Host a Virtual Party with Zoom

There’s no doubt that, for many of us, the current situation has us all feeling pretty isolated from the people around us. After all, when you’re not even able to get out of the house, staying connected to the people in your life can be something of a challenge.

This can be tough for a whole lot of reasons. Connecting with other people is a fundamental part of life and it can be pretty lonely to find yourself in a position where you’re not really able to do that anymore.

However, if this was going to happen, there really was never a better time for it. Thanks to the rise of digital technology, it really never has been easier to keep in contact with those around you. In particular, Zoom is something that millions of people are finding to be incredibly useful in helping them make the most of their time spent at home.

Here’s some simple advice on how you can set up and host a virtual party with Zoom.

What is Zoom?

Zoom is a web-based video conferencing tool that allows people to meet online both with and without video. Originally, Zoom was designed to facilitate meetings in order to make remote working a much easier option for many businesses and professionals. However, that’s far from the only use of it that’s available to you.

Zoom is also a fantastic way to connect with the people in your life and keep up a sense of community and socializing without having to leave your home. You can have up to 100 people in any Zoom meeting and while most of us definitely won’t need that many, it does mean that there’s pretty much no limit to the number of people you can have at your Zoom party, allowing you to keep in touch with most of the people in your life all at once.

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Easy to Set Up

A Zoom meeting couldn’t be easier to set up. Downloading Zoom is fast and simple and each meeting features a host. If you’re hosting a Zoom meeting you can then send out a unique link to everyone who is invited. They can then join the meeting simply by clicking the link. It really is that simple.

You will need a webcam and a microphone if you’re using Zoom on a desktop but, otherwise, it really is just that simple. Zoom even adjusts your screen to show you who is speaking at any given time which makes it far easier to tell what’s going on and reduces the chance of everyone talking at once and drowning each other out.

Connect with Anyone, Anywhere

One of the great things about Zoom is that there isn’t really any limit on the kinds of things that you can do with it. Being able to spend time with friends and family is always incredibly important and that hasn’t changed just because we’re in a period of social isolation where we’re all stuck in our homes.

Think of the kinds of social gatherings you might have had previously and you’ll be able to enjoy those through Zoom. Maybe you and the girls want to have a night in with some glasses of wine? Or perhaps you’re missing your chance to set up your fantasy football draft? You might even be missing the chance to spend your anniversary with your partner. You can do all of these things through Zoom meetings, allowing you to stay close to the people who are important to you, no matter how far apart you might actually be.

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Use Zoom on Any Platform

Zoom is available on pretty much any platform, so just about everyone can use it. If you’re using it on a desktop then you will need a webcam and a microphone which means that it’s often easier to use a laptop, smartphone, or tablet for your Zoom meeting due to the fact that these all have built-in cameras and microphones, meaning that you can get your Zoom meeting ready right away.

Of course, even those who don’t necessarily have the right equipment to set up a camera can still call in and participate in Zoom meetings in an audio-only capacity using their phones. This means that there’s pretty much no limit to who can join meetings, regardless of what kind of set up they might be using.

Pricing and Plans

Zoom has a wide variety of different meeting plans at a range of different prices. Many of the more expensive plans are specifically designed for use in businesses. The largest plan even allowing for up to 500 participants at a time. Obviously, this isn’t something that most people are going to need for personal use.

Luckily, Zoom also features a free “Basic” plan that allows for up to 100 participants and unlimited 1 to 1 meetings. It does feature a 40-minute time limit on group meetings but, due to the fact that it offers an unlimited number of meetings, if you find yourself in a position where one meeting has run out of time, all you need to do is set up another one and you can get right back to connecting with the people in your life without all that much delay at all. The free plan includes pretty much all of the features that anyone using Zoom for a party or personal meeting with friends could possibly need.

The beauty of things like Zoom is that there really is no limit to the kinds of things that you can do with it. Whether you want to have long conversations with friends or family deep into the night, or if you just want to be able to keep up some sense of a social life, Zoom can make all of that incredibly simple. Just because we’re all stuck at home and you’re not able to be around the people in your life, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a way for you all to connect with each other.

New to Zoom? Watch the tutorial video below and learn the basics in under 15 minutes!