The Web has leveled the playing field for small businesses.  It has positively impacted everything from company image to perception of company size to operations.

My favorite tool for appearing big, that can also save time and money, is virtual meetings via Web seminars.  They can be pre-scheduled with agendas or spontaneous and on-demand.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

1. Select a web seminar vendor.  A few vendors to consider are www.gotomeeting.com, www.webex.com and www.webcastgroup.com (local Cleveland company).  Some vendors offer the ability to do a full screen share which is great for training people on applications or when you need to jump around to demonstrate something.  Other vendors have a presentation-only mode where you can pre-load your slides.
2. Find the right pricing program for your company.  Some vendors offer monthly subscriptions to host meetings for 10 people or less for $39 per month, or you can hold large one-time events for up to 1,000 people for $100.
3. Schedule your meeting through the Web seminar calendar software.  When you schedule a meeting, the tool generates a unique meeting URL and a conference call number.  You can then get a toll-free number; however, most Web seminar services offer free voice bridges where the caller pays the normal long-distance rate.
4. Invite people to attend the Web seminar just like you are planning a regular in-person meeting except use e-mail to communicate the event.  For large meetings and planned training sessions, send an e-mail reminder a few hours before.
5. Ten to 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, log into your Web meeting session and get comfortable with your virtual meeting surroundings, then smile!  Although people can't see you, a smile significantly affects your inflection and delivery.