (or cared enough) to grasp the concept of the commercial. My 8 year old son turned to me and said, “Is that really how you feel?” No way! I love the quiet mornings around the house planning for my day and conjuring up ideas to get you excited to sell conferencing. These quiet mornings are about to be replaced with lunch packing, breakfast making, teeth brushing, and carcass chauffeuring to school.

With each passing year, I am more and more reluctant to put away my flip-flops and break out the requisite sweaters to face our mid-Atlantic Autumn days… (Just for the record, as you are reading this, sand is between my toes as I milk this Summer for all it is worth)

The good news is that as the days get shorter, conference calls get longer (and more frequent)! September invariably marks a period of increased conferencing activity. As an agent, now is the time to prepare for the impending spike in need. Why not reach out to your client base, tell them how you feel about back to school, and see if you can help them with their conferencing needs?

For conferencing folk like myself, maybe this really is the most wonderful time of the year…

For more information on the Conference Group, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

The virtual puppy dog…

2009-07-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

OK, we are all familiar with the tactic known as the “puppy-dog sale”, which gives a prospect the ability to fall hopelessly in love with your offering, be it a puppy dog, or a Porsche. So much so, they never even consider relinquishing control of their newly-acquired trinket.

In this vein, we are offering you the ability to hook your prospects with a little puppy dog of your own - only this pooch will never get fleas… “Man’s best friend” takes the form of a free trial of ReadyShow® Web and ReadyShow® Video. The process is simple… to request a trial account, click here and provide us with your clients’ contact information (you can even include a list of clients in this one request), and the service for which the trial is requested. We will have their trial account set up and in their hands in less than 24 hours.

This is a great way to offer value to your customer and quite possibly increase your revenue from your existing relationships. After all, who does not love puppy dogs?

For more information on ReadyShow® Web, ReadyShow® Video, or to set up a demo of either, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

What can you get for $99?

2009-07-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

How about 1000 participants on a conference? How about 1000 participants on a conference every day for a month?

It’s true. The Conference Group has introduced a 1000-seat user license with a suggested retail price of $99 per month. Conference hosts will enjoy all that ReadyShow® Web has to offer, including slide pushing, application sharing, chatting, polling, and even video streaming of the host… all for a flat monthly fee of $99 per month. Audio bridging charges are additional and options range from reservationless access to dedicated full-time operator assisted service, depending on the size of the event and level of support desired.

With this plan, your client would save just over $3,500 each month if they conducted 1 weekly, 60-minute, 100 participant conference and paid on a per minute basis, at a suggested retail price of $0.15 per minute. I did the math twice to make sure since the savings was so drastic…

If you have been looking for something to “go back to the well” with… this is it!

For more information on ReadyShow® Web, or to set up a demo of the service, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Just Released: FREE Web Recording!

2009-07-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

Effective immediately, the Conference Group has waived the fee associated with recording a ReadyShow® Web Conference. Your clients can continue to record their events, with the audio and visuals synchronized, download the Flash file immediately following the event, and host the file on their website within minutes. The only difference is that now this functionality is provided free of charge. Of course, the normal per minute fees (or flat rate subscription fees) still apply.

For more information on ReadyShow® Web, or to set up a demo of the service, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Celebrating Independence

2009-07-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

My hat is off to you… members of our agent community for what you do every day as an “independent” agent. This independence results in a great deal of freedom, but not without consequence. As you are keenly aware, the price of your freedom is the responsibility to perform your duties consistently and to the best of your ability to ensure your livelihood is protected.

We are honored that, while exercising your independence, you have turned to the Conference Group as a trusted partner to help you achieve your financial goals. Thank you for your continued faith in our services and support.

Have a very happy and restful Independence Day!

By the way… keep an eye out for next week’s installment as we are announcing the elimination of a fee that is sure to result in incremental business for both of us!

