Content collaboration helps a business achieve breakthroughs on every level of the organization from conducting better meetings to cultivating a stronger brand. Video collaboration should be an integral part of a large content collaboration initiative. The following details how to use video collaboration to your advantage so you and your employees can make the most of your video collaboration efforts.

Focus on benefits beyond reducing travel

Many companies implement video conferencing to save time and money on travel. There is no question that video conferencing makes long distance meetings affordable and convenient. However, the savings are far from the only benefit. Well planned and executed video conferencing also results in improved teamwork, productivity, and decision making. To reap these benefits, maximize the potential of video conferencing. For example, instead of emailing a basic PDF outline of the meeting, set up an interactive interface for the meeting where all parties can participate fully in every topic covered.

Make video collaboration available for everyone

In order to create a video oriented company culture, everyone should have access to video. From college interns to CEOs, all staff members must undergo the same training and have regular opportunities to participate in video collaboration. The more you have access to video, the more you learn about it and, consequently, the more you end up using it. Once employees are comfortable using video collaboration, they can set up and run their own conferencing sessions and create their own video content with minimal technical oversight.

Use video collaboration from varied locations

In a culture where more and more people are working remotely, video conferencing has never been more relevant. Many companies use video collaboration to replace long distance meetings without thinking about the vast potential that collaboration has to offer. While there is nothing wrong with using collaboration between two offices where employees are gathered in conference rooms, you shouldn’t feel limited to this scenario. Video collaboration is ideal for employees working from virtually any location including home offices, coffee shops, airports, and hotels.

Do you have multiple office locations? Equip all of your offices with high quality recording devices so employees can collaborate with ease, regardless of the location where they’re working on any given day. Your meeting spaces should allow employees to capture, share, and annotate information with team members collaborating remotely.

Use video collaboration as a planned event

Today, most employees make telephone calls and send emails and texts without planning ahead. It’s possible to use video collaboration on the fly. However, all participating individuals will get a lot more out of the collaboration if they plan ahead and prepare accordingly. For example, if it’s Monday and you know that the video conference won’t take place until Friday, you can spend the next four days preparing slides with relevant statistics and graphics to maximize your collaboration efforts.

Content collaboration is an ongoing process. Even with a clear mission statement and stellar training sessions, it takes time and practice for employees to use video with ease. If your first few video collaboration sessions are rocky, stick with it. You’ll be surprised when you look back in a few months, or even a few weeks, to see how far your staff has come with video collaboration.