3 ways to use Web conferencing to improve your customer relationships
Contention: a great way to improve relationships with your customers
What is web conferencing?
One on one (eg spontaneous, can even be started via an Outlook plug-in)
Video/audio/presentation plays on your computer screen and through your speakers.
One to many (eg webinars)
Can be recorded for later as well
Way 1: Share a design with your client to quickly work through the details
Architectural drawings
Graphic artists
Complex engineering or technical designs
Way 2: Reach a broad audience
Product updates / annoucements
Record and share file with clients if they couldn't make it
Way 3: For improving customer service or sales success
Show prospects some of your previous work, without risk of them saving a copy or having time to copy your IP
Teach them how to load up their account details on your web site
Get your customer's buy-in (or any urgent feedback) on your solution by seeing key parts of your solution before your presentation if you're in a competitive situation.
Can be a quick "have you got a moment" phone call
Informal, can be used to get outside any formal meeting restrictions in a tightly run bid process.
Conclusion
Easy to set up
All you need is a web cam and microphone (often embedded in new laptops these days)
Great to help you get closer to your customers.
Appendix: Popular web conferencing applications (I'll contribute this bit - out of scope for author)
Microsoft's Live Meeting (renamed Lync)
Cisco's WebEx
Citrix's Go To Meeting
Skype (using screen sharing functionality)