For more information on the Conference Group, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Integrity

2009-06-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

When sitting down to come up with a topic for this week’s installment of our blog, several product features came to mind, but the one concept that kept overshadowing the latest and greatest conference calling features is a simple, but universal concept… Integrity.

Just moments ago, I finished a telephone meeting with an esteemed colleague on our latest marketing campaign to appeal to current and new agents. He confirmed my hunch that today’s agents need to trust their vendors implicitly, as we are their lifeline to their livelihood… their commission!

Rather than put the concept of Integrity to the side while I wrote this blog entry, I decided to embrace it…

As we all know, competition is fierce, price compression is a reality and ethical conduct can be tested in a challenging economic climate. It is during these very times that relying on the most basic of values proves to be invaluable. “Integrity”, according to Encarta is “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards”. This is what you want… what you NEED from those with whom you choose to do business.

Everyday, we are faced with business decisions relating to current or prospective business opportunities. How do we make these decisions? Simple… we do what is right. While there are many roads that can be taken in a decision process, more often than not, there is a right way of doing business, and one that, well… not so much.

One thing that you can be sure of when working with the Conference Group is how we do business. We invariably opt for the “high road”. There is simply no substitute for integrity. Those who know us know that I am speaking from experience. For those that just know of us, we welcome the opportunity to work with you to help you build your conferencing business.

For more information on the Conference Group, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Got International Conferencing?

2009-06-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

You do if you turn to the Conference Group for your conferencing needs. We provide toll-free access to our service from approximately 60 different countries worldwide.

Your international clients will enjoy the same benefits as their American counterparts… free recordings, UBlast for large scale dial-outs, and attendance reports following each conference call.

The next time one of your clients says “can you provide conferencing access for our office in Luxembourg”, you can ask them how they want it… dial-in or dial-out… We got you covered!

For more information on our International conferencing access, or any of our services, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Conference Viewer available for Full-Time Operator Calls

2009-06-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Of course you know all about the Cadillac of conferencing services… the full-time operator service. But, here we offer a twist… or actually more of an enhancement…

With Conference Viewer, the conference host is able to view the Q&A queue during a full-time operator call in real time… and even have the ability to manipulate the queue by changing the order of participants in the queue, or removing them from the queue. This added service gives our customers more control while still maintaining a professional operator-facilitated Q&A session.

What does this beautiful hood ornament of features add to the cost of the Cadillac? Nada. This is included in the cost of the full-time operator service. Tell all of your friends (or even better… clients) about the Conference Group’s Conference Viewer and start taking orders.

For more information on any of our services, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

You have a $50.00 demo account!

2009-05-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

"Try it…you’ll like it!” Remember that famous tag line? For the life of me I cannot recall the product that went along with this slogan in the 1970’s ad campaign, but it kept ringing in my head as I was thinking about the latest installment of our blog…

The Conference Group gives you, our agent, one of our most valued resources, the ability to use our services at no cost. Each month, we credit up to $50 toward any of our services including audio conferencing, ReadyShow® Web, or ReadyShow® Video.

We encourage you to take us up on our offer and use this credit to demo our services, or even offer a free trial (obviously up to the $50 credit amount) to your prospects to seal the deal. This will give them the ability to experience the quality of our bridging service for themselves. We are sure that once they try us, they will like us!

OK… I couldn’t take it, so I Googled the slogan and what did it reveal? Alka-Seltzer! Having used the stuff myself countless times since the 70’s, I dare say that you will like our service even more!

For more information on any of our services, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Need to Get 50 people on a bridge… STAT?

2009-04-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

Not all reservationless accounts are created equal…

The Conference Group has done it again… this time with a proprietary web interface that will allow a conference leader to create and maintain a list of conference attendees for automatic dial-out. What is this little gem? “UBlast”

Here is how it works: Ask us for a UBlast login… you can do this by clicking here or calling the number below. Go to http://www.conferencegroup.com/ublast and enter your login information. Upon entry, you will see a page that looks like this:

From here, you can add, delete, or modify your dial-out list. You can also set you list to “Auto-Dial” your list immediately upon entering the conference as a leader. If “Manual Dial” is selected, the leader would press *92 on the telephone keypad to initiate the blast dial-out.

