Google Hangouts was phased out in 2020, and Google Plus was shut down in 2019. However, Google Meet is Google’s current platform for virtual meetings and webinars. Here’s how to use Google Meet for virtual meetings and webinars:
1. Schedule a Meeting:
- Go to Google Calendar and create a new event.
- Add a title, date, time, and description for the meeting.
- Click on “Add conferencing” and select “Google Meet.”
2. Invite Participants:
- Add the email addresses of participants to the event invitation.
- Click on “Save” to send the meeting invitation.
3. Join the Meeting:
- At the scheduled time, open the Google Calendar event.
- Click on “Join with Google Meet” to start the meeting.
- Alternatively, you can join the meeting by clicking on the meeting link in the invitation email.
4. Manage Meeting Settings:
- Once in the meeting, you can adjust settings such as microphone and camera settings, screen sharing, and participant permissions.
- Click on the three dots in the lower-right corner to access additional settings.
5. Share Your Screen:
- Click on the “Present now” button to share your screen with meeting participants.
- You can choose to share your entire screen, a specific window, or a Chrome tab.
6. Invite Others:
- During the meeting, you can invite others to join by clicking on the “People” icon and selecting “Add people.”
7. Record the Meeting:
- If allowed by the meeting organizer, you can record the meeting by clicking on the “More options” (three dots) menu and selecting “Record meeting.”
8. End the Meeting:
- When the meeting is finished, click on the red “Leave call” button to exit the meeting.
- As the organizer, you can also end the meeting for all participants by clicking on the “End call” button.
9. Host a Webinar:
- To host a webinar, schedule a meeting as usual.
- Set the meeting to “Quick Access” or “Anyone with the link can join” to allow participants to join without needing to be invited.
- Consider using additional tools or platforms for webinar features such as attendee registration, Q&A sessions, and audience engagement.
10. Security and Privacy:
- Ensure that meeting links and access codes are shared securely with authorized participants only.
- Enable meeting moderation features such as the waiting room and participant mute controls to prevent disruptions.
- Keep your meeting link private to avoid unauthorized access.
By following these steps, you can effectively use Google Meet for virtual meetings and webinars. Keep in mind any specific organizational policies or guidelines related to privacy, security, and data protection when using these platforms.