Five things you can do instead of this photo ☝️
Tips for sharing your virtual meeting on networks
At this point in the pandemic, telecommuting, and the “new normal,” at least a third of our timelines show us the same boring, impersonal and unsightly grid of the screenshot of some virtual meeting, event, or class.
In March or April, the image had the meaning of showing how, with technology, we were overcoming the restrictions imposed by the public health crisis. But more than half a year after these events, it became a cliché, a stereotype, a commonplace.
We all use virtual meeting technology by now, and we all know the benefits and frustrations of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, to name a few of the more popular tools.
I almost dare to say that we could use the same photo for every activity, and absolutely no one, not even the participants themselves, will notice the difference. The repetitive reticle no longer tells us anything.
So here are five things you can do instead of sharing a photo like the one in this article:
A video
Almost all virtual meetings can be recorded. This gives you the possibility to select a short segment (between 15 and 30 seconds) of the most interesting, entertaining, or productive moment, and share it on social networks with an explanation in context.
A gallery
Ask each participant for a photo of what they see from their window, their workstation, or their favorite vacation spot. Put them together in a photo gallery or video format. This generates a different conversation in your networks and, without a doubt, it will create more interaction with your post.
An image related to the meeting
Illustrate your class on snails with a photo of that animal; a picture of the intended beneficiaries can accompany a charity event; tell the world about your work meeting with a creative image of the schedule or agreements reached (without revealing confidential information, of course).
A word cloud
With a word cloud generator, you can make an exciting and attractive image that promotes a conversation on social networks. As input, you can use a document shared during the meeting (a public one, of course), your webpage, or an article related to the topic. I made this one, for example, with a History Channel article on the gay rights movement.
Turn it into art
There are dozens of free filters on the internet (and in the most popular photography apps) that allow you to turn any image into an oil painting, an art-deco style poster, or a cartoon. You can also highlight only an interesting part of the image, change the texture, or turn it into cine-noir.
Finally, if you have to take a screenshot of your event, class, or virtual meeting, always, always, always, ask permission from the participants and let them know when you are going to do it.
Nothing is more unpleasant than finding yourself tagged in a picture taken when you had your eyes closed, when you were shooshing the cat out of the room, or when your chair is empty because you went for a glass of water right at that moment.