When UBlast in invoked, your participants’ phone will ring and they will be prompted to press 1 on their telephone keypad to enter their conference… no passcode needed!

Now you can literally get your audience on the bridge in seconds by merely entering your conference as a leader. A leader dial-out authorization form must be signed by the account contact person.

How much does all of this power cost? Nada! It is included as one of our many features of our reservationless service. We told you not all reservationless accounts were created equal!

For more information on UBlast, or anything else conferencing related, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

“On-Demand” Outlook Plug-in

2009-04-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Of course most conferences are “reservationless”, but how does your client communicate meeting dates and times to her audience? Most likely via email.

The Conference Group is pleased to offer our FREE “On-Demand” scheduling plug-in for Outlook. Once this feature is downloaded, a Reservationless Conference Request button will appear on the conference leader’s Outlook toolbar. By simply clicking on the button and selecting the conference participants from the contacts list, the leader can send an Outlook event to the participants, which will auto-populate all conference access instructions. This can be used for audio conferences, web conferences, or combined web with audio events.

To learn more or to download the free “On-Demand” plug-in, click here or visit http://www.conferencegroup.com/ondemand/.

For more information on the “On-Demand” plug-in, or our agent program in general, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

We know what you did in Vegas…

2009-03-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

This year’s Channel Partners Conference and Expo was again a huge success. Not only did we have fun visiting with our current agents, we met quite a few prospective agents who liked what they saw in the Conference Group.

While our own Greg Plum was a finalist up for the honor of the 2009 Channel Executive of the Year, the award went to Sherman Henderson of Lightyear Network Solutions, an industry veteran who is very deserving of the award. Congratulations Sherm!

We created a bit of a stir (as we like to do) this year. Our booth actually made it from the FedEx office to the Rio… so we were off to a good start!

To keep things interesting, we had a Guitar Hero® contest. The winner took home a Wii™ Game System and Guitar Hero® Aerosmith®. Congratulations to our winner, Chris Whittelsey of NBC Solutions Corporation! It was a close battle against Mark Anderson of Complete Communications, Inc. in the final playoff. Judging by the pictures, it sure seemed that everyone was having a good time rockin’ with Aerosmith®!

Between song sets, we did actually get the chance to discuss some of our latest offerings to the channel, including, of course ReadyShow® Video and our international toll-free platform. Stay tuned for more updates on services just being released.

For more information on the conference, or anything conferencing related, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Vegas…. Here We Come!

2009-02-25T07:27:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Spring Channel Partners Conference and Expo starts in just a few days. Of course, the Conference Group will be on hand to shake hands and kiss babies. If you will be at this year’s conference, stop by booth #1306 and try your hand at our top-secret contest. You are guaranteed to walk away with a smile on your face and information on the latest and greatest offered by the Conference Group!

For more information on the conference, or anything conferencing related, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

The Conference Group in USA Today and LAST CALL for your Vote!

2009-02-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

The Conference Group is a featured company in Media Planet’s February 2009 advertising supplement, “Web & Video Conferencing…Your guide to the Future of Meetings.” The issue appeared in the USA Today in several major markets across the US.

The polls are closing this week! If you have not yet cast your vote for the Conference Group as your favorite conferencing company, please do it now! It will only take about 2 minutes… promise! Click here to vote now!

For more information on the Conference Group, our services, or our agent program, call us on 877-716-8255 or email agents@conferencegroup.com.

If you Count on Us…Can we Count on You?

2009-02-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

As we are sure you are keenly aware, it is that time of year where your faithful vendors hit you up to vote for them in the annual Telecom Association Member’s Choice Awards. As you also know, we are no exception…!

How are we doing? If the answer to that question is something we want to hear, please take just a minute of your time to vote for the Conference Group as your favorite conferencing provider. If it is not something we want to hear, we definitely want to hear from you on how we can improve! Your input will be directed to Greg Plum for immediate review.

