When Zoom exploded in reputation in 2020 due to the pandemic, many individuals put in and used it for the primary time. This necessity led to just about everybody sticking to the fundamentals of digital conferences. 

But in the event you’re nonetheless solely utilizing the core Zoom options, you’re lacking out. There are a great deal of methods to make your calls far more enjoyable and helpful, although it’s not all the time apparent that they exist. 

And that’s why we’ve highlighted eight of the very best right here. If you need to enhance your video calling expertise with out shopping for a brand new webcam or microphone, look no additional: we’ve received ideas that can assist.

Crucially, all these options can be found on the free model of Zoom. Removing the 40-minute restrict is the primary perk of paid plans (from $149.90/£119.90 per yr).

1. Stop your self 

We all need to look presentable on video calls, but it surely’s not a good suggestion to maintain your self throughout a gathering. 

Instead, when you’re proud of the lighting and framing, click on the ‘View’ button within the top-right nook and click on ‘Hide Self View’. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

2. Use Immersive View 

Rather than simply wanting on the individual talking or a grid of all contributors, how about one thing that makes it a minimum of look like you’re in the identical room? 

Immersive View is as shut because it will get, permitting you to position as much as 25 contributors on a single digital background. There are lots to select from, together with a classroom, auditorium and even artwork gallery. 

To get began, create or be part of a name with two or extra contributors. Click the ‘View’ button within the top-right nook, then choose ‘Immersive. From the window that appears, choose which of the virtual environments you’d like to make use of – some will take just a few seconds to obtain. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Decide whether or not to routinely or manually add contributors, then click on ‘Start’. Immersive View will solely apply to your individual view, even in the event you’re the host, and gained’t pressure everybody else to see what you’re seeing. 

3. Create an avatar 

If you’d desire to not present your video in any respect, how about an avatar as an alternative? While acceptable for informal conferences and possibly not when others have to see the true you, avatars could be a enjoyable means so as to add some character to your video calls. 

From the primary Zoom house display screen, click on the Settings cog within the top-right nook, slightly below your profile icon. Choose ‘Background & Effects’ from the left aspect, then ‘Avatars’ (nonetheless in beta on the time of writing). 

Click the + icon to completely customise your individual avatar, then click on ‘Done’ as soon as completed. Alternatively, merely click on one of many preset animal variations beneath.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Your avatar’s head and face actions will mirror your individual, so it’s nonetheless straightforward to know while you’re talking. 

4. Use PowerPoint as a digital background 

Adding blur or a picture to your background is a well-liked function on Zoom. But how a few full PowerPoint presentation? It’s an awesome possibility for presenting to a bunch, however not one thing many individuals find out about. 

Provided the host has allowed it, anybody can current with a PowerPoint background. After becoming a member of the decision, click on the inexperienced ‘Share Screen’ button, then choose the ‘Advanced’ tab. Double-click ‘PowerPoint as Virtual Background’, then choose your PowerPoint file. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

By default, a small video feed can be within the top-right nook. But you possibly can resize and transfer this by clicking the three dots and selecting ‘Resize My Video’. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

5. Use the vanishing pen

You may be acquainted with Zoom’s annotating options, which permit contributors so as to add notes and different data to a shared doc from throughout the name.  

But to get somebody’s consideration about one thing, you don’t need to draw throughout it. Instead, you need to use the vanishing pen, which ensures any drawings disappear after solely a few seconds. 

To use it, begin a name and click on the inexperienced ‘Share Screen’ button and select which window you’d wish to share. Click the ‘Annotate’ button from the toolbar on the high, then hover over ‘Spotlight’ and choose the icon which appears to be like like a dashed line beneath a pen – that’s the Vanishing Pen. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

6. Turn on Live Captions 

Live Captions is a superb accessibility function, permitting those that are exhausting of listening to to grasp what’s being mentioned in a gathering. But it may be helpful for everybody, particularly if somebody’s audio is breaking apart, or their mic is just too quiet. 

To get began, open the Zoom website and check in. Click ‘Settings’ from the left aspect, then ‘Meeting’ and ‘In Meeting (Advanced)’. Scroll right down to ‘Automated captions’, then click on the toggle to show it on.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Now, open the Zoom app and click on the Settings cog. Select accessibility, then test the field subsequent to ‘Always show captions’.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

7. Send video messages 

As you may be conscious, Zoom can be utilized for far more than simply conferences. It may work as a standalone messaging app, with channels, mentions, and chats making it a real Slack rival. 

Alongside the standard textual content, emojis, GIFs, paperwork, and voice messages, you can too ship video messages. These are clearly extra private than the opposite types of communication, and imply you don’t need to be in a name collectively to share data. But with entry to all the standard digital backgrounds and filters, they will additionally look very skilled. 

Simply open the Zoom app and click on the ‘Team Chat’ part on the high. Find somebody you’d wish to ship a video message to, or click on the blue compose button to start out a brand new chat. 

Then, click on the camcorder icon within the toolbar on the backside of the display screen. Click the picture icon to decide on a digital background and/or filter (in the event you’d like), then click on ‘Record’.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Each video message can last as long as three minutes, however gained’t be despatched till you click on the blue ‘Send’ button. 

8. Give non-verbal suggestions 

In massive conferences, it’s typically not acceptable to simply begin speaking while you need to give a response. Messaging within the chat is a greater possibility, however it might probably simply be missed. 

Instead, how about elevating a digital hand? This flags to the host that you simply’d like to talk with out interrupting what’s at present being mentioned.  

To use it, merely be part of a gathering and click on the ‘Reactions’ button from the toolbar on the backside of the display screen (if the host has made it out there). Select ‘Raise hand’ and a hand emoji can be displayed subsequent to your identify and video feed. Once you’ve completed talking, merely click on ‘Lower hand’. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

But in the event you’d like to reply with out including any remark, simply use an emoji. Click ‘Reactions’, then one of many six hottest or the three dots and any emoji you’d like. Whichever you select will keep on display screen for just a few seconds. 

Further studying: The best webcams

This article initially appeared on techadvisor.com.