Today, twice as many companies are communicating via audio and video conferencing than five years ago. Between 2000 and 2006, a leading indicator of changes in the communications industry -- sales of conferencing equipment -- doubled from $2.84 billion to $4.33 billion. It seems more and more people are realizing how much they can benefit from conferencing. If you are one of these people, you should know that thorough organization and planning is required to ensure effective and productive communication. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth conference call:

• Ask participants to identify themselves when speaking.
• Provide participants with a conference agenda ahead of time and encourage discussion on weak agenda items.
• Watch the clock. Keep the conference within the expected time parameters.
• Allot time for questions. Designating a Q&A session at the end of the conference can help keep the meeting on track.
• Close the call with a summary of items discussed, decisions made, and future action agreed upon.
• Schedule a follow-up meeting if you run out of time, but still have points to cover. Be considerate of the fact that your colleagues have allotted a set number of minutes to the conference call.
• Follow-up the conference call with an email or letter reiterating major points, decisions made, and future assignments.
• Thank all participants for their time and input.