Simply click here to vote for the Conference Group as your choice of conferencing vendors. Thank you!

If you have any questions about any of our programs, call us on 877-716-8255 or email agents@conferencegroup.com.

Vegas…. Here We Come!

2009-01-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Spring Channel Partners Conference and Expo is almost upon us. Of course, the Conference Group will be on hand to shake hands and kiss babies. If you will be at this year’s conference, please stop by booth #1306 and say “Hello”!

If you need free expo hall passes, let us know… we can certainly hook you up. We look forward to seeing everyone once again!

For more information on the conference, or anything conferencing related, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Celebrate the Inauguration with one more Vote!

2009-01-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year to flex your democratic (or republican or independent or green or…) muscle and vote for your favorite telecom vendors.

As you know, we take great pride in the relationships we have forged over the years with our agents and resellers. Truth of the matter is that without you… I would not have a job!
Our agent and reseller program has grown steadily over the past 10 years through efforts of just about everyone receiving this message.
How are we doing? If you have benefited from our agent program (and are not ashamed to admit it!), please take just a minute of your time to vote for the Conference Group as your favorite conferencing provider.

Simply click here to vote for the Conference Group as your choice of conferencing vendors. Thank you!

If you have any questions about any of our programs or need to reach Greg for a campaign favor (just kidding), call us on 877-716-8255 or email agents@conferencegroup.com.

Self-Registration

2009-01-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

Want to empower your clients? Now you can with the Conference Group’s Self-Registration service…

When a client schedules an operator-assisted conference (which, by the way, is one of the services where we outshine most of the pack), we can provide them with a link to distribute to their intended audience. Each participant clicks on the link and completes the form. Upon submission, the registrant is immediately provided with all conference access instructions, including a unique PIN code.

To see a more detailed overview of this service, please click here.

For more information on Self-Registration, or any of our services, contact us on
877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Not all Instant Passcode Systems were Created Equal

2009-01-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

It has recently come to my attention, thanks to one of our astute agents, that our Instant Passcode Link is quite unique. While many claim to offer instant account sign-up, you may want to take a closer look…

Our link does not merely send us an email alerting us to the fact that a prospective customer is interested in setting up an account - or even set up an account and pend for management approval. When your customer clicks on the Conference Group’s Instant Passcode link, the following happens quicker than you can say “Barack Obama”…

1. Credit card is authorized
2. Conference is scheduled on the bridge
3. Confirmation page appears with the access instructions
4. Email with access instructions is sent to your customer
5. Customer can dial into the bridge and conduct the call

Simple as that! Harness the power of real instant account set-up. You can include the link in an email campaign, newsletter, your website, etc. You get the picture. Of course, all sign-ups are tracked back to your agent ID for commission purposes.

To take a look, click here to see a sample page. Not all “real-time” or “instant” account set-up procedures are the same. For a true instantaneous passcode provisioning, it has to be the Conference Group.

For more information on our Instant Passcode tool, or any of our services, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the Conference Group! We wish you a Joyous Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

We truly value our partners and realize that you all are a key ingredient of our success. We hope to be that for you in 2009 and beyond!

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Conference Group!

Welcome Calls

2008-12-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

Did you know we call your customers?

That’s right… within days of their first use of our service, we call them to see how their experience was, and answer any questions they may have. We may even walk away from that call with a few more conference card orders! This is just one more way we differentiate ourselves in an increasingly commoditized space.
For more information on any of our services, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Blast Dial & U-Blast (New)

2008-11-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

What can *92 do for you? New and Improved!

You may remember from a previous post that *92 activates our Blast Dial feature within a reservationless conference. Once this feature is enabled, one way to take advantage of this service requires the conference leader to provide us with a list of names and phone numbers to include in the Blast Dial list. Conference leader may press *92 to initiate the dial outs to the participants.

Our latest enhancement to this service is called “U-Blast”. Our new U-Blast portal enables conference leaders to manage their dial out list via a secure web page. With a valid login and passcode, the list of participants may be modified as needed, 24 hours a day.
For more information on *92 or U-Blast, or to activate these features for any of your existing customers, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

International Conferencing

2008-11-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

The Conference Group offers one of the most comprehensive International conferencing platforms in the industry. With over 50 International Toll Free access numbers, your clients can enjoy global, reservationless, toll-free access.

If we do not offer a toll free number from a particular country, we offer the conference leaders two options: leader dial-out at new reduced rates, or operator dial-out at an additional charge. Either option ensures conference access from anywhere in the world.

For more information on our services or agent program, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Ordering cards-How to do it for existing clients

2008-10-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Want to increase conferencing use for your existing clients? Offer them additional conference cards for other people in their office.

To request additional conference cards from the Conference Group, simply email us at csr@conferencegroup.com with client’s account number and the names and email addresses of the people to receive a new conference card. Your clients will receive an email within 24 business hours and their new card within 3-5 business days. Do this and watch your commissions grow!

For more information on any of our services, please contact us at 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

"Submit Client" Process

2008-10-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

OK… I have a client who wants a conferencing account. Now what do I do?

You can submit a client for set-up 24/7 by clicking on http://www.conferencegroup.com/forms/client.html, or visiting www.conferencegroup.com and selecting “Agent Resource Center”, then “Submit Client”.

For more information on submitting a client, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Listen to Greg Plum's interview about Video Conferencing

2008-10-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

TMCnet interviewed Greg Plum, our Channel Manager, to learn about our new video-over-IP service. To listen, click here.

For more information on ReadyShow® Video, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

The Conference Group Needs Your Vote!

2008-08-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again... to shamelessly petition for your vote as one of the best channel programs in the industry. We owe a great deal of our success to our agents and sales partners just like you. If you agree with us that the Conference Group takes great care of you and your clients, please take just a moment to cast your vote. Thank you, in advance, for your support.

To vote for the Conference Group's (and up to 9 other of your favorite channel programs), please click on the following link (Hint: the Conference Group can be found under "C"!)...

http://www.phoneplusmag.com/channelprogramvote/voting_form.asp

The Conference Group is headed for Boston!

2008-08-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

See you in Boston! The Conference Group will be on hand at the Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Boston from August 18 – 20. Stop by booth #2027 to see ReadyShow® Video for yourself.

Our channel manager, Greg Plum, will also participate in a panel discussion on Tuesday, August 19. The discussion, titled “Conferencing 2.0” will cover some of the newest conferencing technologies to hit the channel. Hope to see you there!

ReadyShow® Video is here!

2008-08-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

ReadyShow® Video is here! Your clients can conduct multi-point video-over-IP conferences with up to 16 streaming videos with nothing more than a web cam and a browser.

Earn up to 100% recurring monthly commissions. For more information or a demo of ReadyShow® Video, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Interested in Private-Label Service?

2008-07-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Interested in making the leap to a private-label service? The Conference Group offers the ability to brand all of our services. Branding can encompass dial-in numbers, web portals, attendance reports, operator greeting and even a web conferencing platform.

For more information on our private-label program, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Receive an attendance report after your conference!

2008-07-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Conference Group provides an attendance report via email to the leader following each conference. Leaders are able to identify conference attendees, entry/exit times and even receive a link to an mp3 file of their conference, if they recorded the call (using the *2 feature).

This service is offered as part of the reservationless service with no additional cost to the customer. If you have any customers who do not yet receive our attendance reports, simply email csr@conferencegroup.com with the account number, leader name, and the leader’s email address.
For more information on attendance reports or any other features of our reservationless service, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

How do I set up a new client?

2008-07-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

OK… I have a client who wants a conferencing account. Now what do I do?

You can submit a client for set-up 24/7 by clicking on http://www.conferencegroup.com/forms/client.html, or visiting www.conferencegroup.com and selecting “Agent Resource Center”, then “Submit Client”.
For more information on submitting a client, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Did you know…?

2008-07-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

The Conference Group emails every new customer you set up. About a week after mailing conference cards to new clients, we send them an email to verify they have received their conference cards via mail.

The Conference Group monitors for first time use. When your customer uses for the first time, we call each person to ensure their first experience was positive and answer any questions they may have. We may even end up sending them an additional card or 2 for other people in their office.

For more information on how the Conference Group supports your sales efforts, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

How do I order cards for existing clients?

2008-06-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Want to increase conferencing use for your existing clients? Offer them additional conference cards for other people in their office.

To request additional conference cards from the Conference Group, simply email us at csr@conferencegroup.com with client’s account number and the names and email addresses of the people to receive a new conference card. Your clients will receive an email with their new passcodes within 24 business hours and their new card within 3-5 business days. Do this and watch your commissions grow!

UK Local Access is Here!

2008-06-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

You already know that the Conference Group offers one of the most comprehensive International platforms in the industry. Effective immediately, we now can provide our UK clients local access directly into a conference.

This enhancement allows a potentially more cost effective alternative for many of our UK participants, while conveying a more local perception.

If any of your clients can benefit from this newest enhancement, please contact us for more information on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

The Conference Group got a Facelift!

2008-05-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

Have you taken a look at us lately? We have gotten a facelift… well, our website has anyway. Now, when you visit us at www.conferencegroup.com, you can access the Agent Resource Center (see previous blog entry for details), view our International toll free availability by country, and access on-line product demos. Please use our website as a tool to assist you in growing your conferencing business.

For more information on our agent program, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Use Sub-Agents to sell conferencing for you!

2008-05-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Do you have agents selling for you? If so, we can help you grow your agent sales with a variety of tools.

You don’t have to be a conferencing expert to effectively sell conferencing solutions. That is where we come in… Allow us to work with your agents or your clients to determine the most effective solution(s) for their specific needs. We can conduct webinars, participate in sales calls, and provide you with proposal templates to make the sales process very smooth.

To ensure effective tracking of accounts for your channel, consider setting up a unique agent code for each sub-agent. This will enable you to track commissions easily and even provide each sub-agent with a unique instant passcode link so their clients can obtain personal conference passcodes 24 hours a day.

For more information on setting up your sub-agents with all of the Conference Group’s sales tools, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

FREE “On-Demand” scheduling plug-in for Outlook

2008-05-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

We offer International Toll Free Conferencing!

2008-05-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Did you know about our Agent Resource Center (ARC)?

2008-04-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

Did you know about our Agent Resource Center (ARC)? Visit www.conferencegroup.com/arc.html to see all of the resources available to our agents to assist with the sales process. Here, you will be able to submit a client to the Conference Group for new account set-up, print marketing materials and proposals, and even obtain your instant passcode links for inclusion in your website, newsletters, or emails to allow your prospects to receive conference passcodes 24/7.

For more information on our ARC, or agent program in general, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

"What are you doing for conferencing?"

2008-04-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

The most common question I get from agents is, “How do I get my clients to use us for conferencing?” The answer is almost embarrassingly simple… ask every client, prospect, friend and foe, the following… “What are you doing for conferencing?” This simple question invariably opens a discussion around a topic, which may divulge current pains they may have with their current provider. Thus opening the door… What you are NOT likely to hear is “we really don’t do much conferencing.” Your clients are educated by now on the benefits. If you have not already done so, now is the time to get this piece of their business and further solidify your on-going relationship with them. Good luck and don’t hesitate to contact us for any assistance!

The Conference Group Pays Bi-Weekly Commissions!

2008-04-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

Just in case you have not heard, the Conference Group pays our agents just as we pay our employees… bi-weekly. This gives you access to your hard-earned commissions faster.

For more information on our services or agent program, please contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

What can *92 do for you?

2008-03-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

*92 activates our Blast Dial feature within a reservationless conference. To take advantage of this service, the conference leader must notify the Conference Group to enable this service and provide us with a list of names and phone numbers to include in the Blast Dial list. Once enabled, the conference leader may press *92 to initiate the dial outs to the participants.

For even faster access to the conference participants, this feature may be set to auto dial upon the leader accessing the conference (with the leader passcode).
For more information on this service, or to activate this feature for any of your existing customers, contact us on 877-716-8255 or agents@conferencegroup.com.

Be Our Guest…attend our Coffee Break Training Seminar

2008-03-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

Grab your coffee cup and join us for a training seminar to fully experience our services through an interactive demo with our Channel Manager. You will be automatically registered to win a $100 American Express Gift Card!

March 19th from 2-3 PM EST

Topics to be discussed include:
Our Portfolio of Services
The tools we provide to help grow your business
Your potential revenue

To register, click Here.

Only 5 days until the "unveiling" of our new service!

2008-03-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

Visit us in Vegas and see the "unveiling" of our new service!

The countdown has begun... only 5 days until our newest service is unveiled. If you will be in Las Vegas for the Channel Partners Conference and Expo from 3/10 to 3/12, stop by Booth 1636 to see it for yourself. If you still need hall passes, contact us right away!
As always, you can call us at 877-716-8255 with any questions!

Visit us in Vegas and see the "unveiling" of our new service!

2008-02-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

Remember, The Conference Group will be at Booth #1636 at the Channel Partners Conference and Expo at the Rio in Las Vegas from 3/10 to 3/12. If you need hall passes for this show, click here and provide your contact information.

This year will be our biggest year yet, as we will be unveiling a brand new service that is sure to get your attention (and make you additional revenue). Make sure you make it a point to stop by to see the “unveiling” for yourself. You will be glad you did.
If you can’t make it out to Vegas, click here and include your contact information. We will be sure to contact you following the conference with all of the details! Unfortunately details will not be released until after the conference. As always, you can call us at 877-716-8255 to be added to the list as well. Until then…!

Come visit us in Nashville or Vegas!

2008-02-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

If you are planning on attending the Comptel conference in Nashville from 2/24 - 2/27, please plan on stopping by Booth #720 to hear the latest developments available from The Conference Group. If you would like to go, but need FREE expo hall passes, click here and provide your contact information.

If Nashville isn’t your thing, not to worry… We will also be in Booth #1636 at the Channel Partners Conference and Expo at the Rio in Las Vegas from 3/10 to 3/12. If you need hall passes for this show, click here and provide your contact information.
We hope to see you at one of these conferences. If you cannot make them, feel free to contact us anytime to discuss your conferencing needs at 877-716-8255. Kristin, Brenda, or Greg would be happy to help!

Are you taking advantage of the Conference Group’s Instant Passcode System?

2008-02-06T08:23:00.000-08:00

You can literally put your conference call set-up process on auto-pilot. Our instant passcode link enables your customers to set up their own account, enter a credit card for payment, and obtain passcodes in real time. They can be on a conference in minutes. No more waiting for someone else to set up the account and send passcodes.

A perfect example of the power of this system occurred just last night. We received a call after normal business hours from a prospective client. She needed her account set up immediately for a conference call this morning. After identifying which agent referred her to the Conference Group, we emailed her that agent’s link (with the agent ID embedded). She was able to receive her passcodes last night and have her call this morning. When I checked my email this morning, she had sent a note over indicating how pleased she was with the efficiency of our set-up process.

How can you maximize your benefit from this e-commerce tool?

Simple. Include the Instant Passcode Link in all of your customer communications, including your website, email signature line, blogs, and newsletters.

To get your link, simply click here and provide your agent ID. We will have the link to you within a few hours. If you do not have an Agent ID yet or are unsure of your ID, please click here and provide your contact information.

As always, do not hesitate to contact Kristin, Brenda, or me (Greg) with any questions at 877-716-8255.

How do the Reservationless Features work?

2008-01-30T07:38:00.000-08:00

The Conference Group’s reservationless conferences can be customized to meet the varied needs of your customers. The options desired may be selected on our Client Submission form. The settings that may be modified for each conference include the following:

Number of Lines [Default is 20] - The number of people that can be on a call at one time. This field can be set for up to 99 lines.

Music/Security [Default is ON] - When turned ON, participants dialing in will hear music playing and will not be able to communicate until the leader dials in. When turned OFF, participants will be able to communicate without a leader being in the call.

Name Record [Default is OFF] - After participants enter their passcode they are prompted to say their name followed by the #. The recorded name is then played into the conference and stored for playback during the conference.

Entrance/Exit Tones [Default is ON] - Participants in the conference will hear a single ding when someone enters the conference and a double ding when someone leaves.

Leader Hang-up [Default is ON] - When the leader hangs up the phone, everyone gets disconnected.

Leader Billing Code [Default is OFF] - A leader generated number that appears on the invoice for client tracking purposes.

Attendance Report with FREE recording link [Default is ON] - After a call has been completed, an email report will be sent to the address on file with information about the call. If the leader starts a recording then there will be a link in the email to that recording. Click on the link and the recording will stream. The recording will be available to stream for 30 days from the date of recording. To download the file, save it on your computer through Windows Media Player®.

Use your demo account for prospective clients!

2008-01-23T08:11:00.000-08:00

The Conference Group provides our agents with a monthly credit up to $50 on a demo account to offset any costs associated with demonstrating our services with your prospects. This credit can be applied to reservationless service, operator assisted service, and even ReadyShow® web conferencing. For more information on your agent demo account with monthly $50 credit, please contact us at agents@conferencegroup.com.

Setting up an account is easy!

2008-01-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

Setting up an account couldn’t be easier… We provide you with a few different tools to set up your customers for conferencing:

1. Agent Submission: Click on the following link, http://www.conferencegroup.com/forms/client.html. Here you complete your client’s contact and pricing information.

2. Customer Sign-up (Instant Passcodes): You can place the following link on your website or in your email signature to allow your customers to complete their own request and receive their passcodes instantly! (Note: a credit card is required for this link) https://www.conferencegroup.com/InstantPasscode/NewAcct.aspx?XXXX-XXXX (The XXXX-XXXX must be replaced with your Agent ID to ensure you receive credit for the account).

3. Customer Sign-up (Invoiced Monthly): The following link will allow your customers to sign up for an account and still enjoy the benefit of a monthly invoice, rather than credit card billing. https://www.conferencegroup.com/forms/customer.html?XXXX-XXXX (The XXXX-XXXX must be replaced with your Agent ID to ensure you receive credit for the account).

You can also click on the “Submit a Client” link at the bottom of this page to submit a client immediately.

FREE Account Set-Up

2008-01-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wonder how you can add incremental income from your current customer base? Consider offering a complementary, as in FREE, conference account for your new customers to use. There is no charge to set up a reservationless conferencing account with the Conference Group. Your customer will only be billed for their usage at the rate you determine. To submit a client to us for set up, visit http://www.conferencegroup.com/forms/client.html, or click on the “Submit a Client” link at the bottom of this page.

Announcing the Conference Group's New Blog!

2008-01-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Conference Group’s new blog. Here you can expect to learn about our latest product developments, marketing tips and online tools available to help you build your conferencing business.

Our blog will be updated mid-week in the mid to late morning hour (depending on your time zone) – right about the time you would be reaching for your coffee cup.

The title “Conference Group Coffee Break” signifies the relaxed, yet productive atmosphere we are hoping to cultivate for our readers. We welcome feedback on our entries and will respond in a timely fashion. Also, you will be able to access the Agent Resource Center (ARC), our online agent portal, as well as the link to submit a client to the Conference Group.

Here’s to a successful and happy 2008 with all of our sales partners… Cheers!